Nowadays, trips in September and October are even easier to organize. Check out the recommended destinations for late summer and early fall excursions, then book your tickets on great terms.
Paphos, the city of the sea foam
A place near which Aphrodite supposedly emerged from the sea foam, an ancient city, the former capital of Cyprus, and finally a popular tourist destination that every year attracts people willing to enjoy the charms of a holiday on the Mediterranean Sea! Paphos is not only a great place to spend your main holidays in the summer, but it is also a great starting point from which we can set off to explore this wonderful island.
Why travel to Cyprus for a short break? The Mediterranean island from summer to autumn offers pleasant weather, which will allow you to slightly extend the holiday, sunbathing on the beach. In addition, we recommend seeing with your own eyes Petra Tou Romiou – the rock at whose feet Aphrodite is believed to have appeared, the beautiful Akamas peninsula and Lara Bay with one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus. Paphos itself can also impress with its monuments – we especially recommend the Byzantine (but later rebuilt by the French and Turks) castle guarding the entrance to the port, the historic port itself and the Kato Paphos archaeological park, i.e. the remains of the ancient city.
Chania – a Venetian pearl in Crete
Chania, located to the west of Crete, is a unique, beautiful city that is unfortunately probably still overshadowed by other island destinations in Greece. In Chania, we are dealing with a charming place, bearing the traces of the presence of Venetians and Turks, although with a specific Greek character. Chania boasts a pretty old town with a Venetian harbor, Firkas Fortress and the Eisodion Cathedral. After visiting the monuments, you can go to Laiki, a traditional street market that lets you feel and enjoy the atmosphere of this part of the world.
Chania also has beautiful nature. Located at the foot of the Lefka Ori mountain massif, which in combination with the sea washing over the rocks, guarantees a wonderful view. We can find numerous natural wonders, including an unmissable point of the trip – the Samaria gorge or the Topolia canyon carved by the Tyflos River. There are also enjoyable beaches near the city, but instead of lounging by the water you can better reserve your time for a trip to the Balos lagoon – undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Crete.
Faro – the southern tip of Portugal
We can safely call Faro the gateway to the Algarve, which is the most southern region of Portugal and one of the most frequently chosen tourist destinations in the country. The small city has a long and rich history, dating back to the Phoenician times, but its present appearance is mainly a result of the Moorish times and … the earthquake in 1755. The historic buildings of the city are therefore a mixture of Muslim influences, medieval architecture and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of the architecture you should definitely see include the massive fortress-like Gothic cathedral on Largo da Sé and the baroque church of Carmelites Igreja do Carmo with the famous, though quite disturbing, so-called chapel of bones, i.e. a sacred room built of … bones and skulls of monks. For a lighter experience we recommend the seaside park, Jardim Manuel Bívar, surrounded by atmospheric urban buildings.
But the Algarve is not only Faro! It is also a charming coast, where we can find, for instance, the amazing Ria Formosa lagoon. This island complex near Faro is one of Portugal’s natural wonders protected as a nature park. The popular Albufeira resort will also have its fans – with beautiful beaches and a postcard view of houses located on the cliff. The beaches and the picturesque rocky coast can be found in Lagos, another tourist destination in the Algarve, as well.
Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia in the Bay of Angels
Could there be a less original destination for your September trip than the Apennine Peninsula? Probably not. Are there even less frequented places in Italy? Yes. Certainly Cagliari is not a top destination for those who decide to visit Italy and yet the capital of Sardinia, located in the Golfo degli Angeli, or the Bay of Angels can surprise it’s visitors! Cagliari is a city with a rich history. It is extremely charming and packed with beautiful monuments. Founded by the Phoenicians and passing from hand to hand over the centuries, it can boast monuments from the Roman period, with an amphitheater from the 2nd century and a rich legacy from the Middle Ages, such as the church of San Saturnino, a cathedral (later rebuilt in the Baroque period) or fortifications from the fourteenth century. Visitors to Cagliari should definitely see Castello, which is one of the oldest parts of the city, located behind the walls on a hill overlooking the area.
Cagliari offers not only city attractions – you will also catch the sun and relax on the beach. It is worth going to the beach Poetto, located near the city, whose bright sand has attracted local residents for many years. Another interesting place is Orto Botanico, a university botanical garden that contains samples of as many as 2,000 plant species, mainly from the Mediterranean. But above all, Cagliari is simply a great place to enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere of a large city, yet unspoiled by a huge number of tourists.
