Best time to go to Alsace for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 13/11/2024When is the best time to go to Alsace?
The best time to visit Alsace is between May and September. This is when the weather is most pleasant, although the region offers a multitude of activities at any time of the year. The choice of your travel dates will mainly depend on what you want to do on site:
- For a city trip to Strasbourg, Colmar, or Mulhouse, the good season can extend from April to October. Indeed, it is always easier to find shelter in a city in case of bad weather.
- To explore the vineyards and take the famous Wine Route, late spring is perfect. You can certainly do this in summer, but it gets crowded, which makes the experience less enjoyable. However, avoid autumn, which corresponds to the harvest period. Winemakers may not be available to offer tastings during this time.
- For outdoor activities, summer is ideal. Whether it's hiking, mountain biking, or paragliding, the beautiful summer season promises unforgettable moments! The cherry on top: you can also relax at the various water sports centers that Alsace has to offer.
- For winter sports in the Vosges, January and February are when the snowfall is most likely to be significant. Enjoy snowshoeing, dog sledding, skiing, and building snowmen!
- To see the famous Alsatian Christmas markets, visit in December, when the magic is at its peak. In addition to the markets set up in every town, the locals greatly contribute to making this period magical by carefully decorating their homes.
- For a visual feast in the forest, autumn is a charming season, even if the weather is uncertain. From the end of September, the trees display enchanting and highly photogenic colors! To warm up and stay dry, nothing beats sitting down in a typical local restaurant to taste the various specialties.
- When to go to Alsace to avoid the crowds? The months of July, August, and December are very busy in the region. For pleasant weather without too many people, June and September are good options.
In summary, only the month of November is really not recommended for visiting Alsace. It is cold, there is no vegetation, and the atmosphere is gloomy. The rest of the year, May and June are our favorites!
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Bas-Rhin
Strasbourg, Obernai, Haguenau...
Haut-Rhin
Mulhouse, Colmar (Haut-Rhin), Riquewihr...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Alsace for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Alsace in january Alsace in february Alsace in march Alsace in april Alsace in may Alsace in june Alsace in july Alsace in august Alsace in september Alsace in october Alsace in november Alsace in december
Best time to travel to Alsace by cities
Bas-Rhin 
Haut-Rhin 
Climate and Weather in Alsace
Alsace is a historical region in the east of France, composed of two departments: Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin. The climate of Alsace is of the oceanic to temperate summer type, with four distinct seasons and quite significant temperature variations. It is worth noting that Colmar enjoys a microclimate; it is indeed the second driest city in France.
Climate of Alsace in Summer
During the summer season, the weather in Alsace is characterized by warm temperatures, accompanied by scattered rain and thunderstorms.
- At the end of June, the average temperature is 24°C (76°F) during the day and 22°C (72°F) at night.
- In July and August, the minimum temperatures hover around 26°C (79°F) and the maximums around 24°C (76°F) .
- In September, the thermometer drops to an average of 22°C (72°F) during the day and 20°C (68°F) when the sun sets.
Throughout the season, precipitation is to be expected, particularly at the end of June and in July. The latter month is the wettest, while September is the driest. It is also worth noting that Haut-Rhin is the most rain-soaked area.
Climate of Alsace in Autumn
From the end of September, temperatures drop. While October still offers beautiful sunny days with a mild atmosphere, in November the climate becomes unfavorable across the region. Thus, one can expect an average of 17°C (63°F) in October, 11°C (52°F) in November, and 7°C (45°F) in December. At night, it is generally 1 to 2°C (36°F) cooler than during the day.
Even though precipitation is minimal until the end of the season, the weather is often gray starting in November, and the wind can make the feeling of coolness more intense, especially in December when the thermometer is below 10°C (50°F) .
Climate of Alsace in Winter
From the end of December to the end of March, it is cold in Alsace:
- In January and February, winter is in full swing. The average temperature is 5 to 7°C (45°F) both day and night, and it rains regularly.
- In March, the thermometer finally rises above 10°C (50°F) , and the weather is less humid. However, it is still often gray.
Climate of Alsace in Spring
From April to mid-June, the weather gradually warms up, the days lengthen, and nature reveals its most beautiful colors. It is the perfect time to venture into the countryside to connect with nature and discover the small villages of Alsace.
In April, the thermometer fluctuates between 15 and 16°C (61°F) , in May it hovers around 20°C (68°F) , and reaches 22 to 24°C (76°F) in June.
Even though the sun makes its grand return during this period, it is the time of year when rain is most present, especially in May.
Temperatures and rainfall in Alsace
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Alsace and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Strasbourg, Colmar (Haut-Rhin), Mulhouse, Obernai and Riquewihr.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Alsace
Find out when Alsace has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Alsace
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, October and November. The number of visitors to Alsace is high in: April, May, June, July, August, September and December.
- Very low season in Alsace: January, February and March.
- Low season in Alsace: October and November.
- High season in Alsace: April, May, June, July and September.
- Peak season in Alsace: August and December.
Figure: Visitor index for Alsace month by month
Average price for flights to Alsace
A return flight between London and Strasbourg is generally cheaper if you go in september ($ 158 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 100 more for your airline ticket to Strasbourg if you go in august.
Where to go in Alsace?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Strasbourg | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Colmar (Haut-Rhin) | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Mulhouse | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Obernai | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Riquewihr | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Eguisheim | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Haguenau | 41°F | 43°F | 52°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Kaysersberg | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Neuf-Brisach | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Ottmarsheim | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Sélestat | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Village-Neuf | 41°F | 45°F | 52°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 52°F | 43°F |
| Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Grandfontaine | 41°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 70°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Hunspach | 41°F | 43°F | 52°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| La Petite Pierre | 41°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 70°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Lac de Kruth | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Marlenheim | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Niederbronn-les-Bains | 41°F | 43°F | 52°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Ranrupt | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
very bad weather
About Alsace
What can I do in Alsace?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Alsace reliable?
Climate data for Alsace has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Alsace allows us to determine the average for each month in Strasbourg, Colmar (Haut-Rhin), Mulhouse, Obernai, Riquewihr, Eguisheim, Haguenau, Kaysersberg, and 25 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.