Best time to visit

FRANCE

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Choose a month for your kind of trip. Our travel ratings combine weather, seasonal activities and events. Each city shows why.

Weather scores use Paris as a reference. They are not forecasts or measures of snow, prices or crowds. How to use these ratings

Paris weather, by month

AvoidFairGoodGreatIdeal

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Paris. Higher is better. Some booking links earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.

City breaks

Spring · Autumn

Walks, parks and local food.

Seasonal trips

Choose a reason

Carnival, harvest visits or Christmas markets.

How we rate

More than weather

Weather + activities + events. See each city's reason.

The year at a glance

France rewards the shoulder seasons. These ratings follow Paris, where spring and early autumn bring the gentlest weather, sunny days and a different balance of weather and seasonal demand. The capital famously empties of locals in August, when many businesses close.

The country covers several climates, from the cool, changeable north to the hot, dry Mediterranean south. The Riviera and Provence run warmer and later into autumn, the Alps swing to a winter ski season, and the wine regions peak around the September harvest.

Aug

Best month

25°C

Warmest, Jul

63mm

Wettest, May

3°C

Coldest, Jan

Travel itinerary

Plan your France trip

Choose your month and trip length.

Trip length

Travel month

Try May–June or September

Best time to go: weather, seasonal activities and events.

Less suitedGreat time to go

Travel rating: weather + activities + events.

Extra spots Off your route

Paris

Bayeux, Normandy

Tours, Loire Valley

Bordeaux

Avignon, Provence

Nice

Lyon

Strasbourg

Paris
Museums and neighbourhoods. Leave time for a day trip.
Bayeux
Your Normandy base for D-Day sites. Book local transport or a tour.
Tours
Your Loire Valley base for castles. Plan transport to each château.
Bordeaux
Riverfront walks, wine and a day in Saint-Émilion.
Avignon
Your Provence base for the palace, Arles and nearby towns.
Nice
Old-town walks and Riviera day trips. Beach plans depend on the season.
Lyon
Food markets, the old town and river walks.
Strasbourg
Explore Alsace from here. Add Colmar; check Christmas market dates.

Compare weather by city and month

September

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Paris France	35	42	62	83	92	94	96	95	100	85	60	36
Bayeux	49	49	54	65	74	87	95	95	92	79	64	52
Tours	39	45	64	82	90	94	98	98	100	88	63	41
Bordeaux France	52	58	76	89	92	96	100	100	100	91	72	56
Avignon	48	53	75	92	96	99	88	90	93	84	70	53
Nice France	65	65	71	80	93	100	100	100	99	82	65	68
Lyon France	30	38	62	83	84	90	90	89	94	82	57	33
Strasbourg France	22	31	55	82	84	89	88	88	96	82	51	25

What the rating includes

Weather, seasonal activities and events. Each place shows a reason to go and a trade-off.

Great: mild to warm sightseeing days, or a special seasonal event. Good: cooler, hotter or wetter conditions. These are editorial recommendations. Event dates vary. Crowds, prices and closures are not rated yet.

Map colours blend eight city samples. They do not describe every mountain or coast. Grey means limited data.

Sources checked 26 September 2026: spring · autumn · wine · coast · carnival · normandy · loire · provence · christmas.

Sources & weather notes

City weather uses averages from 2001 to 2020. The Paris chart uses older data. Scores exclude sea warmth and snow.

NASA data · France climate guide · Checked September 2026

Train links & planning notes

Route drawn from Normandy: Bayeux and the D-Day coast, Loire Valley castles, Provence from Avignon, Paris–Bayeux trains, Paris–Tours trains, Paris–Strasbourg trains, Nice–Lyon trains, Tours–Bordeaux trains, Bordeaux–Avignon trains, Avignon–Nice trains, Lyon–Strasbourg trains, Paris–Lyon trains, Lyon–Nice trains, Paris–Bordeaux trains, Bordeaux–Lyon trains. Check timetables for the month you travel.

Suggested nights include travel time. Longer trips add regions, rather than stretching every stay. Arrange your return separately.

France weather by month: Paris

Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Paris.

