Best time to go to Gironde for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Gironde?
Although pleasant all year round, the best time to visit Gironde extends from April to the end of October. The peak tourist season coincides with the school holidays in July and August. So if you are allergic to crowds, it is better to plan your trip in spring or autumn.
When to visit Gironde based on your interests?
- For hiking or cycling, the months of July to September are perfect: the sun shines and there is little chance of being bothered by rain.
- For lazing on the beach and swimming in the ocean, go in summer: the sea water can reach up to 21°C (70°F) in August and the 84 km of beaches in the department allow you to avoid being towel to towel.
- For surfing: the waves of Lacanau or Arcachon welcome enthusiasts all year round. However, it's a bit more complicated in summer, a period during which it is better to go early in the morning or in the evening.
- For a city trip to Bordeaux, prefer the shoulder seasons: the temperatures are more pleasant for strolling in the city and there are fewer tourists.
- For river tourism on the Canal de Garonne, which follows the river of the same name for 193 km, the best period extends from May to October.
- For a wine-themed stay: the great Bordeaux estates offer tastings and tours all year round, but autumn, when the vineyards take on magnificent vibrant colors, is the season to prioritize!
Annual weather in Gironde
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Gironde for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41°F to 52°F | bad weather* | |||
| February | 41°F to 54°F | bad weather* | |||
| March | 43°F to 59°F | tolerable weather | |||
| April | 49°F to 67°F | good weather* | |||
| May | 54°F to 72°F | good weather | |||
| June | 61°F to 79°F | good weather | |||
| July | 65°F to 83°F | perfect weather* | |||
| August | 63°F to 85°F | perfect weather | |||
| September | 58°F to 79°F | perfect weather | |||
| October | 54°F to 70°F | good weather | |||
| November | 49°F to 59°F | tolerable weather | |||
| December | 43°F to 54°F | bad weather |
Best time to travel to Gironde by cities
Climate and Weather in Gironde
The climate in Gironde is Aquitaine oceanic type, with the following characteristics:
- Temperature variations are small between the mild winter and the pleasant summer without being unbearable.
- Precipitations are well distributed throughout the year, with a little more rain in June, November, and December.
- The coastal strip is not very rainy, so annual precipitation is higher in Lacanau, close to the Atlantic, than in Coutras, inland.
- Sunshine is significant, especially on the Arcachon basin and the coast, with around 2100 hours of sunshine per year.
Summer in Gironde
The weather in Gironde during the summer is ideal:
- It's warm, but not too hot, with temperatures around 27°C (81°F) in Bordeaux and 25°C (77°F) in Cap Ferret. Short heatwaves can occur, but the average temperature does not exceed 32°C (90°F) for more than 10 days a year.
- Precipitation is low, especially in August and September, which are the least rainy months of the year in the department.
- The sea water reaches pleasant temperatures, with averages around 21°C (70°F) by the end of summer.
Autumn in Gironde
The month of October is still very mild and not very humid in Gironde: temperatures rise to around 20°C (68°F) at the Dune du Pilat or in Arcachon, and the risk of rain remains low.
From November, the weather changes: the coolness sets in and it is rare for temperatures to exceed 15°C (59°F) around Bordeaux. It is also a rainy month, and overcast skies can linger for several days in a row.
In December, temperatures drop and hover around 10°C (50°F) , whether day or night.
Winter in Gironde
Even though temperatures are cool, winter remains pleasant in Gironde thanks to west winds from the Atlantic bringing mild weather.
Rarely dropping below freezing, temperatures exceptionally fall below 7°C (45°F) in Arès and 6°C (43°F) in Lacanau: this can happen when cold winds blow in from Russia.
In terms of precipitation, February and March are the least rainy months in the region during winter.
Spring in Gironde
The climate in Gironde during spring is mild thanks to the Azores High: for example, temperatures range from 20 to 24°C (76°F) at the Dune du Pilat in May and June.
However, precipitation is frequent, especially in June, which is one of the rainiest months of the year.
Temperatures and rainfall in Gironde
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Gironde and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Bordeaux, Arcachon, Dune of Pilat, Lacanau and Le Cap Ferret, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Gironde
Find out when Gironde 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 Gironde
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, October, November and December. The number of visitors to Gironde is high in: April, May, June, July, August and September.
- Very low season in Gironde: January, February, November and December.
- Low season in Gironde: March and October.
- High season in Gironde: April, May, June and September.
- Peak season in Gironde: July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Gironde month by month
Average price for flights to Gironde
A return flight between London and Bordeaux is generally cheaper if you go in january ($ 87 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 70 more for your airline ticket to Bordeaux if you go in august.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to Gironde
Where to go in Gironde?
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. |
| Bordeaux | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Arcachon | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Dune of Pilat | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Lacanau | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Le Cap Ferret | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Le Verdon-sur-Mer | 50°F | 52°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Lège-Cap-Ferret | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Mérignac | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Montalivet | 50°F | 52°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Andernos-les-Bains | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Arès | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Langon | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 72°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Naujac-sur-Mer | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Pessac | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Talence | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Blaye | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Grayan-et-l'Hôpital | 50°F | 52°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Mios | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Pyla-sur-Mer | 52°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 68°F | 59°F | 54°F |
| Soulac | 50°F | 52°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 58°F | 52°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Gironde
What can I do in Gironde?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Gironde reliable?
Climate data for Gironde has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Gironde allows us to determine the average for each month in Bordeaux, Arcachon, Dune of Pilat, Lacanau, Le Cap Ferret, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Lège-Cap-Ferret, Mérignac, and 31 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.