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France Travel Weather

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When Is the Best Time To Visit France?

The answer to the question of what is the best month to visit France depends on what you are interested in doing during your stay. Here you can see an overview of each month and its typical weather conditions.

Tourist Season in France

France is a country that tempts with its attractions at any time of the year. The peak tourist season is in summer, from June to August. Then you can enjoy almost all possible activities, from relaxing on the beaches and swimming in the warm waters of the Côte d'Azur, to sightseeing and hiking in the mountains.

Autumn (September-October) and spring (April-May), when temperatures are slightly cooler, are good times for those planning road trips and those focused on exploring the country's sights.

Winter (lasting from November to March) is primarily for snow enthusiasts, who can enjoy the resorts and ski slopes in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Tourist season month by month. Legend

Tourist season - time period with sightseeing-friendly weather (or sunbathing in the case of small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical spread, the most visited places were taken into account and the data were averaged. For selected countries, seasonal holidays were also taken into account, as long as they significantly affect the tourist traffic in this period.

The best time to travel, you can count on very good weather.

A good time to travel, however, sometimes there can be some weather conditions that make the visit a bit difficult.

Travel possible, but it is not the best time. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable, with a tendency to be bad.

Travel is not recommended, the weather at this time can make sightseeing/resting very difficult or even impossible.

Popularity among visitors based on actual visits to popular tourist attractions (based on the average for 309 cities).

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average temperatures throughout a year for Paris (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Season and weather by month

April - May

Apr
May

April days are longer and warmer (10°C - 15°C), unfortunately, nights remain slightly cooler. The weather can be very capricious, very sunny or with fleeting rainfall and thunderstorms.

In May, cloudless skies become more common, with the sun rising above the horizon for about 7 hours a day. Temperatures oscillating close to 20°C guarantee comfortable sightseeing. Warm, but not hot days are the ideal time for strolling through the streets of cities and exploring the sights of France. Nature awakening to life makes climbing, cycling and hiking on mountain trails more enjoyable. The south of the country, along with the coasts, is haunted by the cold, gusty "mistral" wind, which causes sizable waves at sea, creating excellent conditions for windsurfers.

Resting in Corsica, you will experience sunny weather (with temperatures up to 25°C) and warm enough water for sea bathing. The island's beaches are almost deserted, so it's a good time for those seeking peace and quiet.

Holidays and observances in France

  • 08 May 2024 - Victory Day
  • 09 May 2024 - Ascension Day
  • 19 May 2024 - Whit Sunday
  • 20 May 2024 - Whit Monday
  • 18 Apr 2025 - Good Friday
  • 21 Apr 2025 - Easter Monday
  • 01 May 2025 - Labour Day

June - August

Jun
Jul
Aug

Hot and sunny months and the best time to visit. In most areas, temperatures reach 20°C - 30°C, and there are often hot days where the mercury bar exceeds 35°C. The north of the country tends to be cooler than the southern regions.

The Mediterranean coast (including Provence, Côte d'Azur and Languedoc) is an excellent place for those who crave relaxation on beaches, swimming in warm seas and high temperature enthusiasts. The main cities of Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, Cassis are besieged by tourists. In addition to luxury resorts, numerous beaches and bathing beaches, you can also go to forests or olive gardens and admire mountain ranges and visit the corners of small towns.

The regions of the northern coast and the Atlantic coast, although a bit cooler, are also very attractive to tourists during this period. There you will find beaches, bathing beaches and marinas. You can take advantage of the numerous spas that take advantage of the excellent climatic conditions. Climatic and balneological stations of the Breton coast, with a large number of mineral springs and thermal baths, provide, in addition to relaxation, the possibility of treatment. Equally popular here are surfing resorts, favored by winds blowing from the Ocean.

The weather in almost all regions of France creates very good conditions for those planning an active holiday. On the French coast, you can enjoy water sports, and long and sunny days work well for hiking and mountain climbing.

In summer, Corsica is hot. Temperatures exceed 35°C, and the sea heats up to 24°C - 27°C. From mid-June to October, it is possible to hike around the island along the famous GR20 trail.

