The best times to visit France are between April and June and between September and November. Summertime has the most crowds but an upside of warm weather and lots to do. In the
springtime, there is comfortable weather, fewer crowds, and the vegetation is in full bloom. The late fall and winter months between
November and February are the rainy months when the cold sets in and it’s not recommended to travel during these times.
River cruises, sunny beaches, and sprawling valleys bring people from all over the world to dive into the culture and the various sights of the different regions. More than 90 million people visit France each year, making it the most visited country in the world.
April
April is the month when the flowers start to bloom, the trees are green, more attractions are open, and the busy summer months are still at bay.
Northern France is temperate and ideal for biking and hiking. The southern towns of
Aix-en-Provence and Nice are alive with markets and artists, and
Paris has shed its winter jackets for scarves and an umbrella for the occasional shower.
May
During May, the French Riviera is warming up to the point where beaches and coastal towns including
Cannes are relaxing places to visit. As red poppies are bloom in the south, the
Grains de Jardin Festival in Normandy finds upwards of 50,000 visitors that come to explore all things gardening.
The streets of Paris start to fill up with travelers towards the end of May, but many attractions are starting to open for the season, which makes May an ideal time to explore the mecca before international visitors descend upon the city.
June
June is a month when festivals start for the summer season and crowds of international visitors begin to congregate. Cruises on the
Seine River take you to Claude Monet’s thriving gardens in Giverny and small port towns overlooking the sea which are great places to soak up the sun in serenity.
A Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place in
the Rhone Alpes at the sight where the first balloon took off. Additionally, the Tour de France takes place at the end of the month and continues into the first few weeks of July.
September
After the busy months of July and August, September brings fall colors, the start of wine season, and a nationwide food festival held in different cities around the country- the Fête de a Gastronomie. The wine regions begin their harvests in the fall, making trips to the south of the country an exploration into a different side of French culture.
The beaches of the Riviera still have great weather, but cooler temperatures in the north make it the best place to enjoy the fall in the countryside and discover small towns and villages.
October
October is the peak month for the harvest season in the
country’s vineyards. The
Rhône Valley in Southern France, the city of
Bordeaux, and Côte Rôtie all play a part in keeping up the tradition of winemaking in France. While the fall weather can bring rainy days; the colors, the ease of travel, the fewer crowds, and extended opening hours of popular places make journeys during October much more manageable.
For more information about planning a great trip to France and seeing the country first hand,
contact one of our travel experts.France (Paris)
| Month |
Average Temp ℉ (℃) |
Average Rainfall in (mm) |
| January |
37.9 (3.3) |
2.1 (54) |
| February |
39.6 (4.2) |
1.8 (46) |
| March |
46.0 (7.8) |
2.0 (50) |
| April |
51.4 (10.8) |
1.7 (44) |
| May |
57.7 (14.3) |
2.3 (58) |
| June |
63.5 (17.5) |
2.2 (56) |
| July |
66.9 (19.4) |
2.1 (53) |
| August |
66.4 (19.1) |
2.0 (51) |
| September |
61.5 (16.4) |
2.2 (56) |
| October |
52.9 (11.6) |
2.2 (57) |
| November |
45.0 (7.2) |
2.3 (58) |
| December |
39.6 (4.2) |
2.1 (54) |
