Late spring and fall are best, with generally good weather and lighter crowds, though summer brings festivals, animated villages, reliable weather, and long opening hours at sights.
Europeans vacation in July and August, jamming the Riviera, the coast of Brittany, the Dordogne, and the Alps (worst from mid-July to mid-August), but leaving the rest of the country just lively enough for tourists. And though many French businesses close in August, the traveller hardly notices. Weekends in May can be busy — many French holidays fall in May — but June is generally quiet (outside of Paris).
Winter travel is fine for Paris, Nice, and Lyon, but you’ll find smaller cities and villages buttoned up tight. Winter weather is grey, noticeably milder in the south (unless the wind is blowing), and colder and wetter in the north. Snow is generally not an issue except in the mountains. Sights and tourist information offices keep shorter hours, and some tourist activities (such as English-language castle tours) vanish altogether. On the other hand, winter travel allows you to see cities through the lens of a local, as hotels, restaurants, and sights are much calmer.
What’s blooming when
Thanks to France’s relatively mild climate, fields of flowers greet the traveler much of the year:
Mid-April–May: Crops of brilliant yellow colza bloom, mostly in the north (best in Burgundy). Wild red poppies (coquelicots) begin sprouting in the south.
June: Red poppies pop up throughout the country. Late in June, lavender blooms begin covering the hills of Provence.
July: Lavender is in full swing in Provence, and sunflowers are awakening. Cities, towns, and villages everywhere overflow with carefully tended flowers.
August–September: Sunflowers flourish north and south.
October: In the latter half of the month, the countryside glistens with fall colors, as most trees are deciduous. Vineyards go for the gold.
France packages
Provencal Days
6 Days
Start in Avignon and end in Aix-En-Provence! With the In-depth Cultural tour Provencal Days, you have a 6 days tour package taking you through Avignon, France and 7 other destinations in France. Provencal Days includes accommodation in a hotel as well as meals and more.
Romantic France
8 Days
Start and end in Paris! With the In-depth Cultural tour Romantic France, you have a 8 days tour package taking you through Paris, France and 13 other destinations in France. Romantic France includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, insurance, meals, transport and more.
WW2 Normandy
5 Days
Start and end in Paris! With the Explorer tour WWII D-Day Landing Beaches & Battle of Normandy, you have a 5 days tour package taking you through Paris, France and 3 other destinations in France. WWII D-Day Landing Beaches & Battle of Normandy includes accommodation, an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
Mont Saint Michel
3 Days
Start and end in Paris! With the Historical tour 3 Day Normandy, Saint-Malo, Mont Saint Michel & Loire Valley Castles, you have a 3 days tour package taking you through Paris, France and 10 other destinations in France. 3 Day Normandy, Saint-Malo, Mont Saint Michel & Loire Valley Castles includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
Mountains Corsica
8 Days
Start and end in Ajaccio! With the Hiking & Trekking tour Mountains & Villages of Corsica, you have a 8 days tour package taking you through Ajaccio, France and 4 other destinations in France. Mountains & Villages of Corsica includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
Independent Paris
4 Days
Start and end in Paris! With the In-depth Cultural tour Independent Paris City Stay, you have a 4 days tour package taking you through Paris, France. Independent Paris City Stay includes accommodation, an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
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