During the summer (July-August), it is worth visiting the Provence area (including the Vaucluse region). Lavender blooms then, and the meadows and mountainsides turn purple. Many towns hold events and festivals in honor of this plant.

Holidays and observances in France

  • 14 Jul 2024 - Bastille Day
  • 15 Aug 2024 - Assumption Day

September - October

Sep
Oct

In September, the days are warm and sunny, and the sea temperature is still suitable for swimming. It is only in October that the weather becomes more changeable. There may be more cloud cover and fleeting rainfall, but you can also count on a good dose of sunshine. The temperature does not exceed 18°C - 25°C and gradually gets cooler.

Autumn is still a good time to visit France, especially for those who want to skip the worst of the heat. Moderate temperatures guarantee comfort while sightseeing and touring the country. Nature taking on autumn's multicolored applause encourages hiking and biking trips.

In autumn, it is worth taking part in the grape harvest and local wine festivals combined with tastings.

November - March

Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar

The winter months in most areas of France are mild, with temperatures generally not falling below 0°C. The exceptions are the higher parts of the mountains (Alps, Pyrenees), where negative temperatures persist throughout the year, snow falls and glaciers are present.

Days are short, with frequent cloud cover and increased rains. Some sights and attractions are less accessible, open for shorter periods, and temporarily closed in small towns and rural areas.

In Corsica (November through April), some hotels, beachfront campgrounds and restaurants are closed, and finding lodging during this time is somewhat more difficult.

Starting in December, the ski season is in full swing. The Alps and Pyrenees offer excellent conditions for winter sports. A well-developed tourist infrastructure: resorts, ski lifts, groomed ski and cross-country ski trails attract ski enthusiasts. A dense network of hotels and guesthouses is also available for tourists. The most popular ski regions are bustling with activity, including: Grande Plagne (one of the largest in the country, with an Olympic bobsled run), Alpe d'Huez (a downhill station with a huge number of lifts) and Chamonix Mont Blanc (site of the first Winter Olympics).

Holidays and observances in France

  • 01 Nov 2024 - All Saints' Day
  • 11 Nov 2024 - Armistice Day
  • 25 Dec 2024 - Christmas Day
  • 26 Dec 2024 - St Stephen's Day
  • 01 Jan 2025 - New Year's Day

Paris

Monday 6 May
Update 2024-05-05 15:07 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
64°F
Humidity
75%
Cloud cover
88%
Wind speed
8.7 mph
Chance of rain
65%

Paris

Tuesday 7 May
Update 2024-05-05 15:07 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
rain
67°F
Humidity
77%
Cloud cover
76%
Wind speed
9.6 mph
Chance of rain
61%

Paris

Wednesday 8 May
Update 2024-05-05 15:07 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
partly-cloudy-day
68°F
Humidity
71%
Cloud cover
48%
Wind speed
6.7 mph
Chance of rain
10%

Paris

Thursday 9 May
Update 2024-05-05 15:07 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
partly-cloudy-day
71°F
Humidity
70%
Cloud cover
53%
Wind speed
4.5 mph
Chance of rain
7%

Paris

Friday 10 May
Update 2024-05-05 15:07 CET. Powered by Visual Crossing Weather.
partly-cloudy-day
73°F
Humidity
65%
Cloud cover
43%
Wind speed
8.5 mph
Chance of rain
3%

Climate and Average Weather in France

General weather conditions each month by city.

  • Paris
  • Bordeaux
  • Cannes
  • Lyon
  • Marseille
  • +
  • Nice
  • Saint-Tropez
  • Strasbourg
  • Corsica (Ajaccio)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average temperature (°F)
Average rainfall (in)
RAIN - Days with precipitation
DAY - Average length of day
SUN - Sunshine hours per day (cloudless weather)

Weather Map

Select month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Switch places
ParisBordeauxCannesLyonMarseilleNiceSaint-TropezStrasbourgCorsica (Ajaccio)

The icons next to the month name indicate the convenience of the date for visiting the selected area/territory/ country. They are only a suggestion and should not be used as the final criterion for selecting your travel date. The season is defined as the time period with the weather favorable for sightseeing (or sunbathing - small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical range, the most touristic places were included.

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