Best Time to Visit France

Spring and early autumn on the coast

The south is lovely when it isn't baking. Marseille is at its best from April to June and again in September and October. Nice runs a little longer, from May to September. Cannes and Ajaccio, on the island of Corsica, do best in May, June and September.

July is hottest in Marseille, at 33°C. Ajaccio and Cannes are also warm, and the sea is lovely for swimming. The catch is the crowds. Cannes gets very busy around the film festival in May, so rooms fill up fast. Walking the calanques (rocky inlets) near Marseille is far nicer in spring or autumn than in July heat.

Cities and the north

Paris is best from June to September. July is its warmest month, but at 25°C it feels pleasant, not heavy. Strasbourg is the most specific: our data points to September. The Christmas markets there and in Paris are a draw in December, though that's also Paris's wettest month. Pack for drizzle, not for sunshine.

Lyon is best from July to September, and Bordeaux from July to October. Bordeaux's wine harvest falls in early autumn, which makes September and October a good time for châteaux visits. Lyon's food scene, with its bouchons (small traditional restaurants), works in any season, so you can go when it suits you.

Holidays and crowds

High season is July and August. French families take their long summer break then, and many head to the coast. Beaches fill, prices rise and the south feels packed. Paris can feel quieter in mid-August, as some small local shops close for the holidays.

Bastille Day on 14 July brings fireworks and parades, and trains and roads get busy around it. Easter and the May bank holidays also create busy weekends.

If you want a calmer trip, aim for late spring or September. You'll get warm days, easier bookings and room to enjoy it all. November is the wettest month in most southern places, including Nice, Cannes, Marseille and Ajaccio, so it's the one to skip if you want beach weather.