Best time to visit · Bordeaux · France
The best time to visit Bordeaux
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Patrick Despoix, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Bordeaux are May to June and September to October, when the weather suits walking and vineyard visits and the riverfront is at its best. September and early October add the grape harvest. July and August are hot and busy but lively, while November to March is cool and damp but quiet and good value for museums and wine bars.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- April and July–August
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 10°C (50°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Bordeaux has a mild oceanic climate influenced by the nearby Atlantic: cool, damp winters with occasional frost, warm summers that can bring heatwaves above 35°C, and rain spread through the year with the wettest spells in autumn and winter.
March–May
Spring
Mild days, blossom in the Jardin Public and vineyards coming into leaf; showers are common and April brings the wine trade's en primeur tastings.
June–August
Summer
Long, warm evenings on the quays and at the Miroir d'Eau, with occasional heatwaves; the coast at Arcachon gets crowded in August.
September–November
Autumn
Harvest season in the vineyards, cèpes on menus and golden vine colours in October; it turns wet by November.
December–February
Winter
Cool, damp and quiet, with low prices, a Christmas market in December and empty museums; some châteaux limit visits.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C | 3°C | 12 | 9.1 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 12°C | 3°C | 10 | 10.4 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 15°C | 5°C | 10 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 18°C | 7°C | 11 | 13.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 21°C | 11°C | 10 | 14.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 25°C | 14°C | 8 | 15.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 27°C | 16°C | 7 | 15.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 27°C | 16°C | 7 | 14 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 24°C | 13°C | 8 | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 19°C | 10°C | 11 | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 14°C | 6°C | 12 | 9.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 11°C | 4°C | 12 | 8.8 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early or mid-January) |
| February | Carnaval des Deux Rives — street carnival parade (usually February or March) |
| April | En primeur week — trade tastings of the latest vintage, mostly for professionals (usually early April); Marathon de Bordeaux Métropole — night-time road race (usually April) |
| May | Foire Internationale de Bordeaux — large trade and consumer fair (usually May) |
| June | Fête de la Musique — free street concerts (21 June); Bordeaux Fête le Vin — wine festival on the quays (held in June in some years; check dates) |
| July | Bastille Day — fireworks over the Garonne (14 July) |
| September | Marathon du Médoc — costumed wine-tasting marathon in Pauillac (usually early September); European Heritage Days — free entry to normally closed buildings (usually third weekend) |
| October | Grape harvest in the surrounding vineyards (usually September to early October) |
| November | Christmas market on the Allées de Tourny (usually opens late November) |
| December | Christmas market on the Allées de Tourny (usually until late December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Bordeaux?
The best times to visit Bordeaux are May to June and September to October, when the weather suits walking and vineyard visits and the riverfront is at its best. September and early October add the grape harvest. July and August are hot and busy but lively, while November to March is cool and damp but quiet and good value for museums and wine bars.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Bordeaux?
Usually in January–March and November. Cool and often damp, with short days; museums and wine bars are quiet and hotel prices are low.
+What is the rainiest month in Bordeaux?
January, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Bordeaux get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 27°C (81°F) and lows of 16°C (61°F).