Winter
Dec → Feb10 to 12°
nights 5 to 7°
- 13 rainy days · 115 mm
- sea 12°
When is the best time to visit Arcachon Bay?
- Jan10°not recommended
- Feb12°not recommended
- Mar14°not recommended
- Apr17°fair
- May19°recommended
- Jun23°recommended
- Jul25°recommended
- Aug25°recommended
- Sep23°recommended
- Oct19°recommended
- Nov15°fair
- Dec12°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Arcachon Bay, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10° | 5° | 113 mm | 14 d | 12° | |
| February | 12° | 6° | 96 mm | 12 d | 12° | |
| March | 14° | 7° | 97 mm | 15 d | 12° | |
| April | 17° | 9° | 75 mm | 11 d | 14° | |
| May | 19° | 12° | 87 mm | 12 d | 17° | ✓ |
| June | 23° | 16° | 112 mm | 12 d | 20° | ✓ |
| July | 25° | 18° | 56 mm | 8 d | 22° | ✓ |
| August | 25° | 18° | 65 mm | 9 d | 23° | ✓ |
| September | 23° | 15° | 81 mm | 11 d | 22° | ✓ |
| October | 19° | 13° | 100 mm | 12 d | 20° | ✓ |
| November | 15° | 9° | 142 mm | 15 d | 16° | |
| December | 12° | 7° | 135 mm | 14 d | 13° |
The four seasons in Arcachon Bay, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Dune du Pilat) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May14 to 19°
nights 7 to 12°
- 13 rainy days · 86 mm
- sea 14°
Summer
Jun → Aug23 to 25°
nights 16 to 18°
- 10 rainy days · 78 mm
- sea 22°
Autumn
Sep → Nov15 to 23°
nights 9 to 15°
- 13 rainy days · 108 mm
- sea 19°
Book early for May to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Arcachon Bay, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h32 of daylight, in December 8h50, a difference of 6h42.
9h10Jan
10h22Feb
11h47Mar
13h25Apr
14h47May
15h32Jun
15h14Jul
14h02Aug
12h27Sep
10h53Oct
9h30Nov
8h50Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Dune du Pilat" (44.59°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Arcachon Bay, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsBird migration at Le TeichMarch, April, September, OctoberOyster festivalsJuly to AugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: July, August
- Beach & swimming: July, August, September
- Towns & culture: February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Arcachon Bay, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- March, April, September, OctoberBird migration at Le Teich
The Le Teich bird reserve sees migrating birds pass through in spring and autumn, led by spoonbills and waders.
- July to AugustOyster festivals
The bay's oyster-farming villages bring out tables, tastings and dances through July and August, each on its own weekend.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended10°5° at night
- 113 mm · 14 d
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended12°6° at night
- 96 mm · 12 d
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended14°7° at night
- 97 mm · 15 d
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair17°9° at night
- 75 mm · 11 d
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended19°12° at night
- 87 mm · 12 d
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended23°16° at night
- 112 mm · 12 d
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended25°18° at night
- 56 mm · 8 d
- sea 22°
High season, book early
August
Recommended25°18° at night
- 65 mm · 9 d
- sea 23°
High season, book early
September
Recommended23°15° at night
- 81 mm · 11 d
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended19°13° at night
- 100 mm · 12 d
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair15°9° at night
- 142 mm · 15 d
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended12°7° at night
- 135 mm · 14 d
- sea 13°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 10 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 113 mm of rain over 14 days. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 12 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (96 mm). Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 14 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 97 mm of rain over 15 days. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (87 mm). Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (112 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (56 mm). The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (65 mm). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (81 mm). The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (100 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 15 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Frequent rain: 142 mm over 15 days. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 12 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 135 mm of rain over 14 days. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Arcachon Bay?
May to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 19 to 25 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Dune du Pilat).
Which month should you avoid in Arcachon Bay?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 135 mm over 14 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Dune du Pilat).
What is the hottest month in Arcachon Bay?
July, with 25 °C on average in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Dune du Pilat).
What is the coldest month in Arcachon Bay?
January, with 10 °C at best during the day and 5 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Dune du Pilat).
What is the driest month in Arcachon Bay?
July: 56 mm over 8 days of rain, against 142 mm in November, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Arcachon Bay?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in July, August, September (warmest 23 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Dune du Pilat).
When is the best time to hike in Arcachon Bay?
July, August: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Dune du Pilat), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Arcachon Bay guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Bordeaux and Around: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Remi Jouan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Jibi44 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Mo Eid / Pexels · Sergei Gussev / Pexels · Czapp Árpád / Pexels · Jan van der Wolf / Pexels