As summer holidays come to an end, 50 Best has compiled its list of the World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023.
01.09.2023 - 08:51 / nationalgeographic.com / Julian Alps
Is there a better month to feel a surge of travel spirit than September? As the summer holiday crush eases, Europe gets back to business and harvest time brings a bevy of the continent’s stellar produce to restaurant tables, from young wines to olives, Greek figs, British apples, Spanish almonds and so much more.
The change of season signals new beginnings and new adventures — perhaps a trip where you can try something to improve your skills or a hobby, or just to indulge some creative curiosity. From mindfulness courses to cookery classes, more purposeful travel can resume once the summer beach season is over.
Further afield, there are some stellar wildlife spectacles to see, from the big game that gather around dry-season watering holes in Africa to turtle spotting in Costa Rica, or watching humpback whales, blue whales and pods of orcas patrolling for sea lions along California’s coast. Here’s our pick of destinations for travel in September.
(Find out the best events in the US this month.)
Despite its title, Oktoberfest actually starts in September. Munich’s mighty festival of beer usually gets off to a frothy start in the middle of the month (this year it runs from 16 September to 3 October), with a 9,000-participant folksy parade flying the colours of local landlords, breweries and ale houses. This is followed by the Hunter’s Parade, another riot of traditional Bavarian costume with a 12-gun salute to declare the bars officially open. There are 34 tents selling every conceivable iteration of German beer; most with regional food to try, too, from Alpine cheeses and North Sea oysters to hearty breakfasts, vegan eats and all manner of charcuterie and sausages. Wine lovers are also catered for, but it’s worth noting that September is also grape-harvest season, and Germany’s picture-perfect wine country comes alive with tastings, tours and foodie events.
Responsible travel tip: It’s easy to get to Munich by train. The fastest route takes just over nine hours from London, with a change in Paris. More info.
It’s last call for hiking in the Alps, where the walking season winds down in autumn as weather reduces mountain access. September is a spectacular month to be at altitude, being still warm, dry and sunny, while the trees form a fiery seasonal display. Slovenia’s Julian Alps, at the mountain range’s easterly end, are defined by jagged limestone peaks offering an ever-expanding range of waymarked hiking routes. At the heart of the mountains, 9,400ft-high Mount Triglav is Slovenia’s loftiest peak, towering above the beautifully glacial lakes of Bohinj and Bled. The Juliana Hiking Trail is a recently mapped network of pathways across 168 miles of northwest Slovenia, taking in Triglav National Park and
As summer holidays come to an end, 50 Best has compiled its list of the World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023.
Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best has just announced The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023, marking the brand’s first global launch since 2009.
Sometimes, it's okay to clap when a plane lands.
Just like airline boarding passes and public transit tickets, our passports might soon make the leap to our personal devices—and turn our beloved stamp collections into a relic of the past.
When people refer to “big” airports, they typically think of large hubs with huge numbers of passengers transiting through. But bigger doesn’t always mean busier. The biggest airports in the world are those that occupy the highest total acreage of land. And yes, some of the biggest are also some of the world’s busiest—but not always. Some are hubs that have big hopes for future growth, while others have interesting stories behind how and why they acquired and maintain such a large footprint.
For the first time, a nation is allowing travelers to cross its border with a digital passport on their smartphone instead of a physical passport. While the trial is happening in Finland, the European Union wants at least 80% of citizens in the 27-country bloc to be using a digital ID by 2030.
The Lodge at Blue Sky by Auberge Resorts Collection has won the ‘Lavazza One To Watch Award’ ahead of the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels awards ceremony on September 19.
For most French people, Provence conjures up the sound of the cicadas, the lovely accent of the inhabitants of the region, sunny weather, and olives. To most outsiders, Provence is all about lavender fields. No matter where you’re from and what you think Provence is like, you won’t be disappointed because it’s all the above. The historical region of Provence is an area of simple beauty and unhurried, uncomplicated pleasures, all of which are best enjoyed in the late spring and summer.
We hope you love Chateau Ramšak! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Sometimes, it's okay to clap when a plane lands.
Even if you have status on every airline under the sun, jet lag is no joke. Whenever I find myself embracing my inner zombie too much, I do two things: hike and hydrate. Both activities instantly wake me up. It doesn’t matter where I am—and as a travel writer, I go through countries like a golden retriever goes through tennis balls—this is my modus operandi. Walk, water, repeat. That said, I don’t carry cumbersome water bottles that leak or constantly need refilling. Whether I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail or exploring Incan ruins in the Andes, the Camelbak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack is always on my back.
J2 adventures is designed to meet the needs of families and groups by integrating thematic, custom-designed excursions around specialized topics and interest areas.