Where to Go in September for Sun: 16 Destinations Ranked from Driest to Wettest
The sea still holds the summer’s heat and Europe’s crowds go home, but rain returns to the northern Mediterranean. Official climate normals to help you choose.
- 16 destinations compared
- 0 in of rain on the Red Sea
- 81°F sea in Cyprus, Rhodes and Antalya
- Sept. 10 statistical peak of hurricane season
Where is it sunny in September? In the southern and eastern Mediterranean. The sea is still 81°F in Cyprus, Rhodes and Antalya, and it barely rains: under 0.4 in for the month. The Red Sea stays completely dry, with water at 82°F. Farther north, the rain comes back: 1.6 to 2 in in Malta and Mallorca, about 3 in in Croatia and Corfu. Farther away, Bali, Zanzibar, Tahiti and Mauritius end their dry season. Closer to home, September is the peak of hurricane season in the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico.
The figures below are climate normals published by each country’s national weather service and collected by the World Meteorological Organization, except Antalya, which comes directly from the Turkish State Meteorological Service. They describe a typical September, not the forecast for your trip. Each station is listed in the sources.
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- Which destination for which trip
- Under 0.4 in of rain
- 0.5 to 0.8 in
- 1.4 to 2 in
- The end of the Southern Hemisphere dry season
- Comparison table
- Where not to go in September
- Dates, insurance and data
- FAQ
Which sunny destination in September for which trip
- Zero chance of rain: Hurghada or Aqaba on the Red Sea.
- Warm sea without the August crowds: Rhodes, Cyprus or Antalya, with 81°F water.
- Hiking and sightseeing in comfort: Crete (80°F), the Canary Islands or the Algarve (80 to 81°F).
- Bucket-list trip: Bali, Zanzibar, Tahiti or Mauritius, before the rains return.
September rainfall at a glance:
- Hurghada 0 in
- Aqaba 0 in
- Rhodes 0.2 in
- Larnaca 0.4 in
- Las Palmas 0.4 in
- Faro 0.6 in
- Antalya 0.7 in
- Mauritius 0.7 in
- Heraklion 0.7 in
- Málaga 0.8 in
- Funchal 1.4 in
- Malta 1.6 in
- Tahiti 1.8 in
- Bali 1.9 in
- Palma 2.0 in
- Dubrovnik 3.1 in
- Corfu 3.2 in
Average September rainfall. Yellow: under 2.4 in. Light blue: 2.4 to 6 in. Dark blue: over 6 in.
Under 0.4 in of rain: the Red Sea, Rhodes, Cyprus and the Canaries
The safest picks of the month. What sets them apart is heat: 81°F in the Canaries, 98°F in Aqaba.
1. Egypt: Hurghada and the Red Sea
Hurghada: 92°F in the afternoon, 77°F at night, no rain, sea around 82°F.
Very warm water and some of the world’s best-known reefs for diving and snorkeling. Hurghada, El Gouna or quieter Marsa Alam farther south.
Good to know: a day trip to Luxor is possible, but the Nile Valley still reaches 103°F in September. Leave very early.
2. Jordan: Aqaba and Petra
Aqaba: 98°F in the afternoon, 74°F at night, no rain, sea around 82°F.
Jordan’s Red Sea coast, easy to pair with Petra and the Wadi Rum desert. Heat eases noticeably on the highlands toward the end of the month.
Good to know: at Petra, enter at opening time to walk before the hottest hours. Our guide to visiting Petra for the first time covers tickets and routes.
3. Greece: Rhodes
83°F in the afternoon, 69°F at night, 0.2 in of rain over 2 days, sea around 81°F.
Arguably Rhodes’ best month: the sea is almost as warm as in August, the air about 5°F cooler and the crowds much thinner once European schools are back.
Good to know: the meltemi dies down from mid-September, so the west coast becomes pleasant for swimming again.
4. Cyprus
Larnaca: 89°F in the afternoon, 69°F at night, 0.4 in of rain, sea around 81°F.
Still summer, about 5°F cooler than August. Cape Greco and Ayia Napa in the east, Paphos and its mosaics in the west, the Troodos wine villages at harvest time.
Good to know: they drive on the left in Cyprus, and English is widely spoken.
5. Spain: the Canary Islands
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: 81°F in the afternoon, 71°F at night, 0.4 in over 2 days, sea around 75°F.
The water is warmer in September than in July, and the trade winds ease. A safe bet for a week without excessive heat.
Good to know: the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria is the sunniest. The north is greener and cloudier.
0.5 to 0.8 in: the Algarve, Antalya, Crete and the Costa del Sol
One or two rainy days in the month, usually late in September. The rest of the time, it still feels like summer.
6. Portugal: the Algarve
Faro: 80°F in the afternoon, 62°F at night, 0.6 in of rain over 3 days, sea around 72°F.
Beaches empty out, the light is beautiful on the Lagos cliffs and the Seven Hanging Valleys trail is walkable without punishing heat.
