When to go · France
France in November
Mixed month. Rainiest month on the Mediterranean; many coastal hotels and ski resorts closed; Paris cheap.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- France
- Prices
- Low
- France
Verdict
Rainiest month on the Mediterranean; many coastal hotels and ski resorts closed; Paris cheap.
Weather in November
- Paris and the north · Paris, Lille, Champagne, Normandy inlandcool
Grey, damp winters; late spring and September are the sweet spot. Paris heatwaves hit 35–40 °C in July–August and most flats and small hotels lack air conditioning.
- Atlantic west · Brittany, Normandy coast, Bordeaux, Biarritzrainy
Rain in any month; mild summers without much heat. The Basque coast is greener and wetter than people expect.
- Centre and east · Loire, Burgundy, Alsace, Lyon, Dordognecool
Cold foggy winters and hot summers; Alsace Christmas markets make December busy despite the cold.
- Mediterranean south · Provence, Riviera, Languedoc, Corsicarainy
Dry and sunny; lavender blooms late June to mid-July. Mistral wind in the Rhône valley; autumn flash floods.
- Mountains · Chamonix, Annecy, Pyreneescool
Skiing mid-December to April; hiking and lifts late June to early September. Many resorts close in May and November.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Toussaint (All Saints' Day)
1 Nov
Public holiday inside a two-week school break (late Oct – early Nov); family travel peak, cemeteries busy.
Armistice Day
11 Nov
Ceremonies at war memorials; banks and offices closed.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · France
- Low
- Prices · France
- Low
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast