Where Is Hot in September? The Best Late-Summer Holiday Destinations for 2026

There is something deeply satisfying about going on holiday in September.
The out-of-office is on. The suitcase contains an optimistic number of linen outfits. Your airport coffee costs £6.40, but somehow this feels completely reasonable because you are officially in Holiday Mode™.
Meanwhile, everyone at home has started talking about autumn, buying the biggest cardigans you’ve ever seen, and wondering whether it’s too early to put the heating on. You? You are deciding between the pool and the beach.

September sun holidays offer warm weather, lively resorts, and the chance to squeeze in one final adventure out of summer. The school-holiday rush has started to settle down, the fight for a sunbed feels slightly less intense, and evenings are often cool enough to eat outside without melting into the furniture. They’re becoming more popular, too! According to ABTA, the proportion of people planning an overseas holiday in September rose from 17% in 2023 to 24% in 2025, with that “Super September” trend expected to continue throughout 2026. September is officially having a moment.
So, where is hot in September? Let’s find your final serving of summer.

Where Is Hot in September for a Beach Holiday?

Southern Europe and the Canary Islands still enjoy plenty of sunshine during September. Temperatures vary between destinations and throughout the month, although these popular holiday spots usually stay warm enough for pool days, sea swims, and ordering an iced coffee.

Destination	Typical September high	Best for
Crete, Greece	Around 27ºC	Beaches, food, and exploring
Antalya, Turkey	Around 31ºC	Proper heat and all-inclusive resorts
Cyprus	Around 29-31ºC on the coast	Couples, families, and warm evenings
Tenerife, Canary Islands	Around 27ºC	Reliable sunshine and easy-going resorts
Algarve, Portugal	Around 26-29ºC	Shorter flights, beaches, and day trips

These figures are typical averages, so checking the forecast before packing remains a must. Your emotional-support cardigan may still earn its place in the suitcase.

1. Crete, Greece: For Beaches, Tavernas, and Main-Character Evenings

Greece in September is glorious.

By September, the fiercest heat has usually softened, making it easier to explore without needing to seek shade every seven minutes. You can spend the morning wandering around Chania’s old harbour, devote the afternoon to a beach, and finish the day eating your body weight in bread, tzatziki, and feta by the sea.
Balance.

Crete also gives you plenty of choice when it comes to the style of holiday. Chania brings pretty streets and waterside restaurants. Rethymno has a lovely old town alongside a long beach. Elounda suits anyone picturing a peaceful hotel, slow mornings, and a holiday wardrobe consisting mainly of white linen.

It is one of the best places to travel in September for people who enjoy lounging and exploring in roughly equal measures. You can absolutely dedicate a full day to your sunbed. You can also visit a village, take a boat trip, or discover a hidden beach and feel wonderfully adventurous for the rest of the week.

Choose Crete if: your ideal holiday includes clear water, excellent food, and at least one evening where you say, “We should move here.”

2. Antalya, Turkey: For Hot Countries in September and Serious Pool Time

For anyone whose definition of “warm” begins somewhere around 30ºC, Antalya deserves a space near the top of the list.
Average September highs sit at around 31ºC, with evenings remaining warm enough for outdoor dinners and late-night walks.

Antalya is particularly good for all-inclusive September holidays. The region is filled with large resorts where the main decisions of the day involve breakfast-buffet strategy and whether 11:30 am feels like an acceptable time for your first drink. It does. You’re on holiday.
There is plenty beyond the resort, too. Antalya’s old town, Kaleiçi, is full of winding streets, cafés, and Ottoman-era buildings, while the surrounding coast offers beaches, waterfalls, and boat trips.

September’s slightly softer temperatures can make sightseeing feel more appealing, although “sightseeing” can also mean walking to the other end of the resort to investigate a second bar’s signature cocktails.

Choose Antalya if: you want dependable heat, a generous all-inclusive, and a holiday itinerary with plenty of intentional blank space.

3. Cyprus: For Warm Seas and Even Warmer Evenings

Cyprus carries its summer energy well into September. Coastal areas usually reach average highs of around 29ºC in the west and 31ºC along the south and east coasts. That makes it a strong choice for a proper beach holiday, particularly if your key requirements are swimming, sunbathing, and wearing the outfit you specifically bought for photos at dinner.

Paphos combines beach time with historic sites and harbour restaurants. Protaras has bright blue water and a relaxed, family-friendly feel. Ayia Napa offers beautiful beaches alongside livelier evenings, with plenty of quieter hotels available for travellers whose clubbing era ends after two glasses of wine.