Good to know: the water reaches its yearly peak in September, around 72°F.
7. Turkey: Antalya
88°F in the afternoon, 67°F at night, 0.7 in of rain over 2 days, sea around 81°F.
The heat drops below 90°F and ancient sites such as Perge, Aspendos and Termessos become visitable again. The sea is still among the Mediterranean’s warmest.
Good to know: rain returns in earnest in October (2.8 in). September is the last truly dry month.
8. Greece: Crete
Heraklion: 80°F in the afternoon, 67°F at night, 0.7 in of rain over 2 days, sea around 77°F.
The best time to hike the Samaria or Imbros gorges while still enjoying warm water. The Balos and Elafonissi lagoons get quieter.
Good to know: the south coast, around Matala and Plakias, is often warmer and more sheltered than the north.
9. Spain: the Costa del Sol
Málaga: 83°F in the afternoon, 66°F at night, 0.8 in of rain, sea around 72°F.
September reopens Andalusia for sightseeing: Seville drops to 89°F, and Granada and Córdoba become pleasant. Málaga makes an ideal base between beach and cities.
Good to know: book Alhambra tickets in Granada several weeks ahead.
1.4 to 2 in: Madeira, Malta and Mallorca
Still plenty of sun and 75 to 79°F water, but four to six rainy days in the month, often as thunderstorms.
10. Portugal: Madeira
Funchal: 78°F in the afternoon, 66°F at night, 1.4 in of rain over 6 days, sea around 75°F.
The water is at its yearly high and the levada trails are open. More a hiking destination than a beach one, with a very mild climate.
Good to know: most rain falls on the north and the heights. Funchal, on the south coast, is the sunniest part.
11. Malta
Luqa: 82°F in the afternoon, 68°F at night, 1.6 in of rain over 4 days, sea around 79°F.
Still very warm water, and more comfortable sightseeing than in summer in Valletta, Mdina or Gozo. When rain comes, it is usually a short shower.
Good to know: Comino’s Blue Lagoon is far less crowded than in July and August.
12. Spain: Mallorca
Palma: 82°F in the afternoon, 62°F at night, 2.0 in of rain over 6 days, sea around 77°F.
The coves free up once European schools restart, and the Serra de Tramuntana is pleasant again on foot or by bike. This is the month of late-summer storms, often heavy but short.
Good to know: rainfall tends to increase as the month goes on. Early September is the safer bet.
The map below shows available places to stay and their rates for the dates you choose.
Farther away: the end of the Southern Hemisphere dry season
South of the equator, September is still one of the driest months. Rain picks up again from October in Bali, Zanzibar and Tahiti.
13. French Polynesia: Tahiti
Tahiti-Faa’a: 83°F in the afternoon, 70°F at night, 1.8 in of rain, sea around 79°F.
The dry season continues, with nonstop flights from the US West Coast, and it is the heart of humpback whale season around Moorea and Rurutu.
Good to know: outside the July and August peak, rates in French Polynesia are often lower.
14. Indonesia: Bali
Denpasar: 89°F in the afternoon, 73°F at night, 1.9 in of rain over 8 days, sea around 81°F.
The summer crowds leave while the dry season continues. Ubud, Uluwatu, Amed for snorkeling or the Gili Islands.
Good to know: rain nearly doubles from August to September in Denpasar, but stays light, as brief showers.
15. Tanzania: Zanzibar
86°F in the afternoon, 67°F at night, 5 rainy days on average, sea around 79°F.
The last great month of the dry season, ideal for pairing the beach with a safari in northern Tanzania.
Good to know: the north of the island, at Nungwi and Kendwa, is less affected by tides than the east coast.
16. Mauritius
Port Louis: 82°F in the afternoon, 67°F at night, 0.7 in of rain over 3 days, sea around 73°F.
One of the driest months in Port Louis. The end of the southern winter suits hiking, on Le Morne or in the Black River Gorges.
Good to know: the sea is at its yearly low, around 73°F. For warmer water, wait until November.
Tours and activities to book ahead
Red Sea diving, a day at Petra from Aqaba, the Samaria Gorge hike or whale watching off Moorea: our partner GetYourGuide lets you book these ahead. Check the meeting point, guide language and cancellation terms before paying.
See all activities on GetYourGuide
Comparison table: September by the numbers
September averages for one reference station per destination, from driest to wettest.
