Winter
Dec → Feb12 to 15°
nights 5 to 7°
- 7 rainy days · 49 mm
- 7.5 h of sun
- sea 15°
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
- Jan12°not recommended
- Feb15°not recommended
- Mar16°not recommended
- Apr19°fair
- May23°recommended
- Jun28°recommended
- Jul31°recommended
- Aug31°recommended
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov17°fair
- Dec13°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the French Riviera, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12° | 5° | 7.4 h | 34 mm | 6 d | 15° | |
| February | 15° | 7° | 8.1 h | 50 mm | 7 d | 14° | |
| March | 16° | 8° | 9.6 h | 47 mm | 5 d | 14° | |
| April | 19° | 10° | 11.1 h | 49 mm | 7 d | 15° | |
| May | 23° | 14° | 11.9 h | 74 mm | 8 d | 17° | ✓ |
| June | 28° | 19° | 13.7 h | 36 mm | 6 d | 21° | ✓ |
| July | 31° | 21° | 14 h | 5 mm | 1 d | 22° | ✓ |
| August | 31° | 21° | 12.6 h | 32 mm | 3 d | 23° | ✓ |
| September | 26° | 17° | 10.8 h | 63 mm | 8 d | 22° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 14° | 8.9 h | 70 mm | 8 d | 20° | ✓ |
| November | 17° | 10° | 7.3 h | 64 mm | 9 d | 17° | |
| December | 13° | 6° | 7.1 h | 63 mm | 8 d | 15° |
The four seasons in the French Riviera, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Cassis) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May16 to 23°
nights 8 to 14°
- 7 rainy days · 57 mm
- 10.9 h of sun
- sea 15°
Summer
Jun → Aug28 to 31°
nights 19 to 21°
- 3 rainy days · 24 mm
- 13.4 h of sun
- sea 22°
Autumn
Sep → Nov17 to 26°
nights 10 to 17°
- 8 rainy days · 66 mm
- 9 h of sun
- sea 20°
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 the French Riviera, 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 15h22 of daylight, in December 9h, a difference of 6h22.
9h19Jan
10h27Feb
11h48Mar
13h21Apr
14h39May
15h22Jun
15h04Jul
13h56Aug
12h26Sep
10h56Oct
9h38Nov
9hDec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Cassis" (43.21°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the French Riviera, month by month
What to see and do
EventsNice CarnivalFebruaryMenton Lemon FestivalFebruaryCannes Film FestivalMayMonaco Grand PrixMayDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Sightseeing & walks: good conditions all twelve months.
- Beach & swimming: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the French Riviera, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruaryNice Carnival big crowds
Floats and flower battles parade on Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais for about a fortnight in February.
- FebruaryMenton Lemon Festival
Menton builds giant citrus sculptures in the Biovès Gardens and stages parades, during the two weeks of carnival.
- MayCannes Film Festival big crowds
The red carpet of the Palais des Festivals monopolises the Croisette for around twelve days, with hotels full and access to the seafront restricted.
- MayMonaco Grand Prix big crowds
Single-seaters race through the streets of Monte Carlo in late May, and prices climb all along the neighbouring coast.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit the French Riviera, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 Nice | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇫🇷 Mougins | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended12°5° at night
- 34 mm · 6 d
- 7.4 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended15°7° at night
- 50 mm · 7 d
- 8.1 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
March
Not recommended16°8° at night
- 47 mm · 5 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair19°10° at night
- 49 mm · 7 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended23°14° at night
- 74 mm · 8 d
- 11.9 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
June
Recommended28°19° at night
- 36 mm · 6 d
- 13.7 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended31°21° at night
- 5 mm · 1 d
- 14 h
- sea 22°
High season, book early
August
Recommended31°21° at night
- 32 mm · 3 d
- 12.6 h
- sea 23°
High season, book early
September
Recommended26°17° at night
- 63 mm · 8 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°14° at night
- 70 mm · 8 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair17°10° at night
- 64 mm · 9 d
- 7.3 h
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended13°6° at night
- 63 mm · 8 d
- 7.1 h
- sea 15°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 12 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 34 mm over 6 days. Expect 7.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 15 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Rain stays light: 50 mm over 7 days. Expect 8.1 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 16 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Rain stays light: 47 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 49 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (74 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.9 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
June. 28 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.7 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 14 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 31 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (32 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (63 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (64 mm). Expect 7.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 13 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (63 mm). Expect 7.1 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °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 the French Riviera?
May to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 22 to 31 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Cassis).
Which month should you avoid in the French Riviera?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 63 mm over 8 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Cassis).
What is the hottest month in the French Riviera?
July, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cassis).
What is the coldest month in the French Riviera?
January, with 12 °C at best during the day and 5 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cassis).
What is the driest month in the French Riviera?
July: 5 mm over 1 day of rain, against 74 mm in May, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the French Riviera?
July, with 14 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the French Riviera?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in July, August, September (warmest 23 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Cassis).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable French Riviera 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: Spike / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Diego F. Parra / Pexels · Olivier Cleynen / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Pablo / Pexels · Arnauld van Wambeke / Pexels · Sergei Gussev / Pexels · SlimMars 13 / Pexels