Is Travelling To The South of France In The Fall For You?

The South of France in the fall sees fewer tourists and cooler weather like most places in Europe in the fall. But in the South of France, those aren’t necessarily positives… I lived in Aix-en-Provence for the month of November and learned a few things about fall travel in the South of France.

So whether you should visit the South of France in the fall depends on a few factors. For one, where and when you’re travelling can make a huge difference! Let’s dive in what the South of France is like in the fall!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

My Experience Visiting Provence In November

These tips and realities about the South of France in the fall is based on my experience living in Provence in November. Throughout the month I explored the surrounding South of France destinations, like Marseille, the Gorges de Verdun, the Côte d’Azur, the Pont du Gard, and a few other small towns in the area!

As I mentioned, I loved certain aspects of it, but at the same time ran into a few issues that I hadn’t thought about before.

The Temperature Cools Down In France In The Fall

In the summer, the South of France is a hot destination with temperatures around 30+°C (86+°F) – perfect for relaxing by the beach. But the temperature in the fall months drastically cools off.

I used Nice as an example, the average temperature in September is around 22°C (72°F) but by November it’s a whopping 13°C (55°F).

Fall Temperature Averages Nice, South of France

	High (C/F)	Low (C/F)	# of Rainy Days
September	25°C / 77°F	18°C/ 64°F	8
October	21°C/ 70°F	14°C/57 °F	10
November	21°C/ 61°F	9°C/ 48°F	10

And keep in mind, it can be colder than the average low… I was definitely not expecting it to be as cold as it was. In fact, I even had to buy a warmer jacket during my trip to stay warm.

The mornings (and evenings) would completely cool off, going as low as 6°C (43°F)! It was so cold I was even able to see my breath – you know it’s cold when!

Although it did often warm up quite a bit in the afternoon. It wasn’t uncommon for me to start taking off layers as the day went on. Sometimes I would even be able to walk around in just a long sleeve shirt, no jacket at all!

This Probably Won’t Be A Beach Vacation

If you’re travelling to the South of France in the fall, don’t expect this to be a beach vacation. If you thought this would be the perfect time to escape the beach crowds, think again. Although the beaches are more deserted in the fall, you probably won’t want to sit on the beach anyway.

The fall weather in France just isn’t cut out to sit on the beach. Now you might get lucky with a few beach days at the beginning of September, but you can’t exactly count on it.

Read also: How To Spend The Perfect Sunday In Aix-En-Provence

It Also Won’t Be An Outdoor Adventure Vacation

I did not realize how outdoor dependant a vacation to the South of France actually is…

Aside from the beach, you also won’t be able to enjoy some other outdoor activities the region has to offer. For example, a lot of boat tours to smaller islands are cancelled during the off season.

Hiking is also very popular, and although you could still hike in the fall, it was harder to do. There are closed trails and limited bus schedule in the fall.

For example, one of the biggest differences was visiting the Pont du Gard in the fall. Although you can visit all year round, the experience in the summer is very different from the fall. It’s busier in the summer, you’re also encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and even go for a swim in the Gardon river to cool off! In the fall, some of the tours don’t run as often, if at all, (taking a bit more planning), and it’s way too cold to swim in the river!

So you have to be aware that some attractions completely close in the fall, while others remained open but offer a different, or more limited, experiences. Don’t forget, there also aren’t any purple lavender fields to visit in the fall, they only bloom in July.

On top of that, you also won’t be able to experience some of the more simple South of France activities. For example, something as simple as enjoying a picnic lunch in the park, or even enjoying your morning coffee on your balcony! It’s just too chilly!

Lack of Tourists In The South of France In Fall (Pro & Con!)

There are a lot less tourists visiting the South of France in the fall. Now, this is both a pro, and also a con… It’s obviously amazing to just have less people – there’s no one photobombing your photos, you don’t have to stress about top restaurants being full, so it’s just all around a lot more relaxing.

But the South of France takes less tourists to a whole other level though – entire towns close down in the fall! So not only does that mean a lot of attractions and restaurants are closed, it also feels quite empty. I won’t lie, it was a bit scary at times feeling like you’re walking through a ghost town.

You can also run into problems when you’re lost or looking for food, no one will be there to help! It makes travelling a bit harder and lonelier, to say the least!

You might also be interested in: Top 27 Day Trips From Aix En Provence In France

Perks Visiting South of France In November!

Although November seems like the worst time to visit the South of France in the fall, it might also be the best times to visit. It’s colder and feels more deserted, but you can also experience some pretty unique events towards the end of the month!

It’s The Start Of Holiday Markets In France

November is the coldest and most desolate time to visit the South of France, but it was also the start of the holiday celebrations!

A few cities, like Aix and Marseille, had their Christmas markets set up in November. Their Christmas market consisted of food and local product booths set up in the downtown area. It was very nice to experience, and they weren’t too crowded yet either (none of the Christmas market tourists had arrived yet!).

So if you’re interested in visiting European Christmas markets, I would argue, towards the end of November is actually a good time to visit. If you wait to travel to the Christmas markets in December, you’ll have perfectly timed your trip for the influx of tourists!

Beaujolais Nouveau Launch Party in November!

The third Thursday of the November is when they release the highly anticipated Beaujolais Nouveau. Beaujolais is a very young wine from the Beaujolais region in France, using Gamay grapes. But the catch is that the wine is not aged. You’re tasting the grapes that were harvested in September… that same year!

To celebrate this young wine and taste that years’ batch of Beaujolais, there are parties and events throughout the country. It’s an event that is locals wait for all year round!

When Is The Best Time To Go To South Of France In The Fall?

Unless you’re very interested in the holiday markets, or Beaujolais events, I recommend going to the South of France in September. There will be fewer tourists, but the attractions are still open for a few weeks, and the weather is a lot warmer.

If you go any later in the season, the weather is too cold to enjoy the outdoor attractions and it can feel at times a bit deserted.

South of France In the Fall Must-Haves!

Related Posts

• See What Edinburgh Is Like In October
• See What Belgium Is Like In September
• My Overview of Fall Travel In Europe

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Last update on 2026-05-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API