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Best time to visit Marseille

The best time to visit Marseille is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January11.2 °C / 52 °F6.7 °C / 44 °F65 mm / 2.6 inneither best nor good
February11.8 °C / 53 °F6.8 °C / 44 °F57 mm / 2.3 inneither best nor good
March13.9 °C / 57 °F8.6 °C / 47 °F53 mm / 2.1 inneither best nor good
April16.4 °C / 62 °F11.1 °C / 52 °F49 mm / 1.9 ingood month
May19.6 °C / 67 °F14.3 °C / 58 °F47 mm / 1.9 inbest month
June23.7 °C / 75 °F18.4 °C / 65 °F23 mm / 0.9 inbest month
July26.3 °C / 79 °F20.8 °C / 69 °F10 mm / 0.4 inbest month
August26.2 °C / 79 °F20.6 °C / 69 °F18 mm / 0.7 inbest month
September23.3 °C / 74 °F18 °C / 64 °F52 mm / 2 inbest month
October19.8 °C / 68 °F14.9 °C / 59 °F82 mm / 3.2 ingood month
November15.2 °C / 59 °F10.9 °C / 52 °F107 mm / 4.2 inneither best nor good
December12.3 °C / 54 °F8 °C / 46 °F74 mm / 2.9 inneither best nor good
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: neither
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: best
  6. JJune: best
  7. JJuly: best
  8. AAugust: best
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: neither
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
May–September
Good
April, October

Marseille shines from May to September, with warm, dry, sunny days ideal for exploring; April and October are good but cooler or wetter, while November through March are too cool, rainy and dull for comfortable sightseeing.

Why these months

  • April · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 14.5 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, average daily high 16.4 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 11.1 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 72%.

    Against: wet days 7.2 days, precipitation 49 mm / 1.9 in.

    Also on: Avec le Temps festival, Beach nightlife season, Carnaval de Marseille, Ciné en Plein Air, Festival de Musique Sacrée, Festival Flamenco Azul, Festival International Music et Cinéma, Massilia Cup, Provençal produce markets (cherries, melons, figs), Sailing season opens, Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée regatta.

    Watch out for: French Easter school holidays.

  • May · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 18.8 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 19.6 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 72%.

    Against: wet days 6.6 days, precipitation 47 mm / 1.9 in.

    Also on: Avec le Temps festival, Beach nightlife season, Ciné en Plein Air, Fête de la Nature, Festival de Musique Sacrée, Festival Flamenco Azul, Festival International Music et Cinéma, Massilia Cup, May 1 muguet (lily of the valley) tradition, Provençal produce markets (cherries, melons, figs), Rencontres du Cinéma Sud-Américain, Sailing season opens, Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée regatta.

    Watch out for: French May school holidays (May Day to Victory Day).

  • June · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 23 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 18.4 °C / 65 °F, relative humidity 71%.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille), Festival de Marseille, La Fête Bleue, La Fête du Panier, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille.

    Watch out for: Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk.

  • July · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 27.8 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, average daily high 26.3 °C / 79 °F, wet days 1.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, relative humidity 68%, average daily low 20.8 °C / 69 °F.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille), Festival de Marseille, Garlic harvest and saffron season, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille.

    Watch out for: Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk, French summer school holidays (les vacances).

  • August · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 27.7 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 18 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 26.2 °C / 79 °F, wet days 2.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, relative humidity 69%, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille), Festival de Marseille, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille, Start of the football season.

    Watch out for: Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk, French summer school holidays (les vacances).

  • September · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 23.3 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.3 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, average daily low 18 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 72%.

    Against: precipitation 52 mm / 2 in, wet days 5.5 days.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, Festival de Marseille, Festival du Plateau, Marsatac, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille.

  • October · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, average daily low 14.9 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 76%.

    Against: days with heavy rain 2.8 days, precipitation 82 mm / 3.2 in, wet days 7.2 days, sunshine per day 9.2 h, share of rain falling in the daytime 42%.