Cyprus also tends to stay warm after sunset. Those balmy evenings are perfect for long dinners, waterfront drinks, and taking 47 versions of the same golden-hour photo until everybody agrees they look suitably glowy.

Choose Cyprus if: you want high temperatures, warm sea and evenings that still feel like summer.

4. Tenerife: For Reliable September Sun Holidays

The Canary Islands regularly appear in conversations about where is hot in September, and with very good reason.
Tenerife sees typical September highs of around 27°C, with average daytime temperatures hovering near 24°C.

The island works particularly well for groups containing several different holiday personalities. The Poolside Professional can remain horizontal. The Activities Coordinator can arrange a trip to Mount Teide. The Person Who Mainly Came for Food can investigate Canarian potatoes and every restaurant within walking distance.

Southern resorts such as Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos usually offer the sunniest conditions, along with beaches, restaurants and plenty of hotels. For a change of scenery, the north brings greener landscapes, traditional towns and the mildly thrilling experience of seeing an actual cloud.
Tenerife also has a wonderfully easy-going quality. Spend the whole week beside the pool, hire a car for a scenic drive or book a boat trip and stare dramatically at the horizon while hoping a dolphin appears.

Choose Tenerife if: you want reliable warmth, familiar holiday comforts and enough activities to satisfy the itinerary enthusiast of the group.

5. The Algarve, Portugal: For Golden Beaches and a Gentler Kind of Heat

The Algarve is ideal for anyone seeking sunshine alongside temperatures that still allow movement.
Depending on the exact location, typical September highs are around 26–29°C, with approximately nine hours of sunshine a day.

The region’s beaches are the main event: golden sand, dramatic cliffs and little coves that look as though they were created specifically for a travel carousel. Lagos and Albufeira combine beaches with lively restaurants and bars, while Tavira offers a slower, prettier escape.
September is also a lovely time for exploring the Algarve’s coastal paths, towns and markets. The midday sun still deserves respect, sunscreen and a very large bottle of water, but sightseeing generally feels more manageable than it does at the height of summer.

Evenings can become cooler as the month continues, which presents an exciting opportunity to wear the light jacket you carried through the airport purely because it took up too much room in your case.

Choose the Algarve if: you want beautiful beaches, plenty of sunshine and a relaxed mix of pool days and exploring.

Which September Holiday Destination Is Right for You?

Still deciding? Here is the highly scientific Garilla method:

• For the hottest weather: Antalya or Cyprus
• For food and exploring: Crete
• For reliable, easy-going sunshine: Tenerife
• For beaches and shorter travelling time: The Algarve
• For an all-inclusive flop-and-drop: Antalya
• For convincing yourself you could live abroad: Honestly, all five

Your perfect destination depends on your preferred holiday pace. Some people want a colour-coded itinerary. Others want a sunbed, a paperback and vague information about what time dinner begins.
Both approaches are valid.

How to Find Cheap September Holidays in 2026

September can offer good value, particularly once UK schools have returned, although prices vary by destination, airport and departure date. A little flexibility can make a surprisingly big difference.

Try these simple tips:

• Compare several UK airports. A different departure point can reduce the package price, even after factoring in travel or parking.
• Check a few departure dates. Moving your holiday by a day or two can reveal a better deal.
• Compare board options carefully. All-inclusive can work brilliantly for resort-based holidays, while bed and breakfast may suit keen explorers.
• Look beyond the most famous resort. Neighbouring towns often offer similar beaches and a calmer atmosphere.
• Check what your package includes. Transfers, luggage and meals can quickly change the real cost.
• Consider later September. Prices may ease further as autumn approaches, while many hot countries in September continue enjoying beach-friendly temperatures.

Once you have found a tempting deal, check the latest official travel advice, read the booking conditions and arrange travel insurance as soon as you book. Then you can move on to the essential decisions, such as which airport breakfast to order and how many pairs of underwear you actually need for a seven-day trip.

Ready to Book Your September Sun Holiday?

Whether you are picturing Greek island tavernas, a Turkish all-inclusive or a golden beach in Portugal, September holidays offer one final chance to stretch out summer.
And September-you could be reading this from a sunbed rather than your sofa.

Enter Garilla’s latest competition for your chance to win a £300 TUI gift card, then start deciding where you would chase that last little bit of sunshine. Crete? Cyprus? Tenerife?
You may need a group chat and several hundred screenshots.

XOXO
Avery @ Garilla