Granadilla de Abona, or the desert charms of Tenerife
Maybe you fancy something more exotic? No problem. Visit the south of Tenerife and stay for a few days in a place that will not resemble an atmosphere familiar to you at all. Granadilla is a good starting point for getting to know this fascinating part of the Canary Islands. Dark sand, desert landscapes and the surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean – that’s what to expect when choosing this destination. Granadilla itself is a small, but quite charming city, situated close to El Médano. There you will have excellent conditions for water sports, including windsurfing and kitesurfing – due to the strong winds blowing in the area. Nearby are the two largest natural beaches of the island – Playa Grande and Playa La Tejita.
El Médano can also offer attractions other than water sports – the city is dominated by La Montaña Roja (“Red Mountain”), a volcanic cone, which is the symbol of this part of Tenerife. A visit to Granadilla de Abona, when it comes to volcanoes, is also an opportunity to visit the Teide slopes. It is one of the largest volcanoes in the world, protected by the national park and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007!
Paris, the city classic
We named less frequented courses and gave you a bit of exoticism too, so it’s time now for more traditional city-break classics! The first of the European metropolises we recommend is Paris. Why? Because it’s always good to have a trip to the French capital for a few days just to soak up the atmosphere of the city on the Seine. Recent years have not been kind to lovers of city trips, so it is good to start taking city breaks again. We recommend starting with a visit to the capital of France. Especially that September and October in this part of the world are an ideal time to wander around the corners of this metropolis due to the pleasant temperatures.
While visiting Paris this year, unfortunately we will still not be able to visit Notre Dame (hopefully the reconstruction of the cathedral will be completed as soon as possible!), but you can easily plan a visit to other places that also deserve attention, including Montparnasse, Louvre, Champs Elysees (it is best to do it before the reconstruction planned for the next year starts) and the Eiffel Tower. And if you prefer a slightly calmer atmosphere, without pressure, it is worth taking a stroll through the streets of the city, enjoying the view of ships passing the Seine or taking a seat in one of the less crowded cafés for a croissant and coffee.
Rome, always in vogue
Since there’s Paris on the list, it would be hard not to mention Rome. The Eternal City is a great destination for late-summer and autumn excursions. When the summer heat is over, and we no longer meet large organized groups of visitors on the streets of the city, Rome can show us its true face. Of course, if you have not yet seen the most famous attractions of the Italian capital or just want to visit the Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, the Vatican or the Colosseum again, September and October will be the perfect time to do so. However, if you want to rediscover Rome, it is worth taking the opportunity to try and tread new paths in the Eternal City.
We recommend starting with Trastevere, a district full of narrow streets and local pubs and cafes, where you can immerse yourself in the Roman reality. If you are there on a Sunday, be sure to go to the Porta Portese area, where a traditional flea market takes place. Fans of the atmosphere of Barcelona will be surprised by the Coppedè district, with its eclectic buildings reminiscent of the works of the Catalan master of architecture Gaudi, although designed by … Gino Coppedè. In turn, a great panorama is provided by a trip to the Janiculum Hill (Italian: Gianicolo), which, although not included in the famous seven hills on which Rome was founded, offers a fantastic panorama. And if you prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, go to Ostia on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is only 30 kilometers from the center of Rome!
Barcelona, or Olympic traces
Barcelona is another city that seems to have been explored thoroughly. Who doesn’t know what Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and Park Guell are? Is there anyone who has never heard of La Rambla and Camp Nou? The word “Barcelona” evokes well-known associations and images. But let’s look at Barcelona from a different angle, in the context of the events of 2021, when the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo. In recent years, this event has not had good press, as it is often seen as a project that is too expensive and brings long-term problems to the organizing cities. However, you should remember that Barcelona also organized the Olympic Games, but in this case, it became a development factor that made the city a world-famous tourist destination. That is why we suggest going to Catalonia in September where you can visit the Gothic Quarter, view Gaudí’s masterpieces, walk the Rambla,swim by Barceloneta, and go to the Montjuïc hill.
Montjuïc hill is the hill that was one of the main arenas of the 1992 Summer Olympics. Among the greenery, somewhere between picturesque parks, we will find not only beautiful views of Barcelona, but also facilities such as the monumental Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi and Palau dels Esports de Barcelona (now a musical theater!), or the Olympic swimming pool complex. After a stroll, it is worth stopping by the nearby Palau Nacional, i.e. the headquarters of the National Museum of Catalan Art, architecturally referring to the Spanish Renaissance. The building was erected for the World Exhibition in 1929, although it looks much older and has been filled with fantastic art collections since the 1930s.
September and October promise to be interesting, so you should look for flights at bargain prices. Thanks to this, you can organize one, or maybe a couple of several-day trips and extend your holiday time.