    Also on: Beach nightlife season, Fiesta des Suds, Foire Internationale de Marseille, Pieds et paquets season, Salon des Vignerons et de la Gastronomie.

    Watch out for: Beach venues close for winter, French Toussaint (All Saints) school holidays.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: best
  6. JJune: best
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: neither
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
May–June, September
Good
March–April, July–August, October

Marseille offers its best hiking weather in May, June and September, when days are long, dry and comfortably warm; March, April, July, August and October are good but held back by cooler temperatures, rain or building heat, while November through February are too wet, dull and short-dayed for hiking.

Why these months

  • March · good

    In its favour: average daily high 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, daylight per day 11.9 h, feels like (high) 10.6 °C / 51 °F, wind (daily max) 28 km/h / 17 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 2 days, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, wet days 6.7 days.

    Also on: Avec le Temps festival, Carnaval de Marseille, Ciné en Plein Air, Festival de Musique Sacrée, Festival Flamenco Azul, Festival International Music et Cinéma, Massilia Cup, Sailing season opens, Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée regatta.

    Watch out for: French Easter school holidays.

  • April · good

    In its favour: average daily high 16.4 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, feels like (high) 14.5 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 11.1 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, daylight per day 13.4 h, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: wet days 7.2 days, precipitation 49 mm / 1.9 in.

    Also on: Avec le Temps festival, Beach nightlife season, Carnaval de Marseille, Ciné en Plein Air, Festival de Musique Sacrée, Festival Flamenco Azul, Festival International Music et Cinéma, Massilia Cup, Provençal produce markets (cherries, melons, figs), Sailing season opens, Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée regatta.

    Watch out for: French Easter school holidays.

  • May · best

    In its favour: average daily high 19.6 °C / 67 °F, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, feels like (high) 18.8 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 14.7 h, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: precipitation 47 mm / 1.9 in, wet days 6.6 days.

    Also on: Avec le Temps festival, Beach nightlife season, Ciné en Plein Air, Fête de la Nature, Festival de Musique Sacrée, Festival Flamenco Azul, Festival International Music et Cinéma, Massilia Cup, May 1 muguet (lily of the valley) tradition, Provençal produce markets (cherries, melons, figs), Rencontres du Cinéma Sud-Américain, Sailing season opens, Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée regatta.

    Watch out for: French May school holidays (May Day to Victory Day).

  • June · best

    In its favour: precipitation 23 mm / 0.9 in, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 15.3 h, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.

    Against: average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, average daily low 18.4 °C / 65 °F.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille), Festival de Marseille, La Fête Bleue, La Fête du Panier, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille.

    Watch out for: Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk.

  • July · good

    In its favour: precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, wet days 1.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 15 h, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: average daily high 26.3 °C / 79 °F, feels like (high) 27.8 °C / 82 °F, average daily low 20.8 °C / 69 °F.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille), Festival de Marseille, Garlic harvest and saffron season, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille.

    Watch out for: Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk, French summer school holidays (les vacances).

  • August · good

    In its favour: precipitation 18 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 2.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 13.9 h, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.

    Against: average daily high 26.2 °C / 79 °F, feels like (high) 27.7 °C / 82 °F, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille), Festival de Marseille, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille, Start of the football season.

    Watch out for: Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk, French summer school holidays (les vacances).

  • September · best

    In its favour: average daily high 23.3 °C / 74 °F, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 12.5 h, feels like (high) 23.3 °C / 74 °F, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.

    Against: precipitation 52 mm / 2 in, wet days 5.5 days, average daily low 18 °C / 64 °F.

    Also on: Au Large Festival, Beach nightlife season, Festival de Marseille, Festival du Plateau, Marsatac, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque, Pride Marseille.

  • October · good

    In its favour: average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, average daily low 14.9 °C / 59 °F, daylight per day 11 h, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 2.8 days, precipitation 82 mm / 3.2 in, wet days 7.2 days, sunshine per day 9.2 h.

