Which is the best time to visit France?
Which is the best time to visit France? France is always a very beautiful place to see. But some seasons are better than others. Travelers conscious of their budget should consider booking a trip in the off-season. The hotel prices are more affordable during winter than in summer.
France is home to many festivals and cultural performances throughout the year. Special events such as a July outdoor concert or December Christmas market can be memorable highlights of your trip.
The Best Time to Visit South France
What it feels like to visit South France in summer
The South of France has a Mediterranean climate. It experiences mild winters and warm summers with little chance of rain. Summer is the best time to visit South France, especially for vacations at the seaside.
The summer months of July, August, or September are ideal for enjoying beach holidays on France’s Riviera. These are when the sun shines consistently, and the temperatures are pleasant (the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit).
The top beaches in France are the Atlantic Coast resorts of Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Trouville, Trouville, and Dinard. However, summer rain is more common than on the French Riviera.
The temperatures in the inland regions of Provence, including Arles and Aix-en-Provence, tend to be higher than those along the coast. The average summertime temperature is between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with occasional highs of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can spend hot, sunny days by the pool or on shaded cafe terraces.
Summertime is a time when tourists are more likely to visit tourist attractions. In summer, hotel rates tend to be higher.
South France in fall and spring
Many tourists say they like to visit the South of France in late spring or early fall. The pleasant weather makes it a great time to go sightseeing. Even though it is not hot enough to lounge on the beach, April or May are great for taking walks, visiting gardens, and sitting on terraces.
The South of France is a popular destination all year. The Cote d’Azur enjoys mild winter temperatures and a balmy climate (average temperatures in the low 50s and high 60s Fahrenheit). Nice and Cannes were wintertime resorts in the 19th century before sunbathing became fashionable. The chance of rain in winter on the French Riviera is more significant than during summertime. However, there are still plenty of sunny winter days.
The Best Time to Visit Northern France
It is hard to say what is the best time to visit France overall. That’s why we have to divide it into a few parts. Much of northern France, including Amiens, Lille, and Strasbourg, has a continental climate. This means there are short, not-too-hot summers and cold winters and the possibility of rain during spring and summertime. The Brittany region in northern France and the Normandy region in the north of France share an oceanic climate with similar temperatures to the rest. However, winters and summers here are mild.
It is best to visit northern France in the spring (end of April and May) and summer (June through mid-September). The average high temperature in late spring is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Summertime temperatures can reach the mid-70s Fahrenheit from mid-June to mid-September.
The northern French gardens are lovely in spring, which is an excellent time to take a leisurely walk around Paris.
The Loire Valley is also the best time to visit because of its lush landscapes. There are orchards and vineyard-covered rolling hills, as well as woodlands. The Loire Valley’s grand chateaux are surrounded by lush and formal gardens blooming with spring flowers.
Summer brings out the warmer temperatures, and people flock to the outdoor cafes of Lille and the canal-side terraces of Strasbourg and Colmar. The summer gives these cities a unique atmosphere.
Paris: Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit France is different from the best time for visiting Paris. Paris is a fantastic place to visit all year. Each season is unique. Personal preferences will determine when you should see them.
Most tourists recommend Paris to be visited in the spring, summer, and autumn. The weather is usually pleasant during these times. Tourists can enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Seine River and the Parisian gardens on sunny days. The Parisian sidewalk cafes or outdoor restaurants terraces provide a pleasant experience on warm summer afternoons and evenings.
The off-season is generally from October to April. It can be freezing and rainy in Paris. However, if you’re on a tight budget, the off-season is still a great time to visit Paris because hotel prices are lower. Paris is less crowded at this time of the year. The crisp air makes visiting cozy bistros or elegant tea salons more appealing in the cooler months.
France’s Best Season for Visiting
France is a popular destination for travelers throughout all four seasons. The best times to visit France are late spring, summer, and early fall. Because of the warm weather and school holidays, summer is the most popular season. The milder climate in late spring and early fall is pleasant and peaceful, with fewer people.
Spring and summer are great seasons for those who love beautiful gardens. Monet’s Garden, Giverny, is a top-rated day trip from Paris. It is stunning when the tulips bloom in April, and May, the wisterias bud, and June when the roses blossom. The garden’s pond is home to the famous water lilies from Monet’s paintings, which bloom in July.
Summer is the best season for long days and warm weather. July and August are ideal for beach vacations along the French Riviera and the elegant resort of Biarritz on the Atlantic Coast. Outdoor enthusiasts love the French Alps, the Auvergne Region, and the countryside of Provence during summertime. The sun and pleasant temperatures make it a great place to go hiking or boating.
The Best time to visit France for lower prices
For budget-minded travelers, winter is a great time to travel to France as hotel prices are lower. The weather in France can be cold from December to February, with temperatures dropping to the low 40s or mid-40s Fahrenheit (Paris and Northern France). It can also rain.
Many tourists enjoy traveling during the holiday season (end of November to January 1), as Paris and other cities have beautiful Christmas decorations. The holidays are also a time for traditional Marches de Noel (Christmas market) concerts and Christmas music concerts, especially in small towns like Annecy, France, and the Alsace region.
