My husband and I are planning a 3-4 week trip to France sometime between March and June, 2026. We are primarily interested in art, history and culture. I am thinking of Provence (Avignon, Arles, etc.) and Normandy (Dday beaches, MSM, etc) , possibly adding time in the Loire valley as well. The issue I am having is timing- trying to minimize crowds and also having a reasonable likelihood of dry weather (fine with us if it is cool). I've heard March can be very windy in Provence and some things aren't open yet, early April is Easter (April 5, 2026) with school vacations/French travellers and large Arles Easter feria, and mid-April onward gets more crowded with international tourists/cruise traffic, plus there are several French long weekends in May. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6555 posts
I think the sweet spot for you might be just after Easter.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks CJean. After Easter weekend, it will still be Spring break for French children and maybe others. Probably the reality is that there is no perfect timing and I need to choose what I care about the most e.g. weather vs French crowds vs international crowds.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1967 posts
We have travelled in June for many years, but will not do so again. Our trip to France last month had many days of 90 degree plus weather. We had excellent weather last year the first two weeks of May and will probably choose that month for future trips. And for any others reading this, early September can also be 90 degrees - it was on a previous trip to Provence. Weather is of course unpredictable, but there is a definite warming trend. Shoulder seasons are becoming the desirable travel times.
Posted by
Normandie
535 posts
Speaking for Normandie, you're more likely to find decent weather in April than in May. May tends to be rainier.
And the area can have heat waves, but it's typically cool. I'm reading stories about a heat wave in the U.S. at this time, but the highs here in Normandie in late July, about mid-way between the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel, are hovering in the mid to high 60s (F) to low 70s.
Some evenings we like to have a glass of wine out on our terrace to see the sun set. We've been wearing fleece jackets when we do that this year. Too chilly to not wear a jacket.