    Also on: Beach nightlife season, Fiesta des Suds, Foire Internationale de Marseille, Pieds et paquets season, Salon des Vignerons et de la Gastronomie.

    Watch out for: Beach venues close for winter, French Toussaint (All Saints) school holidays.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Mont Serein, 99 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 7.5 °C8.2 °C10.6 °C14.5 °C18.8 °C24.6 °C27.8 °C27.7 °C23.3 °C18.5 °C12.5 °C9 °C
Days with heavy rain 2.1 days1.8 days2 days1.6 days1.3 days0.7 days0.3 days0.5 days1.7 days2.8 days3.3 days2.5 days
Time rain usually falls 11 am1 pm11 am6 pm3 pm1 am11 am10 am1 pm2 pm9 am9 am
Sunshine per day 7.4 h8.5 h10.1 h11.4 h12.8 h14.2 h14.1 h12.8 h11 h9.2 h7.6 h7.2 h
Relative humidity 76%74%71%72%72%71%68%69%72%76%76%77%

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–20259.5 µg/m³14.3 µg/m³12.6 µg/m³13.1 µg/m³15.1 µg/m³16.3 µg/m³12.6 µg/m³16.5 µg/m³11.1 µg/m³14.8 µg/m³8.5 µg/m³8.7 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–202514.2 µg/m³20.5 µg/m³18.7 µg/m³21 µg/m³24.7 µg/m³24.9 µg/m³20 µg/m³27.1 µg/m³17.8 µg/m³24.8 µg/m³12.8 µg/m³13.3 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Santonniers' Mass

    January and December

  • Oursin (sea urchin) season

    February

  • Les Oursinades festival

    February

  • La Chandeleur pilgrimage to Abbaye St-Victor

    2 February

  • Carnaval de Marseille

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • Sailing season opens

    March, April and May

  • Massilia Cup

    March, April and May

  • Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée regatta

    March, April and May

  • Festival de Musique Sacrée

    March, April and May

  • Festival International Music et Cinéma

    March, April and May

  • Ciné en Plein Air

    March, April and May

  • Festival Flamenco Azul

    March, April and May

  • Avec le Temps festival

    March, April and May

  • Provençal produce markets (cherries, melons, figs)

    April and May

  • Beach nightlife season

    April, May, June, July, August, September and October

  • May 1 muguet (lily of the valley) tradition

    1 May

  • Fête de la Nature

    May

  • Rencontres du Cinéma Sud-Américain

    May

  • Festival de Marseille

    June, July, August and September

  • Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents

    June, July, August and September

  • Au Large Festival

    June, July, August and September

  • Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque

    June, July, August and September

  • Pride Marseille

    June, July, August and September

  • La Fête Bleue

    21–30 June

  • La Fête du Panier

    21–30 June

  • FDAmM (Festival de Danse et des Arts Multiples de Marseille)

    June, July and August

  • Garlic harvest and saffron season

    July

  • Start of the football season

    August

  • Marsatac

    September

  • Festival du Plateau

    September

  • Pieds et paquets season

    October and November

  • Foire Internationale de Marseille

    October and November

  • Salon des Vignerons et de la Gastronomie

    October and November

  • Fiesta des Suds

    October

  • La Foire aux Santons (santon fair)

    21 November–24 December

  • Christmas traditions

    24–25 December

Worth knowing before you go

  • Beach venues close for winter

    January, February, October, November and December

  • French Christmas school holidays

    January and December, dates vary from year to year

  • French Easter school holidays

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • French May school holidays (May Day to Victory Day)

    1–8 May

  • Calanques trail closures for wildfire risk

    June, July and August

  • French summer school holidays (les vacances)

    1 July–31 August

  • French Toussaint (All Saints) school holidays

    17 October–2 November, dates vary from year to year

Other places in France

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).