Best time to visit France
Autumn in the Loire Valley is a time of tranquillity and sun-plump grapes that hang heavy on their vines: a wine lovers paradise
The best time to visit France depends on what you want to do when you’re there: Nov-April is the winter season, the optimum time for skiing and snowshoeing and a key period for mountain sports; late May and June are France’s spring, a temperate time for walking when the incredible spring flowers are in full bloom – the Pyrenees alone has 800 different species of orchid; and refuge trekking across lofty terrain reaches fever pitch in mid-July when the snow has cleared and the risk of avalanche is minimal. If you’re heading to the coast, May to July are your best bet.
French Alps Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
-3
3
75
FEB
-1
5
75
MAR
0
9
75
APR
4
13
74
MAY
7
17
85
JUN
11
22
95
JUL
12
25
75
AUG
11
23
90
SEP
10
20
90
OCT
6
14
80
NOV
1
9
95
DEC
-2
4
85
Our France Holidays
Mont Blanc ascent climbing holiday, France
Climb Western Europe's highest peak
From
£2699
8 days
inc UK flights
Snowshoeing in the French Alps
Snowshoeing in the Alps with a high mountain guide
From
€1372
8 days
ex flights
French Alps self guided walking holiday
Chalet based, self guided walking holiday in the French Alps
From
£525
8 days
ex flights
Self guided walking holiday in France
Idyllic walking in France with great food, wine and ambience
From
£900 to £980
7 days
ex flights
Family adventure holiday to France
Life enhancing family adventure & yoga in the French Alps
From
£834
7 days
ex flights
Mont Blanc holiday, Tour du Mont Blanc
The best of the Tour du Mont Blanc
From
£1099 to £1299
8 days
inc UK flights
Alternative family winter holiday in Chamonix, France
Half term family ski, yoga & circus holiday
From
£795
7 days
ex flights
Guided walking holidays in the French Alps
Guided walking from a historic chalet base
From
£715
8 days
ex flights
Mercantour Park self catering gite, France
Beautifully located accommodation in the Mercantour, France
From
€518
per week (sleeps 2)
French Riviera holiday, walking, culture & cooking option
Experience real French culture and get off the beaten track
From
€510 to €780
4 days
ex flights
Winter activity holiday in the French Alps
A flexible winter multi activity holiday in the French Alps
From
€546 to €1113
7 days
ex flights
Mercantour National Park self guided walking, France
Value centre based self guided walking - Mercantour, France
From
€755
8 days
ex flights
French Riviera walking holiday, France
Relaxed mountain and coastal daywalks
From
£1179 to £1379
8 days
inc UK flights
Highlights of Provence walking holiday, France
A guided walking holiday through beautiful regions of France
From
£1329 to £1449
8 days
inc UK flights
Loire Valley walking holiday, France
An easy-paced, gentle walking holiday
From
£1219 to £1299
7 days
inc UK flights
Kayaking holidays in the French Alps
A week's white water kayaking in the French Alps
From
€647
8 days
ex flights
Loire self guided cycling holiday
An interest-packed, gentle cycling holiday.
From
£1769 to £1899
9 days
inc UK flights
Provence self guided cycling tour, Avignon to Cassis
Discover Provence from Avignon to the Mediterranean by bike
From
€995 to €1380
8 days
ex flights
Pyrenees cross country skiing holiday in France
Cross-country skiing and beautiful views of the Pyrenean mountains
From
£1349
8 days
inc UK flights
Learn how to kayak holiday in the Ardeche, France
Kayaking holiday in the magnificent beauty of the Ardeche.
