Booking your September sun holiday in Europe and not sure where to go? Behold: The Balkans. Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina all remain hot and sunny well into October, which is why lots of our trips run until then. In fact, some of our most active holidays are best enjoyed at this time of year when it’s slightly cooler.
If you’re not tied to the school holidays, travelling during quieter periods not only has its advantages for you, it’s better for the local community and environment as you don’t contribute to over-tourism (of course, you don’t need to worry about that too much on our trips as we’re all about taking you off the beaten path).
With the kids back in school, this is the best time to book if you want a more mature crowd on your trip too – especially as September is wine making season and we’re known to linger longer at the wineries for tastings with no children around. If you want to leave it even later for your holiday, there’s the opportunity to make rakija and forage for wild pomegranates during our hikes in October.
In terms of temperatures, the sea is at its warmest in September having been heated up throughout the summer – the perfect time for some wild swimming.
Read on for our roundup of holiday suggestions and what weather to expect from Balkan holidays in September.
Croatia in September
Ever been island hopping in Croatia? We bet you’ve never done it like this. Choose between two action-packed adventures in Southern Dalmatia in which you’ll kayak to some of Croatia’s best kept secrets and have a chance to see Dubrovnik with far fewer people clogging up its cobbled streets.
Based in Ston, our seven-day Multi-Activity Holiday in Southern Dalmatia takes place around the beautiful Peljesac Peninsula, an hour away from Dubrovnik. You’ll discover the rich nature of the Neretva Delta, marvel at the lost Roman city of Narona, sip and cycle in Croatia’s wine country, taste some of the world’s best oysters and hike ‘Europe’s Great Wall of China’. There’s also the option to visit Dubrovnik for the day.
Alternatively, paddle to secluded beaches, hidden caves and picture postcard monasteries around the Elafiti Islands on our 10 day Croatia to Montenegro lake & sea kayaking holiday. We’ll also kayak on Montenegro’s glorious Lake Skadar, our second home.
Both trips run into October.
Croatia weather in September
Generally speaking, Croatia remains hot and sunny in September with glorious highs of 25℃ during the day and sea temperatures of 22℃. However, rain storms aren’t unheard of and when it rains, it pours, so be sure to pack for all eventualities.
Browse our Croatia holidays.
Montenegro in September
Between its unspoiled beaches, razor sharp peaks, glacial lakes and timeless villages, there really is something for every traveller in Montenegro. Our beautiful Villa Miela home on Lake Skadar is the base for most of our Montenegro holidays, which run into October.
Get to really appreciate the scenery on our painting and wild swimming program, the ultimate mindful retreat led by British artist Karen Pearson. Take lessons from the Villa Miela balcony and out on location, where you won’t be short of inspiration with rugged mountains and wild forests hugging Lake Skadar.
Or why not unleash your inner Bear Grylls with our 7 day kayak & bushcraft adventure on Lake Skadar? Curated and led by our co-founder Ben, you’ll cover a distance of 60 km over five full days of paddling and sleeping beneath the stars. During your expedition, you’ll have a two-day bushcraft course in which you’ll learn to forage for food, build a shelter and fish, among other survival skills.
Or why not strap on your hiking boots and explore Montenegro’s mountainous inland with our expert local guides? September is the perfect time for a walking holiday, as the weather is ideal with mild temperatures and mostly clear skies. Witness pastoral shepherds as they prepare to leave their high summer pastures, and admire the golden light of early autumn beautifully illuminating the dramatic peaks of the Prokljetije, Durmitor, Komovi and Moraca mountains.
Montenegro weather in September
Montenegro is hot and sunny in September with daytime averages of 27℃. Like Croatia, rainstorms can happen, so pack accordingly. The weather conditions in the mountains are famously unpredictable, so prepare for all occurrences. Generally speaking, it should still be hot and sunny and just a couple of degrees cooler in the mountains compared to lower down and on the coast.
See all of our Montenegro holidays.
Albania in September
Albania remains glorious in September and it’s actually when the locals start to unwind and enjoy staycations after a busy summer. We offer four fantastic holidays in Albania which all run until October.
