![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_310144463-399d.jpg\")
\n\t\tPlanning a September getaway? Look no further (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tPlanning a September getaway? Look no further (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a big fan of summer<\/a> and the carefree vibe it brings, you\u2019re probably feeling sorrow at the thought of saying goodbye to August.<\/p>\n While you might\u2019ve missed the boat for a peak summer European getaway<\/a>, there\u2019s still plenty of joy \u2013 and sunshine \u2013 to be found in September.<\/p>\n For starters, it\u2019s not as scorching hot, and if the five heatwaves the UK had this summer were enough for you, that\u2019s probably welcome news.<\/p>\n However, the sunshine is still out and about \u2013 and if it brings you any solace, the autumn equinox isn\u2019t until September 23.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got the budget for a last-minute getaway<\/a>, Metro <\/strong>has rounded up the best destinations across Spain<\/a>, Greece<\/a> and Portugal<\/a> for September. <\/p>\n Porto<\/p>\n \t\t Now, Portugal is a destination absolutely adored by Brits. Around 2.5 million of us visit each year, the largest of any visiting country.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a destination <\/a>absolutely synonymous with summer, with trips to the sunny Algarve<\/a> being a particularly popular pick.<\/p>\n By September, Porto, the country\u2019s second city, is still alive with all the promise of a perfect mini break. Firstly, it\u2019s much cooler, but not too chilly.<\/p>\n The temperature sits around 20\u00b0C on average, with only around four days of rain. By our estimation, that\u2019s warm enough to sit out and enjoy a coffee in the morning, and perhaps even a breezy dinner outside.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty to do, too. <\/p>\n Porto Pride<\/a> takes place between September 11 and September 13 this year, and it\u2019s the oldest LGBTQ+ event in northern Portugal. Expect sunset events, drag brunches, and even a Pride party boat.<\/p>\n There are all the usual sights to see, too, which will be quieter given the season. The S\u00e3o Bento train station in the historic centre is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Monument of Portugal.<\/p>\n The building houses over twenty thousand Portuguese azulejo tiles, while the ornamented exterior showcases Beaux-Arts architecture.<\/p>\n The vibrant buildings on the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia don\u2019t disappoint, shining just as brightly as they would during the high season.<\/p>\n \u00c9vora\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Elsewhere, \u00c9vora, which is around four hours south of Porto, doesn\u2019t disappoint once the peak of summer is over.<\/p>\n September is widely known as grape-picking season, which means there\u2019s plenty of opportunity to get involved and take part in this vital process of the wine-making procedure.<\/p>\n The Cartuxa Harvest takes place between September 5 and October 4, while the Fitapreta Harvest runs from September 3 until the month\u2019s end.<\/p>\n As for the crowds, too, it\u2019ll be a lot quieter in September. The city centre was UNESCO-listed back in 1986, and it\u2019s clear to see why: it\u2019s more than 2,000 years old. The Roman Temple of \u00c9vora was built in the first century AD, while Roman baths were discovered beneath the Town Hall.<\/p>\n The weather is still balmy this time of year, too, as the average highs reach between 27\u00b0C and 30\u00b0C, with around nine hours of sunshine each day.<\/p>\n There are direct flights to the nearest airport, Lisbon, from the likes of London<\/a> through the likes of easyJet<\/a> and Ryanair, taking around two hours and 50 minutes. At the moment, there\u2019s also an option available through Tap Air Portugal, departing on September 25 and returning on September 27 for \u00a3205. <\/p>\n You\u2019ll then need to catch a coach or hire a car for the 1.5-hour drive.<\/p>\n Lefkada<\/p>\n \t\t Even during the summer, Lefkada is a quiet slice of paradise that remains under the radar for British tourists, while many other Greek destinations struggle under the pressure of overtourism.<\/p>\n Beaches like Kathisma and Egremini on the island\u2019s west coast are virtually empty during the shoulder seasons.<\/p>\n Metro<\/strong>\u2018s consultant travel editor, Alice Murphy, previously visited<\/a> during March and September, and loved it all the same.<\/p>\n Lefkada is small \u2014 at just 35km long, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive the perimeter on well-paved roads with decent signage. <\/p>\n Sleepy traditional villages break up the journey, a sort of \u2018land that time forgot\u2019 where locals spend hours sipping strong coffee on the veranda.<\/p>\n If you want to visit, though, regardless of season, you\u2019ll need to bear in mind the fact that there\u2019s no airport. <\/p>\n The easiest route is to fly direct to Athens, then take a \u20ac40 bus to the island, which takes between four and five hours.<\/p>\n The weather is still warm, too, with highs of between 26\u00b0C and 29\u00b0C.<\/p>\n San Sebasti\u00e1n\/Donostia<\/p>\n \t\t Like Portugal and Greece, Spain is another much-loved destination for Brits. In 2025, around 19 million Brits visited, with popular picks including the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca, and the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n Barcelona is another hugely popular city, known for combining culture, party life, and beaches, but it\u2019s no secret that locals don\u2019t exactly love the culture of overtourism that\u2019s been brewing over the last few years.<\/p>\n Up in the Basque Countr<\/a>y in northern Spain, San Sebasti\u00e1n (known as Donostia in Basque) is known for its culinary culture and breathtaking beaches, channelling a similar vibe to Barcelona, but in a quieter fashion.<\/p>\n The city lies on the Bay of Biscay, its Old Town flanked by two sandy beaches, where you\u2019ll find streets filled with photogenic bars serving up mouthwatering local tapas and cider.<\/p>\n Its winding streets come alive each September for the San Sebasti\u00e1n International Film Festival, but its star quality is, undisputedly, the\u00a0food<\/a>.<\/p>\n With the\u00a0second-most Michelin stars per capita and an enviable claim to the title of most bars per person, this is a destination for people who eat differently.<\/p>\n The Basques even have a name for it:\u00a0pintxo, aka hopping from bar to bar and sampling bite-size bits of culinary art.<\/p>\n Seville<\/p>\n \t\t There\u2019s a reason Seville is known as the \u2018frying pan of Spain,\u2019 and that\u2019s because it\u2019s hot. During the summer, temperatures reach the extremities, with averages of 36\u00b0C to 39\u00b0C in August alone.<\/p>\n By September, things typically cool off ever so slightly, averaging between 32\u00b0C and 34\u00b0C. So, still nice and toasty, if that\u2019s your thing.<\/p>\n Weather aside, Seville has other things going for it in September, including the famous Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, the largest in the world. There are 72 shows across 11 venues, so plenty to choose from.<\/p>\n While perfect for a city break, Seville also isn\u2019t as hectic as other European cities. <\/p>\n Take a stroll through the Real Alc\u00e1zar of Seville, a royal palace with distinctive architecture and fountains dotted throughout the gardens.<\/p>\n Food-wise, you should make a beeline for some oranges as soon as you touch down, considering this is what Seville is known for. <\/p>\n There are bursts of colour across the city\u2019s streets, mostly characterised by the 40,000 orange trees, which thrive thanks to the toasty climate.<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_310144104-7c66.jpg\")
\n\t\tPortugal is visited by around 2.5 million Brits each year (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_310144102-e36c.jpg\")
\n\t\t\u00c9vora is about four hours away from Porto (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_310144149-f198.jpg\")
\n\t\tMany of Lefkada\u2019s beaches are empty during the shoulder seasons (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_310144144-9960.jpg\")
\n\t\tSan Sebasti\u00e1n is known for its culinary history (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Plaza](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_310144147-7f85.jpg\")
\n\t\tSeville is known as the \u2018frying pan of Spain,\u2019 and for good reason (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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