How much less crowded is France in May than June?

The dates in June make a difference. We have to travel in June (or later) due to our kids school schedule. This is what makes June busier than May.

In 2018 we travelled for 3 weeks starting in mid-June. We noticed a huge difference in tourist numbers a week later. The later you go, the busier it will be because kids will be out of school.

Anytime there is a specific draw to an area (like the lavender bloom, festivals, etc) you can expect an increase in tourists.

The weather will probably be plenty warm in Spain in May. Depending on your itinerary, you might consider beginning the trip in Spain or Portugal, then continuing on the France. Consider a multi-city flight where you fly into one city and out of another.

I can't answer your question directly. I also wonder how much covid has changed the travel landscape and if we can always go on past experience.

I do know, worldwide, that when school is out and families/educators are free to travel, crowds do increase.

It depends on where. Springtime is when school groups from all over Europe go on trips to other countries, visiting the cities. I thought there would be fewer groups, but this year they are back visiting.

May and June are similar, at least in France, since school doesn't get out until late June. Most tourists are without children. June is too early for lavender bloom.

France is likely to be very busy in the last week of May due to a major bank holiday (25-28 May). There is a lesser holiday on 6 June that also has a (milder) impact on crowds.
Therefore, this year, I think mid-June will be quieter.

I was in Burgundy and Alsace for the last two weeks of June 2015 and nothing was crowded. I was in Portugal from mid-May to early June (3 weeks) 2019 and a lot of places were pretty crowded, though not as bad as later in the year.

In 2017 we were in France (Lyon and Dordogne) from late May through about June 10. As others have mentioned, the thing to be aware of is the dates of holiday weekends (Ascension and Pentecôte) when many attractions will be crowded - partly from travelers from other European countries who also have time off. Globally, I would say crowds increased noticeably during the course of our visit, but mid-June is still nothing like July/August. For example, for the cave Font de Gaume in Dordogne which is discussed in other threads here, in May we were able to walk up and get tickets at the last minute, whereas in June there were lines well ahead of when they opened for the day. This was probably a fluke, but I think the general trend was clear.

In 2022 as long as you avoid last week of May/first week of June, you should be pretty good either month as most of the seasonal holidays fall on the weekend. The exceptions are Thurs May 26 and Mon June 6.

June will be nothing like July, when French and other EU school-age families will be vacationing en masse. And I mean seriously en masse. French school vacation doesn't start until Thurs July 7 this year.

So, what about late July. Is that the peak of the tourist season in Paris. Will we find long lines for the museums and other sites ?

@halgolf97 - yes, that will be peak time for international tourists. Paris will be filled with foreign tourists and missing a big chunk of its local population, who, like most of the nation, head to the coasts in the summer.

If you don't like crowds, research the lesser known museums. The famous and centrally located ones (that Rick Steves focuses on) like the Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie will be crowded, especially Orsay. Paris has so many museums.

One way to have smaller crowds is to go in the evening, if there are days with evening hours (a lot of these disappeared with the pandemic).

Personally, walking around away from the tourist center is the most interesting thing to do in Paris in the summer! Unless you are a real art buff, most of my visitors find that more interesting.

Same here. Our oldest daughter is going with us to be our "tour guide" and she teaches.....so..won't be going until June 12. We've never been but this will be her 4th trip.