Best time to visit · Marseille · France
The best time to visit Marseille
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Marseille are May to June and September to early October, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable from June and the crowds are lighter than in high summer. July and August are hot and busy, and fire risk can close Calanques trails. Winter is mild and quiet, good for museums and city walks, but too cool for swimming and often windy.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- April, July–August and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 30°C (86°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 12°C (54°F))
- Rainiest month
- April (~6 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Marseille has a sunny Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The mistral, a cold, dry north-westerly wind, can blow for several days at a time, especially in winter and spring, clearing the skies but cooling the air and the sea. Rain falls on relatively few days, often as heavy autumn downpours.
March–May
Spring
Mild and sunny with excellent hiking in the Calanques; the mistral can be strong and the sea is still cold.
June–August
Summer
Hot, dry and crowded, with warm sea, festivals and evening life on the quays; Calanques access depends on daily fire risk.
September–November
Autumn
Warm sea in September, good walking weather in October and occasional heavy storms; prices fall by November.
December–February
Winter
Cool, bright and windy, with few visitors, santon fairs in December and sea-urchin season on the coast.
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 | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 3°C | 5 | 13°C | 9.3 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 13°C | 4°C | 4 | 13°C | 10.4 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 16°C | 6°C | 4 | 13°C | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 19°C | 9°C | 6 | 14°C | 13.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 23°C | 13°C | 5 | 17°C | 14.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 27°C | 16°C | 3 | 21°C | 15.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 30°C | 19°C | 2 | 23°C | 15.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 30°C | 19°C | 3 | 23°C | 13.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 26°C | 16°C | 4 | 21°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 21°C | 12°C | 6 | 19°C | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 15°C | 7°C | 6 | 16°C | 9.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 12°C | 4°C | 5 | 14°C | 9 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 | Candlemas procession at the Abbaye Saint-Victor (2 February); Oursinades sea-urchin festival in Carry-le-Rouet (usually Sundays in February) |
| June | Fête de la Musique — free street concerts (21 June); Festival de Marseille — dance and performing arts (usually June to July) |
| July | Bastille Day fireworks over the Vieux-Port (14 July); Mondial La Marseillaise à pétanque — giant pétanque tournament (usually early July) |
| September | European Heritage Days — free entry to normally closed buildings (usually third weekend) |
| October | Marseille–Cassis — 20 km road race over the Col de la Gineste (usually late October) |
| November | Foire aux santons — fair of Provençal Christmas crib figures (usually opens late November) |
| December | Foire aux santons continues (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; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Marseille?
The best times to visit Marseille are May to June and September to early October, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable from June and the crowds are lighter than in high summer. July and August are hot and busy, and fire risk can close Calanques trails. Winter is mild and quiet, good for museums and city walks, but too cool for swimming and often windy.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Marseille?
Usually in January–March and November. Cool but often sunny; mistral days feel cold. Museums are quiet and hotel prices low.
+What is the rainiest month in Marseille?
April, with about 6 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Marseille get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 30°C (86°F) and lows of 19°C (66°F).