Weather in France in May
May in France is mild enough that walking is the default. This is a city-break month more than a sea-holiday month.
A country pin in May is a warning: one region of France will not match another. Use a city page if you already know where you are going. Compared with July and January, May sits in the middle of France's year.
- Average temp
- 16°C
11–20°C
- Rainfall
- 75 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
What to expect
Daytime
Mild afternoons in France are the prize in May. You can eat outside on the good days. You still want something for the breeze.
This is walking weather. Shade is useful, not essential the way it is in the hot months. A long outdoor day is a reasonable plan.
Rain
May is the wet side of the year in France. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip France if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in France
Featured stays on trip1. Dates are a starting point for May.
Average weather in France
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about France
Climate averages for France, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit France is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
August is the hottest month, with an average around 21°C.
May is the wettest month, with about 75 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
