When is the best time to visit France?

What's the French climate like?

There are several French climates, in fact. France is a temperate country. But there are more than 1000 kms between Lille and Marseille, and even a little more between Brest and Strasbourg. So the climate is not the same everywhere at the same time. We're used to saying thatthe Loire, which crosses the country almost from east to west, is a meteorological frontier between north and south. Above the Loire, the climate is generally wetter and cooler. Below the Loire, it's sunnier and warmer as you move towards the Mediterranean. The climate is not the same in Corsica as in Paris, or in Brittany as in the mountains.

Summer is the season of sunshine, but it's also the season when there are the most tourists, since the French are also tourists on vacation in their own country. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.

Trends by direction

The most important thing to remember is that :

• The south is often sunny, even in winter.
• The west is often wet, but sunny even in winter.
• The north is cooler and wetter.
• The east is cooler in winter and very hot in summer;

Here's some April or October weather in Normandy. Spring and autumn are the best times to have a bit of sun, not too cold and at the same time not too many people around you. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos

When to come to France?

If you want sun

In general, spring, summer and early autumn should be preferred if you want sunshine, summer being, obviously, the hottest season. You can therefore opt for the period fromthe end of April to mid-October with a heart of choice between the end of May and the beginning of September. In the south of France, the sunny period is much longer, lasting almost all year round, even if it gets cooler from late November to late February;

But not too many tourists 

Then you should give priority to April, May and June and September and October.During these months, the weather is rather pleasant and there are fewer tourists since the French, who like to spend their vacations in their own country, aren't on vacation except during public holidays (there are a lot of them in May).Summer is to be avoided by the sea, especially in the south, if you don't want to see too many people. That said, it's in summer that France's major cities are the least populated, since many of the inhabitants go off on vacation elsewhere. This is the best time for a citybreak;

When to come to Paris?

July and August are still good times to visit Paris / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos

The weather in Paris is not the weather all over France. Here are the seasons and their weather in the capital: 

In order of preference :

1. In spring ( March to May) for mildness (with 10 to 20 degrees during the day). It rains a little more often, but it's flowering season in the parks. 
2. In summer (from June to September) for the heat and because there's sun. Paris is more frequented by tourists in summer, but there are fewer locals on site because they go on vacation. 
3. In autumn (September to November) because the colors of the trees are superb, there's nothing more romantic than an autumn shower and the light is beautiful. 
4. In winter (November to March) the climate is cooler and mostly rainy, but there are also beautiful days with cold sunshine. ATTENTION: December is a special month, as France is decked out in lights for the festive season. 

What is valid for Paris is also valid for the northern part of France with some differences: 

• It rains a little more in the west, but showers are often shorter and windy.
• To the west and north, the sea makes the weather very changeable. We can go from a shower to magnificent weather in the same day, especially in spring and summer;
• In the east, the climate is much cooler in winter, especially in Alsace and Lorraine, which is one of its charms (there can be snow in December-January-February). It's also very hot in summer, and quite stormy.

THE weather tip: 

As a general rule, always bring a small umbrella with you on your trip to France. There may be showers during your walk. This weather means that the country has always had strong agriculture and magnificent gardens, even if climate change is changing things, with milder winters but much more rain than before, and summers that can be scorching, including in northern France. 

What about overseas France?

These indications are valid for metropolitan France. The weather is not the same in overseas France. In the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed in relation to European France. The weather is generally better from October to March;