How do you get a visa to visit France?
France is a Schengen country, and tourists who are planning to visit France from Canada in November 2025 or later will need to submit an application for pre-authorization through an ETIAS visa waiver. Rest assured that while submitting an ETIAS application will add an extra step to your travel prep, it’s not a major task. The form is short and easy to understand, and it should help the in-person pre-screening step go more smoothly.
This portal will help you gather the information you need to submit your online visa application. The visa wizard can help you determine the requirements for visas you are required to obtain, along with the fee and supporting documents.
France’s Best Month to Visit
Best time for traveling to France for festivals
The Truffle Festival is held in January in Sarlat-la-Canada, near the Limousin. Mid-January is when truffle vendors set up shop, and local restaurants serve Perigord-style tapas made with the highly prized Perigord truffle. You can also enjoy culinary demonstrations and truffle-hunting expeditions. There will also be workshops on truffle identification.
The Normandy Impressionist Festival, which features expositions of Impressionist art, is held in Giverny and Rouen. It is a great time to visit Giverny (a short day trip from Paris) to view the flowers, water lilies, and zinnias.
The Festival de Cannes attracts movie stars, film industry professionals, cinema fans, and journalists from around the globe. It takes place in mid-May. This event, which celebrates international arthouse cinema, is one of the most important on the French Riviera. It also presents Palme d’Or Awards for the best films.
The Festival du Film Britannique takes place in Dinard, a seaside resort town in Brittany. It takes place at the end of September. This festival is Dinard’s equivalent to the Cannes Film Festival, except it focuses exclusively on British films.
Summer festivals in France
For its summer festival, which runs from mid-July to mid-August, Sisteron, a medieval town in the middle of France, is worth a trip (100 km) from Aix-en-Provence. The Citadelle de Sisteron’s grounds have been transformed into an open-air theatre. This ancient citadel was the setting for “Les Nuits de la Citadelle.” The festival features music concerts and dance performances under the stars of Provence.
Festivals are held in the Auvergne region to celebrate summer: Festival International Danses et Musiques du Monde, Issoire, Les Cultures du Monde, Gannat, and the Concerts de Vellore. These concerts include classical music concerts at the chateau de Vellore and Festival de Musique en Bourbonnais. Baroque music festivals take place in the vicinity of Herisson. La Chaise-Dieu Festival de Musique is a festival of sacred and classical music, which takes place in a Gothic abbey.
The avant-garde Festival d’Avignon hosts contemporary performing arts for three weeks in July. There are film screenings, theatre performances, and dance performances. Along with readings and workshops, there are also music concerts. The open-air Cour d’Honneur (central courtyard) of the Palais des Papes, which is UNESCO-listed, is one of the venues for events in Avignon. The majority of performances are in French, with English subtitles. Programs are also available in English.
The best time for visiting France for jazz festivals
Live concerts by renowned jazz musicians, including many from New Orleans, highlight the festival. You can find classic jazz, improvisational, piano, swing, and big band music.
A few nights in October, world-class musicians perform in Chateaurenard (12 km outside of Avignon). Many blues styles are represented, including rock, jazz, and gospel.
Every year, Antibes hosts a Jazz Festival in July. Jazz a Juan is a beautiful venue in a pine grove near the Mediterranean Sea. The festival is a legend, having hosted legendary musicians since 1960. It continues to host a distinguished line-up today, featuring all types of jazz, from New Orleans Jazz and swing to blues and be-bop.
Paris Jazz Festival takes place in the beautiful Parc Floral, Paris. The jazz concerts are free. This is a unique event.
The Avignon Jazz Festival hosts top-quality musical performances every August in Avignon’s medieval Cloitre des Carmes courtyard. This festival is well-known for helping young jazz musicians to launch their careers.
From September to October, Grenoble hosts Grenoble Alpes Metropole Jazz Festival. The concerts cover a wide range of jazz musical styles, including blues, jazz, soul, and funk, as well as cultural influences such as Creole and Cuban.
Other musical festivals in France
The Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, a festival celebrating the spring arts, is held in Monaco from mid-March to early April. There are many events, from classical music recitals to dance performances to choral music concerts.
The Rock the Pistes festival takes place on the French Alps’ Portes du Soleil ski slopes. The Rock the Pistes festival features over 50 concerts held in one week. To attend the apres-ski concerts, you will need a ski pass.
The Festival d’Aix-en-Provence is held in Aix-en-Provence for the whole month of July. The classical music and opera festival takes place in exceptional venues all over the city, such as the Theatre du Jeu de Paume (18th century), the courtyard of Hotel Maynier dropped, and the Theatre de l’Archeveche outdoor.
The Luberon region holds a series of classical music concerts at the Chateau de Lourmarin. Most performances occur in August, although they are born from July to October. You can enjoy picnics on the terrace that overlooks the gardens one hour before the concerts.
