September’s Culinary Escapades: A Global Journey for Food Lovers

Between the fine wines and delicious dishes, September’s foodie escapades will have your hands doing a mad dash between your cutlery and your glass in an attempt to savor all the flavors.

After you’ve lapped up the flavors of Peru’s gastronomic capital city and chowed down on some sumptuous seafood in Sweden, cleanse the palate with a vin from the rolling countryside of Provence or raise a stein in Germany and toast the bountiful feast that September brings.

Raise a Stein to Oktoberfest, the World’s Greatest Beer Festival

In Bavaria, an alternative holy trinity has been revered for 500 years: water, barley and hops – the only ingredients permitted in beer, according to the purity law (Reinheitsgebot) adopted by the south German state in 1516. Consequently, in September, aficionados make a pilgrimage to the tent city on Munich’s Theresienwiese meadow to drink, sing, dance, and enjoy the festivities—over seven million litres of beer are swilled each year.

Oktoberfest runs for 16 days from mid-September, concluding on the first Sunday in October. Colorfully bedecked horse-drawn brewery carriages brighten up the opening ceremony, followed by an evening concert showcasing traditional folk music and a grand procession. There’s an abundance of Bavarian cuisine available to soak up the suds, plus activities to keep the whole family entertained. Don your dirndl or lederhosen, raise a Maß (one-litre glass), and get glugging.

• Trip plan: As you’d imagine, Munich during Oktoberfest gets busy – it pays to plan transport, accommodation, and a place in a beer tent well in advance.

• Need to know: Munich’s beer halls are enjoyable all year round, but particularly during Starkbierzeit in February and March, celebrating the eponymous strong beer.

• Other months: Mar–Apr & Sep–Oct: cool; Nov–Feb: very cold, Christmas markets; May–Aug: warm, frequent rain.

Savour the Flavours of South America’s Culinary Capital

Peru’s capital is a striking blend of ancient, chaotic, modern, and vibrant elements, where Spanish colonial architecture coexists with pre-Columbian remains and gleaming high-rises. It’s also the continent’s gastronomic hotspot, with renowned chefs such as Gastón Acurio serving both long-time favorites like ceviche (lime-marinated fish) and innovative culinary creations. As Peruvian cuisine gains international acclaim, its proponents continue to push the envelope in Lima.

September is an excellent month to explore further afield, offering favorable weather and fewer crowds on Inca Trail treks (make sure to book well ahead) and at other key sites.

• Trip plan: Explore the colonial gems and museums of Centro, including the cathedral and the catacombs of the Monasterio de San Francisco, and visit the pre-Columbian ruins at Pachacamac, located 20 miles (32km) to the southeast. Many of the finest restaurants are clustered in the Miraflores and San Isidro districts.

• Need to know: Half- and full-day food tours typically include a market visit and a cooking class, where you can learn to prepare ceviche and other traditional dishes.

• Other months: Year round: hottest and driest from Apr–Oct.

Roam the Vineyards During Provence’s Grape Harvest

France boasts an abundance of vineyards. With more than 300 appellations producing 4.5 billion litres each year, you don’t have to travel far to find a hillside adorned with rows of grapevines. Come September, harvesters are out in force gathering grapes for the annual vendange (grape harvest) – thus, with fine weather blessing the Provençal countryside, and the summer crowds gone, this month is ideal for exploration.

Villages are abuzz, market stalls overflow with autumn produce, and communities celebrate the harvest with festivities. The only challenge is choosing where to explore: coastal Cassis or Côtes de Provence, the rocky hills of the Vaucluse, or the renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape along the Rhône between Orange and the historic city of Avignon?

• Trip plan: Create a multi-day loop starting from Avignon, heading northeast into the Vaucluse to the vineyards and charming hilltop villages beneath mighty Mont Ventoux, before heading west to see the monumental Roman theatre at Orange and meandering down the Rhône Valley through Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

• Need to know: Look out for menus featuring another lesser-known but delicious Provençal product being harvested in September: riz rouge – Camargue red rice.

• Other months: Apr–Jun – warm, spring blooms; Jul–Aug: summer, very busy; Sep–Oct: warm, beautiful light; Nov–Mar: cooler, wetter.

Sample Lobster Along Sweden’s Seafood-Crazed Shore

Are you a shellfish enthusiast? The world’s your oyster on West Sweden’s Bohuslän coast, north of Göteborg (Gothenburg). This scenic shoreline, noted for its pink granite rocks, is where you’ll discover Sweden’s finest seafood. September marks the start of lobster season, making it the perfect time to explore the 8000 or so islands and rocky islets along the coast while sampling local prawns, mussels, oysters, and of course, the renowned big-clawed crustaceans.

Join a ‘seafood safari’ with local fishers from Smögen to catch and cook your own lobster and shellfish, or – even better – hire a canoe and paddle among charming fishing villages such as Gullholmen, Käringön, and Fiskebäckskil, stopping off to enjoy the area’s welcoming restaurants like Salt & Sill in picturesque Klädesholmen.

• Trip plan: Göteborg, Sweden’s second city, serves as the gateway to the Bohuslän coast and offers international flights. Travel is easiest by vehicle, though cycling around local centers is also a great idea. The islands are linked to the mainland by bridges or short ferry rides.

• Need to know: Swedes embrace fika, taking regular coffee and cake breaks throughout the day.

• Other months: May & Sep–Oct: pleasant, quiet; Jun–Aug: sunny, busy; Nov–Apr: cold.