| Station | High / low | Rain (days) | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada (Egypt) | 92 / 77°F | 0 in | 82°F |
| Aqaba (Jordan) | 98 / 74°F | 0 in | 82°F |
| Rhodes (Greece) | 83 / 69°F | 0.2 in (2) | 81°F |
| Larnaca (Cyprus) | 89 / 69°F | 0.4 in | 81°F |
| Las Palmas (Canary Islands) | 81 / 71°F | 0.4 in (2) | 75°F |
| Faro (Algarve) | 80 / 62°F | 0.6 in (3) | 72°F |
| Antalya (Turkey) | 88 / 67°F | 0.7 in (2) | 81°F |
| Port Louis (Mauritius) | 82 / 67°F | 0.7 in (3) | 73°F |
| Heraklion (Crete) | 80 / 67°F | 0.7 in (2) | 77°F |
| Málaga (Costa del Sol) | 83 / 66°F | 0.8 in | 72°F |
| Zanzibar (Tanzania) | 86 / 67°F | (5) | 79°F |
| Funchal (Madeira) | 78 / 66°F | 1.4 in (6) | 75°F |
| Luqa (Malta) | 82 / 68°F | 1.6 in (4) | 79°F |
| Tahiti-Faa’a | 83 / 70°F | 1.8 in | 79°F |
| Denpasar (Bali) | 89 / 73°F | 1.9 in (8) | 81°F |
| Palma (Mallorca) | 82 / 62°F | 2.0 in (6) | 77°F |
Temperatures rounded to the nearest degree. Rainy days are days with at least 0.04 in (1 mm) of rain, where the station publishes them. For Zanzibar, only the number of rainy days is shown because the published monthly total is not consistent.
Where not to go in September
- The Caribbean, Florida and Mexico: this is the peak of hurricane season, around September 10. Martinique gets 9.3 in over 19 days, Cancún 8.8 in and Miami 7.5 in.
- Croatia, Corfu and Corsica: the sea is still pleasant (73 to 77°F), but rain returns: 3.2 in over 7 days in Corfu, 3.1 in in Dubrovnik, 2.6 in in Split, 2.1 in in Ajaccio. Aim for early September.
- Thailand and the Maldives: the tail of the monsoon, with 15.2 in over 23 days in Phuket and 7.8 in in Malé.
- Dubai and the Nile Valley: dry, but still 102 to 103°F in the afternoon. Wait until November.
Dates, insurance and staying connected
- Labor Day: Monday, September 6, 2027. By then, most European schools are back, so Mediterranean crowds thin out.
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus Day: Monday, October 11, 2027, if you are planning ahead for fall.
- Meltemi: this north wind dies down over the Aegean from mid-September.
- Hurricanes: the statistical peak of the Atlantic season falls around September 10.
Many US health plans offer limited or no coverage abroad, and a hospital stay or medical evacuation from an island can be very expensive. Check your health plan and credit card benefits first. For medical expenses and medical evacuation, our partner Chapka offers Cap Assistance 24/7: coverage and limits are listed on the policy page.
To have mobile data as soon as you land without hunting for a local SIM card, a Yesim e-SIM, our partner, installs before you leave. Check on its page that your destination is covered and at what rate.
FAQ
Where is guaranteed sunshine in September?
The Red Sea, at Hurghada or Aqaba, where it does not rain at all. Then Rhodes, Cyprus and the Canary Islands, with under 0.4 in for the month.
Is the Mediterranean still warm in September?
Yes: 81°F in Cyprus, Rhodes and Antalya, 79°F in Malta, 77°F in Crete and Mallorca. The Red Sea is 82°F.
Is September a good time to visit Europe?
One of the best: the sea is still warm, the August crowds are gone and cities like Seville and Granada become comfortable again. Favor the south and east of the Mediterranean, where it stays dry.
Should I go to the Caribbean in September?
It is the riskiest month of the year: the peak of hurricane season and 9.3 in of rain in Martinique. If you go, choose refundable bookings and good travel insurance.
Where to go for sun in other months
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December.
Sources
Pages accessed October 21, 2026. Unless noted, climate normals come from the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service, which publishes data supplied by each national weather service.
- Egyptian Meteorological Authority, via WMO: Hurghada and Luxor. Jordan Meteorological Department, via WMO: Aqaba.
- Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM): Antalya climate statistics (1930-2025). Cyprus Department of Meteorology, via WMO: Larnaca (2002-2011).
- Hellenic National Meteorological Service, via WMO: Rhodes, Heraklion and Corfu (period not stated).
- Malta Meteorological Office, via WMO: Luqa (1961-1990). AEMET (Spain), via WMO: Palma, Las Palmas, Málaga and Seville (1981-2010).
- Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, via WMO: Dubrovnik and Split. Météo-France, via WMO: Ajaccio (1971-2000) and Tahiti-Faa’a (1961-1990).
- IPMA (Portugal), via WMO: Faro and Funchal (1961-1990). BMKG (Indonesia), via WMO: Denpasar (1961-1990). Tanzania Meteorological Authority, via WMO: Zanzibar (1971-2000). Mauritius Meteorological Services, via WMO: Port Louis (1971-2000), and Climate of Mauritius.
- For the caveats, via WMO: Le Lamentin, Cancún, Miami Beach, Phuket, Malé and Dubai.
- World Sea Temperatures: average September sea temperatures. Encyclopædia Britannica: the meltemi. NOAA, National Hurricane Center: hurricane season peak. US Office of Personnel Management: federal holidays.
Maintained by the Advised Traveler team. Climate averages do not predict the weather during your trip: check the forecast before you go. Spotted an error? Let us know.