Top September Travel Spots for a Relaxing Getaway

Looking to kick back this September? You’re in luck. The European continent beckons with turtle watching trips in Cyprus, mellow days on the Mediterranean isle of Corsica, and many opportunities to sample fabulous food in Puglia, Italy. Meanwhile, down in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s Whitsunday Islands hold their own with the promise of crystal clear waters, serene scuba diving, and pristine sand as far as the eye can see.

Beautiful landscapes, balmy days, and a bounty of foodie fare await those who need a relaxing break. Here are our top chill-out spots for September.

Head to North Cyprus for Sun, Sand, Turtles, and Time Travel

Visiting the northern half of divided Cyprus is a bit like holidaying in the 1970s. While it might lack a certain sleekness, there’s also a pleasing absence of development. Some of the Mediterranean’s most unspoilt sands can be found here, especially along the wild Karpaz Peninsula, where you’re more likely to see donkeys and turtles than other tourists. Indeed, turtles visit north Cyprus regularly, and from June to late September, the Society for the Protection of Turtles runs guided, eco-sensitive night tours to view them from its base at Alagadi Beach, just east of Kyrenia’s harbour.

September is a fine time to visit: the crowds have dispersed, yet the weather and waters remain warm. It’s ideal for hiking between ruined Crusader castles in the Kyrenia range or strolling through the well-preserved ancient city of Salamis. Don’t miss Lefkoşa, the world’s only divided capital. Amble through minaret-speared streets before crossing a checkpoint for an unusual experience in the bullet-scarred no man’s land separating the Turkish north and Greek south.

• Trip Plan: Spend a week mixing beaches, historical ruins, castles, and traditional villages.

• Need to Know: Fly to Ercan Airport (North Cyprus) via mainland Turkey.

• Other Months: Apr–May & Sep–Oct: warm, quieter; Jun–Aug: hottest, busy; Nov–Mar: cool, wettest.

Enjoy a Trulli Tasty Break in Puglia, Italy – Without the Crowds

Down at heel? Yes and no. Largely agricultural Puglia, the stiletto of the Italian boot, is one of the country’s least wealthy regions; traditional Pugliese cuisine is even known as cucina povera (poor kitchen). However, it’s also a richly satisfying destination— the ‘poor’ food is delightfully delicious, and historic little towns, baroque piazzas, olive groves, and sandy shores are abundant.

In September, Puglia serves as the ideal escape with fewer crowds, warm sunshine, and the chance to indulge in both autumnal bounty and year-round local specialties, such as Burrata cheese, orecchiette pasta, and a wide variety of seafood and breads (the Salento region alone boasts over 100 types). Consider hunkering down in a converted masserie (fortified farmhouse) or, better yet, in one of Puglia’s trulli—conical limestone dwellings that dot the peaceful countryside. Use your atmospheric base to explore the stunning surroundings.

• Trip Plan: Allow one to two weeks, taking in the baroque beauty of Lecce (‘Florence of the south’), 13th-century Castel del Monte, the Grotte di Castellana cave network, the unspoilt beaches and forests of the Gargano promontory, the white city of Ostuni, and the 400-odd trulli of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Need to Know: Bari and Brindisi both have international airports.

• Other Months: Nov–Apr: cool/cold, wettest; May & Sep–Oct: warm, quieter; Jun–Aug: hottest, busiest.

Learn to Dive in Whitsunday Islands’ Bath-Warm, Translucent Waters

Some destinations are easy sells for tourist boards. Exhibit A: the Whitsundays, a string of 74 emerald islands surrounded by white sandy beaches, afloat in warm turquoise seas sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef. September, with its typically rain-free days and clear seas, is prime time for exploration.

Many visitors simply relax on the deck of a yacht or find a patch of pristine sand—perhaps Whitehaven, which often tops the world’s best beach polls—but this is also a fantastic place to learn to dive or enhance your sub-aqua skills with short courses and liveaboard dive vessels cruising among the islands and out to the Great Barrier Reef. As well as observing countless dazzling reef fish, you could encounter sea turtles, sharks, dolphins, and manta rays, all of which are prevalent around the fringing reefs from May to September.

• Trip Plan: Airlie Beach and nearby Shute Harbour serve as hopping-off points for day trips, cruises, dive boats, and island transfers. Hamilton Island and Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine provide flights from various Australian cities.

• Need to Know: The Great Barrier Reef proper is located about 50 nautical miles (93 km) east of the Whitsunday Islands and is a two-hour boat journey away.

• Other Months: Dec–Mar: hot, humid; Apr–May: warm, occasional showers; Jun–Sep: mild, dry (Jul–Aug: busy); Oct–Nov: hotter, some showers.

Enjoy the Empty Beaches and Warm Air of Beautiful Corsica

There’s barely a straight road on the wildly rumpled Mediterranean isle of Corsica. Tarmacs twist around mountains and through the fragrant maquis shrubland that blankets the interior. For this reason, you don’t want to tackle these roads in the high summer, when the whole of France decamps to Corsica’s stunning shores. Instead, wait until September, when the air and sea remain warm, and the beaches—arguably Europe’s best—are blissfully empty once more.

Additionally, venture to the steep, cliff-perched town of Bonifacio; feel the introspective vibe in hilltop Sartène; follow the Napoléon trail in lively Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte; or tour the tiny fishing ports of offbeat Cap Corse. The seemingly impenetrable interior is laced with hiking trails, including the challenging yet epic GR20. Tackle it all, or simply select sections, or book a villa in the hills, enjoy a Pietra beer, nibble on brocciu cheese, and contemplate the stunning wilderness instead.

• Trip Plan: With one week, concentrate on one area: the north (Calvi, Île-Rousse, Bastia) or south (Propriano, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio). The 112-mile (180km) GR20 takes around 15 days to complete.

• Need to Know: Ferries sail to Corsica from France and Italy; journey time is typically between four to six hours.

• Other Months: Jul–Aug: hottest, busiest; Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct: warm, quieter; Nov–Mar: cool, some facilities often close.