Where To Go In September 2024
The month when summer starts to slowly transform into autumn, September is an idyllic month. The crowds thin out, kids go back to school and there are end of the season delights to be found in the Mediterranean, as well as delicious weekend breaks from New York to the undiscovered French Atlantic coast. Here are a few of our favorite places to bookmark for September:
New York City
New York has a unique kind of magic at any time of year, but as we teeter into fall in September, it feels extra special. The sweltering August heat should have tempered, New Yorkers return from their summer houses on the coast, and the scent of summer is still lingering in the air. It’s also a brilliant time to sink your teeth into the Big Apple’s ever-expanding, dynamic restaurant scene. Go for perfect, no-frills Italian at I Sodi in the West Village, and try The Four Horsemen, a natural wine bar and restaurant in Brooklyn that’s casual in all the right places. For a relaxed afternoon, try Spencers Spa on Broadway in Manhattan.
Île d'Yeu, France
Located off France's underlooked Atlantic coast, Île d'Yeu is one of the west sides' best summer gems. We stayed at La Mission, a new boutique concept hotel located in the heart of the island, a picturesque corner of glimmering lush land. Days are spent on the northern sides' long sandy beaches, biking from breakfast to the Atlantic, enjoying local seafood, frites and spritzes. Head south for rockier stunning waters a la Mediterranean. Our highlight is La Ferme d'Émilie, a buzzing animal and vegetable bio farm serving coffee, lunch and tapas dinner perfect for garden meals and families. Pick up fresh meats, cheeses and vegetables here for a perfect beach picnic, then enjoy oysters and tapenade at one of the many chill dinner bars.
84 Rooms tip: Take the 9-minute helicopter from Fromentine on the mainland to reach the island. (Only EUR 100 per person)
Biarritz, France
September is one of the best months to visit the Basque country’s summer hot spot. Tucked into the Basque countryside, Villa Magnan marries rustic charm with iconic design. Anne and Jerome Israel have breathed new life into this 1930s art-deco chateau, transforming it into a bohemian paradise complete with a celebrated dining pop-up, ‘De Puta Madre.’ Creatives and foodies flock here for the chef residencies, brand moments and seasonal wellness pop-ups by the likes of @alicepilate. With Instagram DMs as their front desk and Hector the donkey on greeting duty, Villa Magnan is as quirky as it is elegant.
Read our Guide to Biarritz here.
Milos, Greece
The Cycladic island of Milos can get very crowded in July and August, so September is a wonderful time to visit — especially towards the end of the month. Stay at the beautiful Skinopi Lodge, where minimalist interiors let the west-facing sunset views do the talking. From your base, you’re near the charming village of Tripyti, for drinks and dinner at Okto, as well as Plaka, where you should head for Utopia to watch the sun go down, negroni in hand. Nearby, you’ll find the beautiful beaches of Firopotamos, with its startlingly aquamarine water and whitewashed stomata (fishermen’s houses), pretty Plathiena and its cute beach bar, and the famed Sarakiniko. Visit the latter in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the Instagrammers, and take your time jumping into the water from its lunar-sequel landscape.
Ponza, Italy
A tiny island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Ponza is making quiet waves as the place the Romans want to keep a secret. Idyllic with a slowed-down pace and a timeless feel, it suits those who don’t look for glitzy beach clubs and five-star hotels. Life centers around the crescent-shaped harbor with its pastel fishermen’s houses, so stay close by at the wonderful Casa Fontana, which has views of the sea from every room. Hire a boat for the day and drop in at La Marina or Da Enzo for a delicious, rustic lunch by the water.
Read our Guide to Ponza
Dolomites & South Tyrol, Italy
The undisputed stars of the Italian Alps and the UNESCO-rated Dolomites are beautiful in every season — not least in September when summer begins its slow transformation into autumn. Eighteen jagged limestone peaks that soar thousands of meters above sea level, stretch from Bolzano in the west to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the east. In possession of a pale pink light that set them apart from the rest of the Alps, the area has its own dialect, strong cultural identity, and food traditions. Stay at the relatively new Forestis, a contemporary haven that seems almost suspended between cloud and peak, near the town of Brixen.
Or, over in Merano, check into the marvellous Steinach Townhouse, a new boutique guest house in the spa town with great attention to detail and beautiful interiors.
84 Rooms recommends: Where To Stay On The Costa Brava, and Yolanda Edwards’ Insider Guide to France’s Médoc.