When to go › September

Where to swim in September

23 of 55 destinations scored for swimming are prime in September — 80 or better on conditions alone. Highest: Hawaiʻi, the Big Island (97), Oʻahu & the North Shore (95), Maui (92). In August 35 are prime; in October, 6.

36 worth considering

September · Swimming

Every destination scoring 55 or better for swimming in September, highest first. Ties are listed alphabetically.

Hawaiʻi, the Big IslandHawaii, USA · North America · prime April to October
prime97
Oʻahu & the North ShoreHawaii, USA · North America · prime May to October
prime95
MauiHawaii, USA · North America · prime April to October
prime92
30A & the Emerald CoastFlorida, USA · North America · prime May to September · flagged: hurricane season
prime91
AlgarvePortugal · Europe · prime July to September
prime91
CreteGreece · Europe · prime July to September
prime90
KauaiHawaii, USA · North America · prime May to September
prime90
Lanzarote & FuerteventuraCanary Islands, Spain · Europe · prime August to October
prime90
MadeiraPortugal · Europe · prime August to October
prime90
Naxos & ParosGreece · Europe · prime July to September
prime90
Puglia & the SalentoItaly · Europe · prime July to September
prime90
San DiegoCalifornia, USA · North America · prime July to September
prime90
SantoriniGreece · Europe · prime July to September
prime90
Amalfi Coast & CapriItaly · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
Bay of Kotor & the Budva RivieraMontenegro · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
Corfu & the Ionian IslandsGreece · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
Costa de la Luz & CádizSpain · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
Mallorca & MenorcaSpain · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
SardiniaItaly · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
SicilyItaly · Europe · prime July to September
prime89
CorsicaFrance · Europe · prime July to September
prime88
Côte d’Azur & the CalanquesFrance · Europe · prime July to September · flagged: wildfire risk
prime88
The Albanian RivieraAlbania · Europe · prime July to September
prime88
ArubaAruba · Caribbean · prime December to April
good78
The Lisbon CoastPortugal · Europe · prime July to August
good73
Finger LakesNew York, USA · North America · prime July to August
good70
San Sebastián & the Basque CoastSpain / France · Europe · prime July to August
good70
Costa Brava & the EmpordàSpain · Europe · prime July to August
good69
Italian LakesItaly · Europe · prime July to August
good69
Cape Cod & the IslandsMassachusetts, USA · North America · prime July to August
good68
Dalmatian CoastCroatia · Europe · prime July to August
good68
Cinque Terre & the Ligurian RivieraItaly · Europe · prime July to August
good67
Sleeping Bear Dunes & Lake MichiganMichigan, USA · North America · prime July to August
good67
The Outer BanksNorth Carolina, USA · North America · prime July to August · flagged: hurricane season
good67
Tofino & Vancouver IslandCanada · North America · prime July to August
good67
Lake TahoeCalifornia / Nevada, USA · North America · prime August
good63
Narrow it by region and crowds in the full tool →

Know before you book

Most places have one or two months that are genuinely better — and a booking moment that comes a lot earlier than the trip. I’ll write when one of those is coming up. No schedule, no filler.

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