Paris

France Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in France in May.

Thinking about venturing to France this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in France in May

France has a wide variety of climate types. During May, you can expect temperatures that range from cold to warm and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between cold in Aussois at 9°C (48°F) to warm in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès at 25°C (77°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 13°C (55°F) in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès and -1°C (30°F) in Aussois.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of France, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Ersa with an average of 37 mm (1.5 in) to heavy rainfall in Argelès-Gazost with 191 mm (7.5 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Paris enjoys about 200 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore France by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in France — and find the best time to visit. (based on Paris)

Best Places to Visit in France in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across France.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in France

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in France?

Temperature range in France (May)

Precipitation variation in France (May)

Paris

In May Paris generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
20°C (68°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
173 hours
200 hours
203 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
16 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Cannes

In May Cannes generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
21°C (70°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
14°C (57°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
251 hours
282 hours
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
42 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Nice

In May Nice generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
20°C (68°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
13°C (55°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
251 hours
282 hours
Monthly rainfall
85 mm (3.3 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Lyon

In May Lyon generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
22°C (72°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
11°C (52°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
190 hours
221 hours
254 hours
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

In May Chamonix-Mont-Blanc generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
12°C (54°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
1°C (34°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
202 hours
225 hours
Monthly rainfall
121 mm (4.8 in)
155 mm (6.1 in)
157 mm (6.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in France.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in France in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Paris 20°C (68°F) 10°C (50°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Cannes 21°C (70°F) 14°C (57°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Lyon 22°C (72°F) 11°C (52°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 12°C (54°F) 1°C (34°F) 155 mm (6.1 in)
Marseille 25°C (77°F) 13°C (55°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Biarritz 20°C (68°F) 13°C (55°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)

France weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in France in May?

May in France brings perfect weather. In Paris, daytime temperatures are typically around 20°C (68°F) and nighttime lows hover near 10°C (50°F).

What is the average temperature in France in May?

Daytime temperatures in Paris peak at roughly 20°C (68°F) in May, dropping to about 10°C (50°F) overnight.

Does France get a lot of rain in May?

Not particularly. Paris averages just 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for France.

Is May a Good Time to Visit France?

We consider May to be one of the best times to travel to France. Typically, the climate in Paris is perfect. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit France is in May, June, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Paris. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in France.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to France? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in France.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.