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

Visiting the South of France in the fall has some benefits but also some major drawbacks. It 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.

At the end of the day, whether you should visit the South of France in fall depends on a few factors. For one, where and when you’re travelling (the South of France is quite large!), but also what kind of vacation you want.

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 France In November

These tips and realities about the South of France in the fall is based on my experience living and travelling through the South of France in November.

We loved it, but at the same time ran into a few issues that we hadn’t thought about before.

Temperature Cools Down In France In The Fall

Where you might have seen 30+°C (90+°F) beach weather, the fall months drastically cool off in the South of France. The average temperature in September is around 22°C (72°F) but by November it’s a whopping 14°C (57°F).

I was not expecting it to be as cold as it was in France in November, I even had to buy a warmer jacket while I was there. The mornings (and evenings) would be quite chilly, going as low as 6°C (43°F), I know because I was able to see my breath!

The afternoons would warm up, 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 a long sleeve shirt!

Keep in mind that the weather averages also change based on where you’re headed in the South of France in fall. It tends to be cooler inland and in the mountains compared to off the coast (like Cannes or Nice).

PSA! This Probably Won’t Be A Beach Vacation

So if you’re travelling to the South of France in the fall, don’t expect this to be a beach vacation. If a beach vacation is what you want, come to the South of France in the summer. There’s no denying that the fall weather just isn’t cut out to sit on the beach.

If you come in the first few weeks of September you might get lucky, but it won’t be as much of a sure thing as in the summer.

Or An Outdoor Adventure Vacation

Before heading to the South of France, we didn’t realize how outdoor dependant it was. Especially Provence, the region is filled with outdoor activities from hiking, kayaking, and even horseback riding…

But if you’re travelling in the fall, as we were, it’s a bit tough to partake in those outdoor activities. Some of the attractions would close altogether as it’s just too cold, while others remained open but offer a different experience.

For example, the Pont du Gard stays open all year, but it’s not the same visiting in the fall as it is during the summer.

In the summer it’s packed with people because you’re able to spend the day exploring the grounds. You’re encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and even go for a swim in the Gardon river to cool off.

So although there are quite a few less tourists which is a positive, you’re not able to spend the whole day there as you would have in the summer.

Don’t forget, there also aren’t any purple lavender fields to visit in the fall, they only bloom in July.

Some of these attractions also might not close because of the weather. It can just be that there aren’t enough people visiting to stay open. Which brings me to my next point…

Lack of Tourists In The South of France In Fall

The lack of tourists in the South of France in the fall is both a pro and a con. It’s amazing for photos, not a soul in sight! The South of France takes the lack of tourists to a whole other level though – towns legit closedown.

So not only does that mean a lot of attractions and restaurants are closed, it also feels quite empty. It was a bit scary at times because you would feel almost stranded. 

For example, driving around the Gorge de Verdon was a ghost town. We didn’t bring food with us expecting to stop in one of the towns for lunch, boy were we in for a surprise! We drove through town after town, nothing was open! None of the restaurants, hotels, even cafes. There wasn’t a soul in sight!

It makes travelling a bit hard, to say the least!

The Start Of Holiday Markets: France In The Fall

We noticed that a few cities had their Christmas markets set up in November (like Aix and Marseilles). If you’re interested in visiting these, this might be a better time to visit them.

Otherwise if you wait to travel until December, you’ll be there in time for all the crowds to start up again in time for Christmas holidays.

Plus if you visit towards the end of November you might be there for the third Thursday of the month when they release the Beaujolais Nouveau (don’t know what that is? Read about it here!). 

Best Time To Visit The South Of France In The Fall?

If you’re set on travelling in the fall to the South of France, I recommend going in September. There will be fewer tourists, but the attractions are still open for a few weeks, and the weather holds up at the beginning of the month.

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

Related Posts

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

Click Image To Share Post Or Save It For Later

Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API