FR French Riviera, France

Best Time to Visit
French Riviera

The French Riviera is accessible year-round. The long May-September window offers 5 months of excellent weather — with a golden window in June.

Updated: March 2026 · Open-Meteo · 10 years · 12 months compared · 43.7°N 7.27°E
JulyBest month
28°COptimal temperature
8%Rainy days

When to visit French Riviera?

🌞 Best time overall
July
🌡️ Optimal temperature
21°C–28°C in July
🌧 Least rain
8% rainy days in July
🌧 Wettest month
December (22%)
📅 Best score
9.8/10

Best time by type of trip

🏖️BeachJuly–August — sea 25–26°C, pebble beaches in Nice, sandy in Antibes/Pampelonne.
🥾Verdon GorgeMay or September — gorge hiking, ideal temperatures.
🎨Culture & MuseumsOctober–November — Matisse, Picasso, Chagall without the queues.
👨‍👩‍👧FamilyJune — sea already warm (22°C), reasonable crowds, not yet summer prices.
💰BudgetMay or October — very decent weather, prices 30–40% below peak.

French Riviera weather month by month

MonthMin °CMax °CRainy days (%)Precip. mm/dSun h/dScore
⛅ January5°C13°C20%1.87.9h6.4/10
⛅ February6°C14°C23%2.59.0h6.9/10
⛅ March8°C15°C23%2.610.5h7.0/10
🌤️ April10°C18°C28%2.511.9h7.3/10
🌤️ May14°C21°C31%2.012.9h7.8/10
☀️ June19°C26°C21%1.313.8h9.0/10
☀️ July21°C28°C8%0.413.6h9.8/10
☀️ August22°C29°C11%0.612.8h9.2/10
☀️ September18°C25°C17%1.711.0h8.4/10
🌤️ October14°C21°C26%3.99.5h7.5/10
⛅ November9°C17°C32%4.28.1h7.0/10
⛅ December6°C14°C22%2.87.6h6.3/10
Ideal Fair Challenging climate Source: Open-Meteo · 10 years

What to expect each season

🌸 Spring (Mar–May) — Good time

Average 18°C, 27% rainy days, 11.8h sunshine/day. Score: 7.4/10.

☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug) — Excellent time

Average 28°C, 13% rainy days, 13.4h sunshine/day. Score: 9.3/10.

🍂 Autumn (Sep–Nov) — Good time

Average 21°C, 25% rainy days, 9.5h sunshine/day. Score: 7.6/10.

❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb) — Acceptable

Average 14°C, 22% rainy days, 8.2h sunshine/day. Score: 6.5/10.

Find a place to stay in French Riviera

Check availability during the recommended period

Tip : February, March offer a good weather/price balance — decent score with fewer crowds.

Search on Hotels.com

Activities and tours in French Riviera

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and local experiences. Browse activities on GetYourGuide

Find a flight to French Riviera

Compare flights from all airlines. Search flights

Detailed weather by month

Frequently asked questions

July is ideal with 8% rainy days and 28°C.
December is the wettest month with 22% rainy days.
Yes, July is the best month with an average of 28°C.
In winter, the average score is 6.5/10. Acceptable conditions for cultural visits.

Destinations with similar climate

Compare destinations by weather

Explore by month or compare