Holiday suggestions - not too hot in early September

[Needaholiday2022]

Hi. I'm looking to book a week away in early September and I would love some advice. I'll go anywhere in Europe - ideally a coastal city. I don't enjoy sitting on the beach every day so would need things to do but I do like the seaside and the breeze that hopefully comes with it.

I will be 6 months pregnant so will want to potter around to see the sights but nothing too strenuous!

My main criteria is the heat - I can't tolerate heat at the best of times and am not in the mood for anything too hot when pregnant. Somewhere sunny, very early 20s celsius would be perfect.

I had intended to book a week in the Basque country but the only airline that flies there from where I live has been cancelling flights and I don't want to risk it. I then looked at Barcelona but a friend said she found it hot in October so that's no good.

This will be my first holiday in years. I had two fabulous honeymoons booked and cancelled during Covid and we ended up spending that money on IVF in the end because we don't get funding where I live. I just want a week away somewhere before the end of the summer! Anywhere!

All help much appreciated!

How about the Italian lakes? Lake Garda for example will be beautiful that time of year and still pleasantly warm. You could visit Trento and Verona, even do a trip to Venice although it will still be busy at that time of year.

Palma would be ideal in all ways except the possible temperature which is likely to nudge into the mid-20s. But it's a beautiful city, plenty to do, right by the sea and you could escape into the hills if too hot!

Another suggestion would be Biarritz, again a great city and on the Altlantic coast which keeps the temperatures down a bit.

If you're really worried about the heat through you should be safe in La Rochelle, which is also lovely.

I love the algarve. How about faro?

Everywhere in traditional holiday countries will be hot in early September!!! Everywhere with seaside resorts on the Med and definitely Italy and Spain.

I would definitely look at Normandy or Brittany. Take the car. Both have lots of places to explore. Ireland? Great for pottering about. Or try Denmark. Often overlooked but pleasant. Iceland would be my favourite. Lots to see and you can go as slow as you want! Not sure about flights but hopefully Sept will be better with less demand.

Last but not least: Cornwall? Jersey too.

We are currently in Alaska. Also British Columbia in Canada is great in September. Would you go that far?

Scheveningen or similar on the Dutch coast? Great beaches and lots of places to visit - easy to get to Rotterdam, Leiden, Amsterdam, Delft etc. Kids all back and school and weather is typically sunny but not mega hot. Zeeland is also lovely.

I'd second Scheviningen or Normandy. Guernsey worth considering.

Thank you very much for your suggestions! Lots of good ideas.

La Rochelle looks lovely so that is definitely an option. We won't leave Europe and will avoid Nordic countries due to price but I hadn't considered the Netherlands and a few other suggestions here so it was great to have those suggestions.

The Britanny coast and towns around Carnac are great. Many medieval towns with character. Benodet was a good area too. We also stayed at La Trinite Sur Mer. Loads of beaches and plenty to see and do.

Santander in north Spain

Portugal is good, because you get the cooling effect of the Atlantic. Lisbon is a lovely city, although always busy so perhaps Cascais would be better? It's on the trainline into Lisbon, but is a beach town with lots of nice hotels.

I'd avoid Spain, because it could be really hot still in early Sept, ditto southern France and the Italian lakes. La Rochelle is lovely and Ryanair flies there. Biarritz is gorgeous, but we had 40 degrees there in early July a few years ago and it was stifling!

Brittany is lovely! Weather usually similar to Cornwall, so would hopefully be really nice in Sept (following the rule that as soon as the DC go back to school the weather turns amazing).

Malta would be perfect, not too far, not too big, lots to see and nice walks.

@Needaholiday2022
One of the issues is, I think, that historic weather patterns are no longer valid. Europe has already had a massive heatwave of 40 degree heat - in June. So lots of places which used to be 30 degrees could well be 35 degrees in early Sept. Cities also hold heat in and I would therefore say coastal is a much better bet.