Winter
Dec → Feb7 to 10°
nights 0 to 2°
- 13 rainy days · 124 mm
- 5.9 h of sun
When is the best time to visit the French Alps?
- Jan7°recommended
- Feb10°recommended
- Mar12°fair
- Apr15°not recommended
- May19°fair
- Jun24°recommended
- Jul26°recommended
- Aug26°recommended
- Sep22°recommended
- Oct17°fair
- Nov11°not recommended
- Dec7°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the French Alps, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | 0° | 5.4 h | 113 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| February | 10° | 2° | 6.9 h | 84 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| March | 12° | 3° | 8.4 h | 114 mm | 13 d | |
| April | 15° | 5° | 10.1 h | 119 mm | 11 d | |
| May | 19° | 9° | 10.6 h | 149 mm | 15 d | |
| June | 24° | 14° | 12.3 h | 139 mm | 16 d | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 16° | 13 h | 141 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| August | 26° | 16° | 11.6 h | 88 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| September | 22° | 13° | 9.9 h | 127 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| October | 17° | 9° | 7.9 h | 156 mm | 13 d | |
| November | 11° | 4° | 6 h | 138 mm | 13 d | |
| December | 7° | 1° | 5.4 h | 174 mm | 16 d |
The four seasons in the French Alps, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Annecy) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May12 to 19°
nights 3 to 9°
- 13 rainy days · 127 mm
- 9.7 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug24 to 26°
nights 14 to 16°
- 12 rainy days · 123 mm
- 12.3 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 22°
nights 4 to 13°
- 12 rainy days · 140 mm
- 7.9 h of sun
Book early for January to February and June to September
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.
.jpg/960px-Le_Br%C3%A9vent_%40_Planpraz_%40_Chamonix_(51051583001).jpg)
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
Daylight in the French Alps, 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 15h43 of daylight, in December 8h40, a difference of 7h03.
9h02Jan
10h17Feb
11h46Mar
13h29Apr
14h55May
15h43Jun
15h23Jul
14h07Aug
12h28Sep
10h49Oct
9h23Nov
8h40Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Annecy" (45.90°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the French Alps, month by month
What to see and do
EventsAlpine meadows in bloomJune to JulyTranshumanceJune, SeptemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: February, April, July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in the French Alps, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- June to JulyAlpine meadows in bloom
In June and July, the high-altitude meadows are covered in gentians and rhododendrons as soon as the snow clears from the slopes.
- June, SeptemberTranshumance
Herds go up to the high pastures at the start of summer and come back down in September, sometimes passing through the villages to the sound of their bells.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit the French Alps, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 Annecy | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇫🇷 Savoie and Mont Blanc | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ |
| 🇫🇷 The Vercors | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended7°0° at night
- 113 mm · 12 d
- 5.4 h
Busy, without the crush
February
Recommended10°2° at night
- 84 mm · 12 d
- 6.9 h
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair12°3° at night
- 114 mm · 13 d
- 8.4 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended15°5° at night
- 119 mm · 11 d
- 10.1 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair19°9° at night
- 149 mm · 15 d
- 10.6 h
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended24°14° at night
- 139 mm · 16 d
- 12.3 h
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended26°16° at night
- 141 mm · 11 d
- 13 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended26°16° at night
- 88 mm · 10 d
- 11.6 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended22°13° at night
- 127 mm · 11 d
- 9.9 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair17°9° at night
- 156 mm · 13 d
- 7.9 h
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended11°4° at night
- 138 mm · 13 d
- 6 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair7°1° at night
- 174 mm · 16 d
- 5.4 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 0 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (113 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.4 h a day). Busy season, without the crush.
February. Cool: 10 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (84 mm). Expect 6.9 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 12 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (114 mm). Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 15 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (119 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 149 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 139 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (141 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 13 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (88 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.6 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (127 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (156 mm). Expect 7.9 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (138 mm). Expect 6 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 1 °C at night. Frequent rain: 174 mm over 16 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.4 h a day). 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 the French Alps?
January to February and June to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 7 to 26 °C, with 12 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Annecy).
Which month should you avoid in the French Alps?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 138 mm over 13 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Annecy).
What is the hottest month in the French Alps?
July, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Annecy).
What is the coldest month in the French Alps?
January, with 7 °C at best during the day and 0 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Annecy).
What is the driest month in the French Alps?
February: 84 mm over 12 days of rain, against 174 mm in December, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the French Alps?
July, with 13 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable French Alps guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit France: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Antonio Mena / Pexels · Adrien Stachowiak / Pexels · PHILIPPE SERRAND / Pexels · Gaetan THURIN / Pexels · Ilia Bronskiy / Pexels · Tiia Monto / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Scott Barber / Pexels