Best time to visit France
May to June and September to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
May to June and September to October
Late spring and early autumn pair mild weather with lighter crowds than July and August; June and September are singled out most.
- “The best times to visit France are between April and June and between September and November.” adventure-life.com
- “June is arguably the best month in the entire calendar for visiting France.” inlovewithfrance.com
- “May is the sweet spot of spring.” inlovewithfrance.com
6 of the 10 travel guides we read name these months.
France month by month
Average high and low in Paris, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…Crowds are thin, with good deals; winter sales run about two weeks from early January.La Fete des Rois starts January 6, with galette des rois.Hyper Weekend Festival · Carnaval de Limoux
FebruaryChecking fares…The height of low season: cold, with many attractions closed, but strong deals.Nice holds its Carnaval in February; Alps and Pyrenees ski stations are open.Fete du Citron · Carnaval de Nice
MarchChecking fares…Tail end of low season; last major month for skiing in the Alps and Pyrenees.Quietest spring month with short museum queues, but unpredictable rain in the north.European Artistic Crafts Days (JEMA)
AprilChecking fares…Flowers bloom and attractions open, with summer crowds still away; French school holidays mid-month.The Paris Marathon is typically held in April.Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters · Festival du Livre de Paris (Salon du Livre)
Best timeMayChecking fares…Mild, reliable weather; 1 May, 8 May and Ascension holiday weekends animate markets.Cannes Film Festival runs through the latter half of May.May is one of the rainiest months in Paris, per one source.Cannes Film Festival · Pilgrimage of Sainte Sara
Best timeJuneChecking fares…Warm weather and light crowds; Fete de la Musique on June 21 fills streets with free music.Lavender begins to flower in Provence from mid-June.24 Hours of Le Mans · Lavender bloom in Provence
JulyChecking fares…Peak season: Bastille Day on July 14 and the Tour de France.Lavender peaks on the Valensole plateau and Luberon from mid-July to early August.Bastille Day · Festival d'Avignon
AugustChecking fares…The French holiday month: Paris empties and some shops close, while the coast is crowded.Riviera sea is at its warmest; hot weather up to 35C in the south.Fête de la Saint-Louis · Jazz à la Villette
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…Kids back in school, heavy crowds gone, beach weather still available in the south.Start of wine harvest and the nationwide Fete de la Gastronomie.Braderie de Lille
Best timeOctoberChecking fares…Peak of the harvest season in the vineyards, with fewer crowds and extended opening hours.Afternoons of 65 to 75F in the south and much smaller crowds than summer.Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre · Common crane migration at Lac du Der
NovemberChecking fares…Cooler and rainy in the south; Cevenol rains can flood roads; small tourist towns are quiet.Les Sarmentelles de Beaujeu · Strasbourg Christmas Market
DecemberChecking fares…Christmas markets across the country, including Alsace.Fête des Lumières · Grand Palais des Glaces
Weather: Paris averages from Meteo France (1981 to 2010 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Paris from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in France
Festivals and seasons through the year
- Hyper Weekend Festival
Carnaval de Limoux- Fete du Citron
Carnaval de Nice- European Artistic Crafts Days (JEMA)
- Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Festival du Livre de Paris (Salon du Livre)- Cannes Film Festival
Pilgrimage of Sainte Sara
French Open (Roland-Garros)- 24 Hours of Le Mans
Lavender bloom in Provence- Bastille Day
Festival d'Avignon- Fête de la Saint-Louis
Jazz à la Villette- Braderie de Lille
- Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre
Common crane migration at Lac du Der- Les Sarmentelles de Beaujeu
Strasbourg Christmas Market
Lille Christmas Market
Colmar Christmas Markets- Fête des Lumières
Grand Palais des Glaces
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- June to August and late DecemberHigh season for Paris.
- July and AugustCrowds and prices reach their annual peak, especially on the coast.
- Late March/early April to early OctoberBusiest stretch for visitors, with steeper flight and hotel rates.
Quietest
- Early December and January through MarchLow season for Paris.
- WinterCheapest time to travel, with fewer tourists and lower fares.
- December through February in the southMany seasonal shops and restaurants close, especially in small towns.
Watch for
- July and AugustHeat waves; Riviera beaches routinely exceed 90F and Paris can be uncomfortably hot.
- AugustShops close for annual holidays across the country.
- November to FebruaryDescribed as rainy months when the cold sets in.
- NovemberCevenol rains in the Montpellier area can cause flooding.
- WinterSome Loire chateaux and vineyards close for renovation.
Questions people ask
- Which is the best month to travel to France?
- June is called arguably the best month by one guide; others favor May, September and October for mild weather and fewer crowds.
- What is the weather like in the south of France in September?
- Indian summer brings temperatures in the 70s and 80s F, and swimming may still be possible until month end.
- What festivals happen in France?
- The Cannes Film Festival runs in the latter half of May.
More about France
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