From
£759
7 days
ex flights
Mercantour family walking holiday, France
Family walking tour with a donkey in Southern French Alps
From
€560 to €660
7 days
ex flights
Lavender fields cycling holiday in the South of France
Cycle through France's vast lavender fields in Provence
From
€825
6 days
ex flights
French Riviera holiday, food, walking & culture
Experience real French culture and get off the beaten track
From
€370 to €1275
7 days
ex flights
Pyrenees guided walking holiday
Guided walking and trekking holidays in the French Pyrenees
From
£790
8 days
ex flights
Dordogne cycling tour, France
Ride through remarkable Perigord and Quercy countryside
From
€870 to €1990
8 days
ex flights
Birdwatching holiday in France
Great Bird Watching, Food, Wine and Bonhomie
From
£900 to £980
7 days
ex flights
Loire Valley self catering accommodation, France
Loire Valley cottage for your holiday to happen with ease
From
€600 to €750
per cottage per week (sleeps 4)
France gite accommodation, Mercantour, sleeps 6
Beautifully located gite in the Mercantour, France
From
€518
per accommodation per week
Ski touring holiday in France
Ski touring trip in the wild Queyras Regional Nature Park
From
€1153
8 days
ex flights
Month by month guide
Our top France Holiday
French Alps self guided walking holiday
Chalet based, self guided walking holiday in the French Alps
From
£525
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug
2019: 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about France or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Responsible Travel recommends
Chloe Knott, from our supplier Exodus, shares her advice on the best time to visit France:
“The weather in France starts to improve from May through to September and if you go either side of that towards the mountains there will be snow and around the Atlantic coast it will be quite miserable, although the Mediterranean tends to be quite pleasant from March onwards. A rule of thumb is to visit the coastal resorts from late March through to October and if you’re heading into the mountains, head out a bit later in May. That way you’ll get the least rain and the lightest hours, so long walking days and generally better weather for any outdoor activities you may want to try.”
“The weather in France starts to improve from May through to September and if you go either side of that towards the mountains there will be snow and around the Atlantic coast it will be quite miserable, although the Mediterranean tends to be quite pleasant from March onwards. A rule of thumb is to visit the coastal resorts from late March through to October and if you’re heading into the mountains, head out a bit later in May. That way you’ll get the least rain and the lightest hours, so long walking days and generally better weather for any outdoor activities you may want to try.”
Festivals & events in France
Did you know about...?
Pelerinage des Gitans
May sees hundreds of Roma Gitano gypsies descend upon the tiny village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue all in the name of Sara, the patron saint of the Gitans, who fled there from the Holy Land in medieval times, whom they celebrate with a flamboyant fiesta of dancing in the streets, music and general merriment for three whole weeks.
More about France
We have packed a lot of beauties into our France travel guide, including what we rate and what we don't. We definitely rate a lot though.
There are so many stunning areas to go to in France and some more famous than others. It is also packed with hidden gems…
Amble, ramble or hike yourself happy as things to do in France should always start with the great outdoors and finish with fine food & drink…
The French Alps are so big, it’s hard to know where to start. Let us show you the way. And there are many beautiful ways…
Like rebellious cousins to the goody two-shoes Alps, the French Pyrenees are all about the jagged peaks, the moody landscapes and the rugged terrain…
The Mercantour National Park is glorious mix of Alpes Maritimes and Alpes de Haute Provence. All just an hour north of Nice. Which is nice...
With approaches from France, Switzerland and Italy, Mont Blanc is a tripartite triumph of nature. Climb it, circumnavigate it, camp on it or go chic on it…
Rural idylls, walking trails, quaint historic market towns and spectacular marshlands, Poitou-Charentes is France without the fancy bits. Just the real and absolutely beautiful bits…
Provence holidays take you into a landscape immortalised in painting, literature and film. Medieval cities, olive groves, perched villages and superb food…
France is perfect en famille. With a great variety of holidays too from trekking with a donkey to white water rafting. Allez les enfants!...
We have lots of great France travel advice such as finding out more about camping with kids, trekking in the Alps and how to choose the right gite...
From holiday homes, to hunting and pollution in the mountains our responsible tourism tips are all you need to travel better in France…
Find all of our France guides in one place, for particular places in France such as Corsica, the Alps or Poitou-Charentes. Or a range of activities holidays too of course...
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Hervé] [Loire Valley: Daniel Jolivet]
[Rt recommends: Tommie Hansen]
[Pelerinage des Gitans: iso-belle]
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