Venture into Albania’s Accursed Mountains and hike the high mountain pass from Theth to Valbona with a traditional farmhouse homestay the night before. Other highlights on our new North Albania holiday include wild swimming in Southern Europe’s largest lake, visiting a Venetian mask workshop in Shkodër, and touring the historic town of Krujë. Add to that plenty of delicious food to fuel your adventure – tavë kosi (baked lamb with rice) is our guide Aldo’s favourite – and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Albanian itinerary.
Albania knows how to put on a good spread, that’s for sure. So, if you want to explore that further, join us on a week-long food and culture holiday. You will eat and sleep at a pioneering agritourism establishment in the Lezhe countryside, take cooking lessons with a family in Theth, eat your way around the Ottoman town of Berat, and check out Tirana’s food and cultural scene on your way back.
Albania weather in September
Being in southern Europe, Albania maintains balmy highs of 27℃ in September with plenty of sunshine. Like other parts of the Balkans there could be rainstorms, particularly higher up in the mountains, so be prepared.
Read more: 7 things you can only see, eat or do in Albania
See all of our Albania holidays.
Bosnia & Herzegovina in September
Where better to watch autumn unfurl than in a country that is 40% forest, including some of Europe’s oldest? Plus, if 35℃ is a little too hot for you then visiting Bosnia & Herzegovina in September instead of July/August means a more manageable 25℃ for sightseeing.
Starting in the capital of Sarajevo, we bring you a week of Bosnian culture, food and outdoor adventures all packaged up in our Bosnia & Herzegovina multi-activity holiday. Highlights include rafting down Europe’s coldest river, pottery making in a Neolithic village, hiking to plunging waterfalls and exploring Mostar’s charming Ottoman bazaar.
Bosnia & Herzegovina weather in September
In general, you can expect daytime temperatures in Bosnia & Herzegovina to peak at 26℃ in September. BiH is unique in that it is divided into two climates: a milder Mediterranean climate in the southern Herzegovina region (making it ideal for wine production) and a cooler, wetter climate north of the band of the Dinaric Alps in the Bosnia region. Temperatures there can be more of a mixed bag, ranging from 26℃ and sunny to 17℃ and raining in September. In both regions, temperatures dip to between the high teens and low 20s as October approaches.
Check out our Bosnia & Herzegovina holiday.
Serbia in September
With a culture rich capital and reams of unblemished landscapes, Serbia is hugely underrated.
On our week-long slow travel experience in Serbia, we retreat to a mountain village for a traditional homestay, raft along the mighty Drina river, hike in Tara National Park and see the sights of Belgrade.
Serbia weather in September
In Belgrade, expect it to be a little cloudier in September compared to the summer months but temperatures can still hover between the low to mid-20’s. There can be rain storms, so pack your waterproofs. It’s always a couple of degrees cooler in the mountains and again, mountain weather is unpredictable, so prepare for some downpours as well as hot bursts of sunshine. You’re looking at between 17℃ and 25℃ in Tara National Park in September.
See our brand new Serbia multi-activity holiday.
Kosovo in September
Europe’s youngest country is another natural haven which is almost half made up of forests, the crown jewel being Prokletije National Park. Kosovo is relatively uncharted territory for travellers, meaning if you’re looking for a truly intrepid adventure in Europe you’ve come to the right place.
On our week-long multi activity holiday in Kosovo, expect to really get to know this small and mighty nation as we whisk you away to the Accursed Mountains by 4×4 for the chance to via ferrata, complete an epic hike in the Sharr Mountains on the border with Macedonia, see Kosovo’s biggest waterfall and visit a bear sanctuary.
Kosovo weather in September
The weather in Kosovo in September can be somewhat of a mixed bag. You could have 29℃ and blue skies one day and highs of 17℃ and rain the next. As with all of our destinations in September, it’s best to go prepared with layers and waterproofs. Generally speaking, expect temperatures to hover between 19℃ and 25℃ in Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, in September and take a couple of degrees off for the mountains.
Check out our Kosovo guided adventure holiday.
Balkans walking holidays
With temperatures cooling off a bit by September, why not challenge yourself on one of our walking holidays? We offer three hiking holidays in the Albanian and Montenegrin Alps, all of which run into October.
On our 7 day cross-border hiking holiday from Montenegro to Albania, you can discover some of Europe’s most spectacular, untouched landscapes along the southern leg of the Via Dinarica.
Keep your eyes peeled for our new hiking trips in the works in Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia, coming soon!
Find walking holidays in Montenegro and Albania.
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