Where to fly with the kids over the Tishrei holidays? Destinations for the Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot break

The Tishrei holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, which fall in September and October) are one of the best opportunities of the year for a family trip. The kids have a long break, the weather in Europe eases after the summer, and the Mediterranean is still warm enough for a last swim. The only difficulty is choosing: where it's worth flying in September and October specifically, and which destination will suit your family. Here's how to think about it, and which destinations work best in this season.

What's special about the Tishrei holiday break

September and early October are shoulder season, and that's exactly why they're so convenient for families. The heavy summer heat is behind you, the crowds of July and August have dispersed, and prices on the ground are usually better than at the height of the season. European cities are pleasant to walk without endless lines, and the sea still holds its summer warmth. On the other hand, remember that the holidays are a peak period for flights from Israel, so it pays to book early rather than wait for the last minute.

European cities in ideal weather

This may be the best choice for the Tishrei holidays. In September, Europe's big cities are at their most comfortable: pleasant autumn weather, days that are still fairly long, and a relaxed atmosphere after the summer rush. Vienna, Prague and Budapest offer compact city centers, green parks and attractions kids love, with everything close and easy to get around. If you prefer the south, you'll find an almost ideal autumn in Rome, without the exhausting summer heat and with the same attractions that captivate kids of every age. London is especially beautiful at this time too: the royal parks, such as St James's Park, turn gold and orange, the weather is good for walking, and most of the big museums, which are excellent for kids, are free to enter. The advantage for families is clear: everything is open, it's easy to get around, and there's always somewhere to duck into if a light rain falls.

A last swim before winter

If you're not ready to say goodbye to summer yet, September and early October are the last window for a pleasant beach holiday. The Mediterranean stays warm after the summer months, but the air is less scorching. The Greek islands, especially Rhodes and Crete, offer a short flight, shallow beaches and excellent family infrastructure. Cyprus is just as close and convenient, with warm water and English spoken everywhere. Southern Spain, such as the Costa del Sol, also enjoys pleasant weather and warm water into October.

A small tip: the further into October you go, the cooler the sea gets. If a beach holiday is the main point, aim for the early days of the holiday.

Nature and the first autumn colors

For families who love nature, autumn is a wonderful season. Austria, northern Italy and Slovenia start to put on their first autumn colors, and the lakes and mountains are much quieter than in summer. It's a great time for easy hikes, cable cars and wide-open views, without the heat or the crowds. Just pack warm layers for the evenings, and check in advance that the cable cars and the high-altitude attractions are still running, since some scale back toward the end of the season.

A farther destination for a longer break

The Sukkot break can last a whole week or more, which is a good opportunity for a slightly farther destination. Dubai, for example, comes out of the extreme summer heat at this time and enters its pleasant season, with water parks, huge attractions and air-conditioned shopping that kids love. Destinations like Turkey also offer a good-value mix of city, attractions and reasonable prices, on a flight that still isn't long.

How to choose by age and family style

Matching the trip to age makes all the difference here. With young kids up to five, fewer moves and one stable base beat a packed circuit, so an easy beach destination or a compact city wins. School-age kids already enjoy active attractions, open nature and a city with a bit of action. Teenagers, on the other hand, will prefer big cities with street life, shopping and good food. A simple rule of thumb for the holidays: don't cram the days. Part of the holiday is meant for rest, especially when it falls in a holiday season that's busy anyway.

Book early and save

The Tishrei holidays are the busiest period for flights from Israel, and prices only rise as the date approaches. Flexibility of a day or two in your dates can save hundreds of shekels per person, so lock in flights and lodging as early as possible. Popular attractions, especially in the big cities, also fill up fast over the holidays, so it's worth booking tickets in advance and avoiding disappointment on the ground.

Special events that happen right over the holidays

The hidden advantage of flying over the Tishrei holidays is that you land right in Europe's late-summer and early-autumn festival season. These are exactly the things that don't appear on the general lists, and they're what turn an ordinary trip into an experience that stays with you. Here are some of the highlights of 2026:

• The cattle drive down from the Alps in Tyrol, Austria (Almabtrieb): a spectacular Alpine tradition in which the cows are led back from the mountain pastures to the village, decorated with flower crowns and bells, alongside a fair, music and local food. It takes place in different villages throughout September, for example in Westendorf and Auffach on September 19 and in Zell am Ziller on September 26. A colorful celebration kids get very excited about.
• The wine festival at Buda Castle, Budapest: from September 9 to 12, 2026, the courtyards of the historic castle fill with hundreds of wines, food stalls, live performances and a stunning view of the Danube. A festive atmosphere with one of the most beautiful views in Europe.
• The Kaiser Wiesn in the Prater, Vienna: from September 24 to October 11, 2026, the Prater meadow becomes Vienna's version of Oktoberfest, with festival tents, music, traditional costumes and Austrian food. Entry during the day is free, and it's right next to the giant Ferris wheel and the amusement park.
• The grape harvest festivals (vinobraní) in Prague: throughout September, parks like Grébovka fill with food stalls, folk music, tastings of young, still-fermenting wine (burčák) and a family atmosphere with a view over the city. Entry is free at most of them.
• Wine festivals on the Greek islands: in the second half of September, Rhodes celebrates the harvest with grapes, traditional sweets and folk dancing in costume. On Crete the harvest season continues into early October, with tastings at village wineries. A great combination of beach and authentic local experience.
• Törggelen in South Tyrol, northern Italy: from early October the "fifth season" opens, when farmhouses open their parlors and serve roasted chestnuts, new wine, sausages and local dishes in a warm atmosphere among vineyards and autumn colors. Especially suitable if you're flying at the end of Sukkot.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Every destination has dozens of events like these on exactly your dates (festivals, fairs, special restaurants and local performances), but they're scattered across dozens of websites and event calendars, and most of them aren't even in English.

The Tishrei holidays are often the first time a family flies with kids, and before choosing a holiday destination it's worth going through the order of decisions for a family trip abroad: from what age, how many days and what it really costs.

Let Diretix find these moments for you

The real magic of a trip lies in these special moments: the local festival, the restaurant that's worth it, or the performance that happens exactly while you're there. The problem is that finding them takes hours of searching through dozens of local sources. That's exactly what Diretix does for you: the system runs a deep search for attractions, events and special places relevant to your dates and your family, and slots them straight into the itinerary, alongside a full daily schedule, lodging recommendations and an estimated budget. You choose the destination and the dates, and the special moments are already waiting in your calendar. One trip a month is built in full, for free, up to 12 days.