JanuaryCold and dry.Good 44

Daytime high: 7°C / 45°F
Overnight low: 3°C / 37°F
Rainfall: 51 mm

Cold and dry.

FebruaryCold and dry.Good 48

Daytime high: 8°C / 46°F
Overnight low: 3°C / 37°F
Rainfall: 41 mm

Cold and dry.

MarchCool and dry.Great 67

Daytime high: 12°C / 54°F
Overnight low: 5°C / 41°F
Rainfall: 48 mm

Cool and dry.

AprilCool and dry.Ideal 79

Daytime high: 15°C / 59°F
Overnight low: 7°C / 45°F
Rainfall: 51 mm

Cool and dry.

MayMild with a little rain.Ideal 92

Daytime high: 19°C / 66°F
Overnight low: 11°C / 52°F
Rainfall: 63 mm

Mild with a little rain.

JuneMild with a little rainIdeal 96

Daytime high: 22°C / 72°F
Overnight low: 14°C / 57°F
Rainfall: 55 mm

Mild with a little rain.

JulyWarm and dryIdeal 96

Daytime high: 25°C / 77°F
Overnight low: 16°C / 61°F
Rainfall: 54 mm

Warm and dry.

AugustWarm and dryIdeal 97

Daytime high: 25°C / 77°F
Overnight low: 16°C / 61°F
Rainfall: 52 mm

Warm and dry.

SeptemberMild with a little rain.Ideal 96

Daytime high: 21°C / 70°F
Overnight low: 13°C / 55°F
Rainfall: 55 mm

Mild with a little rain.

OctoberCool with a little rain.Ideal 82

Daytime high: 16°C / 61°F
Overnight low: 10°C / 50°F
Rainfall: 60 mm

Cool with a little rain.

NovemberCool and dry.Great 62

Daytime high: 11°C / 52°F
Overnight low: 6°C / 43°F
Rainfall: 52 mm

Cool and dry.

DecemberCold with a little rain.Fair 43

Daytime high: 7°C / 45°F
Overnight low: 3°C / 37°F
Rainfall: 58 mm

Cold with a little rain.

Where you go changes when you go

Paris and the north

Mild and temperate, at its best in spring and early autumn. Summers are warm and crowded, winters cool and grey.

Provence and the Riviera

Hot, dry summers and a long, warm shoulder into October. Lavender flowers in summer; dates vary by altitude and the season.

The French Alps

Hiking and lakes in summer, the big-name skiing of Chamonix and the Trois Vallees, December to April.

When to go, by trip

City walks

April–June · September

Explore Paris and Lyon in mild weather.

The coast

June · September

Try the Riviera. Sea warmth varies.

Wine country

September–October

Harvest time in the vineyards.

Skiing

Winter

Check snow and lift openings before you book.

What is on, and when

Spring blooms, April

Paris parks and the chestnut trees come into leaf, and the city is at its most photogenic.

Wine harvest, September

The vendange fills the wine regions, from Bordeaux to Burgundy, with activity and colour.

Top tours in Paris Day trips in France

Before you go

Winter chill

Pack warm layers for Paris in December and January.

Autumn rain

Keep a rainy-day plan for Nice in October.

Where to stay in France

Compare places to stay around Paris. Choose your dates on the booking site.

We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations and weather ratings are independent of commission.

Before you choose a stay

Check the exact location and transport connections.
Compare the full price, including taxes and fees.
Read cancellation terms before you book.

Your travel month helps with planning. Enter your own dates on the booking site.

Ready to book?

Compare actual rates for your travel dates. The weather scores above do not predict accommodation prices or availability.

Find Paris hotels Things to do

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Good to know

What is the best time to visit France?

Spring, April to June, and early autumn, September to October, for mild weather, blooming or golden scenery and lighter crowds than summer.

Is August a good time to visit Paris?

The weather is warm but it is peak tourist season, and many local shops and restaurants close as Parisians take their holidays. Late spring or September is more rewarding.

When is the best time for the French Riviera?

June and September give you warm sea and sunshine without the packed beaches and high prices of August.

Where else, and when

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