Best season for visiting France for sports lovers
La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel is a running competition in mid-March at the Eiffel Tower. Qualified runners compete to climb the 1,665 steps at the Eiffel Tower.
The Roland-Garros Grand Slam Tennis Tournament (also called the “French Open”) is held from the end of May to the beginning of June.
Winter sports in France are best enjoyed between January and February, particularly downhill skiing. Courchevel and Chamonix are the most popular ski areas in France. Val d’Isere and Val d’Isere also rank high on the list of top attractions in the French Alps. There are also several world-class resorts in France, including Grand Tourmalet and the ski domains close to Cauterets. Font-Romeu is located in the Catalan Pyrenees, near Spain’s border.
The best time for carnivals
The Nice Carnival (Carnaval de Nice), one of France’s most beloved events, is a long-standing tradition. It transforms the charming seaside town into an exciting party scene for several weeks during February. Place Massena, a square in Nice, is the place to start the colorful parades that feature musical entertainment and flower floats. Evening parades feature dazzling illuminations.
La Pegoulado, which takes place in the late summer or early winter, features a night parade lit by lanterns. The Fete du Costume, on the first Sunday of July, sees the women of Arles participate in a parade in traditional Arlesian costumes.
The Fete des Guardians are held in Arles, Provence, on May 1st. The event includes a parade of “guardians,” men from the Camargue responsible for wild horse herding. While the guardians ride horseback through Arles’ old town, townspeople wear traditional clothing. Folk music and customs are also part of the festival.
Best time in France for shopping
People who enjoy vintage shopping will love the Grande Braderie de Lille. This carnival-like flea market is held in Lille on the first weekend in September. It features several vendors in the tens to thousands. You can also find street food and beverages.
Several Truffle Markets are held in Provence in December. They occur in Menerbes between Christmas and New Year’s Day and on Friday mornings in Carpentras (40 km away from Menerbes) and Richerenches (90 km away) on Saturday mornings. Carpentras hosts holiday festivities that include illuminations, festive entertainment, and ice skating.
The Marche de Noel, a traditional Christmas market in Avignon, is a delight for holiday lovers. It runs from December to January and continues until the Epiphany. Local artisans sell handmade gifts and specialty foods at old-fashioned wooden chalets. Hot beverages and snacks like crepes, roasted chestnuts, and other festive treats are available.
Traditional Christmas markets (Marches du Noel) are held in Alsace’s small towns and villages during December. Visitors can enjoy hot drinks while they look at old-fashioned stalls selling gingerbread, handmade toys, and Christmas tree ornaments on atmospheric, cobblestone-paved squares. Colmar, Obernai, and Kaysersberg are home to some of Alsace’s most famous Christmas markets.
Other traditional Christmas markets are held in the charming Haut-Vaucluse. They occur in Gordes the second weekend of December and Venasque the first week of December. In the medieval walled town of Pernes Les Fontaines, a traditional craft fair is held a few days before Christmas.
Other important events in France
Menton, a French Riviera town near Italy, has a Mediterranean climate that allows for lush flowers and fragrant citrus fruits year-round. The Fete du Citron, Menton’s celebration of the lemon trees symbolic of the town, is held in February. Some people consider this to be the best time to visit France. Festival attractions include colorful citron-theme parades, giant art installations, and large-scale art installations made of citrus fruits.
Art Paris is a delight for those who love contemporary and modern art. This exceptional art fair showcases the work of hundreds of artists from around the globe and is held at Paris’ Grand Palais. This is a fascinating look at France’s art scene, as it is presented by Paris, known for being the world’s art capital.
Brittany’s Lorient hosts Festival Interceltique (Celtic Music Festival). This festival draws thousands of people because of its highly acclaimed program. The August event features 200 performances by musicians of extraordinary caliber.
Lacoste, near Gordes, is another prestigious cultural event of the Luberon. The Festival de Lacoste is a weekend-long festival that features classical music, dance, theater, and opera at the Chateau de Lacoste. It takes place on weekends between July 31 and August 31, 2010.
The Salon du Santon is held in mid-December in Menerbes, Provence’s Luberon region. The Christmas Market features a unique selection of handcrafted Provencal folkloric nativity scenes and manger figurines.
During the holiday season, Arles hosts the Salon International des Santonniers. This showcases traditional nativity scenes.
France: The Best Time to Visit France
France’s late fall and winter (November to March) are the best times to visit. Many hotels have drastically reduced their prices. The downside to the off-season is that it can be cold, especially in Paris and other northern France cities. However, tourist attractions tend to be less crowded.
Visitors can enjoy the Louvre Museum’s paintings without having to look at other tourists. There are fewer lines at the Eiffel Tower than at different times of the year. It’s also a great time to visit tourist destinations other than Paris, like Mont-Saint-Michel or the Loire Valley. These attractions are more relaxing and enjoyable without crowds.
Hotel prices can rise from Christmastime to New Year’s Day in Paris, especially if you are traveling during this time. Holidays are a great time to travel, but they aren’t the most affordable.
This is just our advice about the best time for visiting France. In the end, it’s up to you when you decide to visit the country.