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Where to holiday in September
+44 (0)1653 617001
Where to holiday in September
+44 (0)1653 617001

Where to go walking in September

September is a wonderful month to travel in Europe. Summer’s visitors have largely gone, and the heat is slowly softening with the first hints of autumn appearing across the landscapes.

The trails are quieter, whether you’re exploring the terraced hillsides of Italy, the Green Coast of northern Spain, or Europe’s wine regions – the Douro, Prosecco Hills, and Alsace – where harvest season is beginning in earnest.

Here are our experts’ picks of holidays in September.

September in Portugal

The Douro Valley
With harvest-time unfolding by the river
  September is all about grapes in the regions which produce Portugal’s two most famous exports: port and Madeira wine. As you walk through the richly coloured, panoramic hills of the Douro Valley upriver from Porto, you see hundreds of locals in the vineyards picking grapes and maybe even treading them the old-fashioned way – by foot – in granite lagares at the quintas.

1.png  Harvest season brings the Douro Valley to life
2.png  Warm sunshine without the peak-summer heat
3.png  Golden landscapes and world-class wine
7 nights4 nights

If you're looking for a more relaxed way to explore the Douro Valley in September, you can visit the region, as well as Lisbon & Sintra on our rail holiday. 
Douro by rail
Madeira
Soft breezes along the levadas
  This bustling scene is repeated on Madeira, with colourful celebrations in Porto da Cruz on the first weekend of the month adding to the special atmosphere. Much like the Douro Valley, Madeira's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, making it essential to book early to secure accommodation.








A stay at Quinta das Vinhas on the west of the island also immerses you in a working winery where you can sample the previous years’ vintages at the on-site wine bar. You can stay here on our Landscapes of Western Madeira holiday.

View more Madeira

Our September recommendations in Italy

La Maremma, Tuscany
Wilder landscapes settling into autumn
  Tuscany in September is warm, golden and deeply atmospheric. Vineyards turn shades of amber and green, the harvest season begins, and the countryside feels peaceful after the height of summer. There are multiple ways to explore Tuscany with Inntravel, but if we had to pick a favourite for September, it would be La Maremma.

This wilder part of Tuscany is home to ancient farmhouses, wine estates, and butteri (cowboys tending to the region’s oxen and horses). Your stays at an agriturismi and finally a wine estate gives you ample opportunity to try the region’s many delicious specialities – most notably fresh mushrooms during September.

Our top 3 Tuscan trails for September...

1.png  La Maremma's hidden hills
2.png  The hill-top towns of Tuscany
3.png  Daily excursions from your base at Colle di Val d’Elsa
View all Tuscan walking holidays
The Prosecco Hills
Rolling hills in the heart of prosecco country
  As the name suggests, these UNESCO-protected hills in north-east Italy produce the country’s famed Prosecco, and September is of course harvest season, known as vendemmia, a time of activity. There’s the Gran Fondo Prosecco – a festival celebrating the end of harvest, and out in the vineyards you’ll spot grape pickers busy carrying their baskets down to the wineries. We recently sent some of our staff to check out the hotels and walks; here's what Oliver had to say...

"The Prosecco Hills are one of those places I can't wait to return to. Just beyond Treviso, the hustle and bustle of Italian life seems to disappear, replaced by rolling vineyards, peaceful lanes and some of the warmest hospitality you'll find anywhere in Italy. After a day on the trail, sitting down with a chilled glass of DOCG Prosecco as the sun sets over the vines is hard to beat. From 2027, I'm especially excited that Inntravellers will also enjoy a complimentary visit to Cal Monda Winery, where Stefano and his family welcome everyone with genuine warmth, making you feel less like a visitor and more like part of the family – an unforgettable highlight of our trip."

Learn more about the Prosecco Hills

Germany in September

Bavaria
Fresh Alpine air & festivities
 
  In Bavaria, you’ll catch what’s known as ‘Viehscheid’ when the cows are brought down from the mountains for winter, wearing floral crowns. Join in the festival spirit, which includes live music and opportunities to try local cheese and beer.








