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When to go · France

France, month by month

The best months for France: May, Jun, Sep.

Month by month

  1. JanuaryMixedCold and grey north of Lyon; the winter sales (soldes) start in January; ski resorts busy at weekends.Paris and the north: cool · Atlantic west: rainy · Centre and east: coolCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
  2. FebruaryMixedSchool ski holidays fill the Alps for four weeks; Paris quiet and cheap; the Nice Carnival and Menton Lemon Festival run on the Riviera.Paris and the north: cool · Atlantic west: rainy · Centre and east: coolCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  3. MarchMixedChangeable; the south warms first. Châteaux and village hotels start reopening late in the month.Paris and the north: fine · Atlantic west: cool · Centre and east: fineCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
  4. AprilGoodSpring in Paris and the Loire; Easter school holidays add crowds for two weeks.Paris and the north: fine · Atlantic west: fine · Centre and east: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  5. MayGreatLong weekends (1 May, 8 May, Ascension) fill trains; otherwise mild and green. Cannes festival lifts Riviera prices mid-month.Paris and the north: best weather · Atlantic west: best weather · Centre and east: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  6. JuneGreatLong days and warm evenings everywhere; Fête de la Musique on 21 June; lavender starts late in the month.Paris and the north: best weather · Atlantic west: best weather · Centre and east: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
  7. JulyMixedHot; coast, Provence and mountains full from mid-month; Bastille Day in Paris. Book TGV and beds early.Paris and the north: hot · Atlantic west: best weather · Centre and east: hotCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
  8. AugustMixedPeak French holiday: coasts and Alps packed, small Paris restaurants closed, motorway jams on Saturdays (the grands départs).Paris and the north: hot · Atlantic west: best weather · Centre and east: hotCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
  9. SeptemberGreatWarm sea in the south, grape harvest in the vineyards, quieter roads. The best all-round month.Paris and the north: best weather · Atlantic west: best weather · Centre and east: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  10. OctoberGoodAutumn colour in Burgundy and Alsace; still mild in Provence. Autumn school holidays late in the month.Paris and the north: fine · Atlantic west: fine · Centre and east: best weatherCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  11. NovemberMixedRainiest month on the Mediterranean; many coastal hotels and ski resorts closed; Paris cheap.Paris and the north: cool · Atlantic west: rainy · Centre and east: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  12. DecemberMixedChristmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar (book hotels months ahead); ski season opens mid-month.Paris and the north: cool · Atlantic west: rainy · Centre and east: coolCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in France, side by side.

  • Verdict

    May: Great

    Jun: Great

  • Crowds

    May: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Prices

    May: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Festivals listed

    May: 2

    Jun: 1

May: Long weekends (1 May, 8 May, Ascension) fill trains; otherwise mild and green. Cannes festival lifts Riviera prices mid-month.

June: Long days and warm evenings everywhere; Fête de la Musique on 21 June; lavender starts late in the month.

France: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Paris and the northParis, Lille, Champagne, Normandy inlandCoolCoolOKOKBestBestHotHotBestOKCoolCool
Atlantic westBrittany, Normandy coast, Bordeaux, BiarritzWetWetCoolOKBestBestBestBestBestOKWetWet
Centre and eastLoire, Burgundy, Alsace, Lyon, DordogneCoolCoolOKOKBestBestHotHotBestBestCoolCool
Mediterranean southProvence, Riviera, Languedoc, CorsicaOKOKOKBestBestBestHotHotBestBestWetOK
MountainsChamonix, Annecy, PyreneesCoolCoolCoolOKOKBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool