For many popular destinations, September is a sweet spot where visitors can enjoy great weather without the bus loads of summer tourists. That’s not to say you can’t find a crowd if you’re seeking one – this month brings a whole host of exciting events that draw people from around the world in joyous celebration of everything from beer to kite flying. Elsewhere, September is a great time for nature enthusiasts to indulge in activities like whale-watching and leaf peeping.

Read on to discover the best destinations to visit this September…

Galway’s iconic International Oyster and Seafood Festival is a four-day celebration of food that takes place at the end of September. While the main attraction is the oysters, the festival runs a program of foodie-oriented talks on a variety of subjects as well as live music. Some of Galway’s best restaurants also host tasting events to coincide with the festival and there’s plenty of the national drink, Guinness, to go around, too.

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Once a Viking stronghold and later a seaport for explorers and pirates, Dieppe on France's Alabaster Coast has a long history of seafaring. Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Dieppe to celebrate one of the biggest kite festivals in the world. Professional kite-flyers from around the globe come to fly kites of all shapes and sizes, filling the skies in a colourful display. Not only is this event free, it's also celebrating its 40th birthday in September 2022!

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Grab your lederhosen and raise a beer for the world’s biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest. Despite its name, this boisterous celebration actually starts on September 17. Over the course of 16 days, Munich thrums with the sound of oompah bands, clinking steins and a chorus of “prost!” (cheers). The most popular tents enjoy such incredible hype that you'll need a reservation. Beyond the beer, the Oktoberfest festivities include carnival games, rides and haunted houses.

Check out the best things to do in Munich here.

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September is a great time to visit the sightseer’s paradise of Milan, when the temperature is comfortable and the crowds are fewer. Italy’s northern capital promises world-class museums, stunning architecture, top restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Of course, as expected of a city with fashion at its heart, there are plenty of chic boutiques as well as the glorious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall. And if you want to make the most of the good weather before autumn sets in, the Italian lakes are a stone’s throw away. Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are the nearest, while Lake Iseo and Lake Garda are easily reached, too.

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With great weather and low rainfall, September is a great month to explore the bustling souks and labyrinthine alleys of Morocco’s capital. Start at the mesmerising Jemaa el Fna plaza, filled with musicians, acrobats, and fragrant street food stalls. To the south is the Kasbah, an area rich with palaces and tombs. Outside the fortified gates, the New City districts offer a wealth of chic dining, drinking and shopping spots. Marrakech also makes a splendid base for exploring southern Morocco, with the blue-and-white charms of Essaouira only a bus or car ride away.

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Hermanus is famous for its superb whale watching sites. Every year, southern right whales migrate from sub-Antarctic to calve in the shelter of Walker Bay. They arrive in June and leave again by December, with the peak whale-watching season during September and October. Look out for the town’s official whale crier, who blows his kelp horn as he walks along Main Street, bearing a sign-board that shows the best daily sighting places. Unspoiled beaches such as the 12-km (7-mile) stretch of Die Plaat are perfect for walks. A clifftop route extends from New Harbour to Grotto beach with regularly placed benches allowing you to rest and enjoy the superb views.

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Bucolic mountains and rolling hills make Vermont one of the most scenic corners of America. The state is at its most resplendent in fall, when a scenic drive through the unspoiled rural northeast, known simply as the “Kingdom” to locals, will reveal foliage ablaze in shades of scarlet, orange and yellow. A particular highlight is the annual Northeast Kingdom Foliage Festival, which rotates from town to town for the last week of September. Each town hosts its own day and offers activities ranging from guided ghost tours to artisan cheese tasting.

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