Season guide · Cannes · France
Cannes in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Cool but often sunny, with mimosa on the hills in February; low hotel prices, but many beach clubs and some restaurants close. Expect highs up to 13°C (55°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 17 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 5°C (41°F) to 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 17
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F) to 14°C (57°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13°C (55°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 | 9.3 h | 1/5 |
| February | 13°C (55°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 5 | 10.4 h | 2/5 |
| December | 13°C (55°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 6 | 9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 17 of the year's roughly 56 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Winter sales in the shops (usually from early January)
- February: Festival International des Jeux — board and video games fair at the Palais (usually February)
- February: Mimosa festival in neighbouring Mandelieu-la-Napoule (usually February)
- December: Christmas village and lights in the centre (usually December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Le Suquet
Musée des Explorations du Monde
Save the tower climb for the end of your visit and time it for late afternoon, when the bay is at its clearest.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- Art
Gallery · La Croisette
La Malmaison
The last remaining part of the 19th-century Grand Hôtel on the Croisette is now a municipal art centre that stages temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, often focused on artists linked to the Riviera such as Picasso or Matisse.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Le Cannet
Musée Bonnard
Combine it with a wander through the old streets of Le Cannet and lunch on Rue Saint-Sauveur.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in winter
- Esterel coast and Théoule-sur-Mer (About 30 minutes by car) — West of Cannes, the red volcanic rocks of the Esterel massif drop into the sea along the Corniche d'Or, one of the most scenic roads in France.
- Monaco (About 1 hour by train) — The principality packs the Prince's Palace on Monaco-Ville rock, the Oceanographic Museum, the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the yacht-filled Port Hercule into two square kilometres.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Cannes?
It is a trade-off: Cool but often sunny, with mimosa on the hills in February; low hotel prices, but many beach clubs and some restaurants close. The best months overall are June and September.
+What is the weather like in Cannes in winter?
Highs of up to 13°C (55°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 17 rainy days over the season.