Biohotel Eggensberger offers a stay rooted in certified organic hospitality, pairing 4‑star comfort with a long‑standing commitment to minimising environmental impact. A third‑generation, family‑run hotel, it blends over 50 years of care with organic dining, regional sourcing and thoughtful energy use. With Kneipp therapy, yoga, traditional saunas, and a natural swimming pond, it delivers a stay that feels genuinely restorative and shaped by the Eggensberger family’s way of life. You can stay here on our 'easy' walking holiday - A Bavarian Wander.
 
Easy walking in BavariaBavarian Alps
Lake Constance
Peaceful shorelines & stunning gardens
  You’re in the midst of harvest season around Lake Constance, so you can combine gentle lakeside walks with plenty of time to wander the local markets trying all the fresh produce. Towns begin celebrating their harvests – apples from the plentiful orchards, wine from the rolling vineyards, and local spirits – at this time of year, and you’ll encounter plenty of farm stalls by the roadside selling their wares.

Our Germany expert, Amber, gives her top 3 highlights for visiting Lake Constance in September:

1.png  The days are still warm and settled – without the heat or crowds of summer.
2.png  Cooler air sharpens the horizon, giving September the best long‑distance views of the year.
3.png  The bustle of July and August fades, leaving peaceful paths and quieter lakeside towns.
View Lake Constance

Where to walk in France in September

The French Pyrenees
Birdwatching galore
 
  The French Pyrenees is on an important migration route for thousands of raptors and other birds as they fly north in spring and south in autumn – a fantastic sight, even for non-bird-watchers. The autumn migrations start in mid-August, beginning with black kites and honey buzzards, followed by black storks, ospreys, hobbies, and marsh harriers in September, then red kites and sparrowhawks in October.
Pyrenees to the Atlantic

 

Alsace region
Stroll between storybook towns
 
  Another of Europe’s wine regions, Alsace is especially pretty throughout September and further into autumn. The vineyards turn golden, the harvests are being brought in, and the fairytale villages of Eguisheim and Turckheim are less crowded. You can even sample the ‘new wine’ directly at the wineries (usually from the end of September).

1.png  Vine‑clad hills and half‑timbered villages glow in soft early‑autumn light, making September the most beautiful month to wander.
2.png  The harvest begins, cellars open their doors, and Riesling‑rich slopes feel wonderfully alive without the heat of summer.
3.png  September brings hearty regional dishes, quieter restaurants, and the unique Franco‑German character of towns like Colmar at its most inviting.
Visit Alsace

 



September in Spain & it's islands

Picos de Europa
The Picos at their most peaceful
  Spain in September can still hold onto real heat, but the Picos de Europa offers a welcome change of pace -  cooler mountain air, long breezy afternoons and high, shaded paths that feel made for unhurried walking. While the lowlands stay warm, these limestone peaks settle into a gentler rhythm, giving you Spain at its most refreshing and restorative. Summer’s still lingering yet the trails are quieter – the Picos de Europa are at their finest in September.

1.png  Comfortable walking temperatures, averaging 14–18oC during the day, as well as less chance of rain compared to the rest of autumn.
2.png  Long days – you can still make the most of your days here, enjoying leisurely lunches between walks and an unhurried pace.
3.png  You can expect to see less people as you’re walking in the peaks and meadows especially once the regional Asturias holiday on 8 September is over – a wonderful antidote to the crowds of summer.
Picos de Europa & the Green Coast
Mallorca
quiet ridges and long, sunlit afternoons
 
  The island comes into its own come September when towns and villages host festivals celebrating local produce including the Festa des Vermar in Binissalem – a grape harvest festival complete with grape stomping, parades, and tastings.

Look out for the Nit de l’Art in the capital Palma, too, where the centre is transformed into an open-air gallery where places open their doors, offer drinks, and musicians play on the streets – the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Our top 3 Mallocan trails for September...

1.png  A Stroll in Sóller
2.png  Mountains & Villages of the Tramuntana Sierra
3.png  Cosmopolitan Palma & Sóller
Visit Mallorca

 

Join the locals walking in the Alps


bavarian alpsAsk anyone who lives in the Alps which month they recommend for walking, and the answer will be September, thanks to the fine, settled weather, the gorgeous golden colours, and the clear views, so why not follow their lead? We have a wide range of walking holidays in Austria, Italy, Germany, Slovenia and Switzerland to choose from, ranging from moderate to challenging.

More months

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