Best time to go to Burgundy 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 Burgundy?
The best time to visit Burgundy is from early May to late September. This is when the weather is most pleasant and you can fully enjoy everything the region has to offer. However, depending on the experience you wish to have, a trip is possible all year round.
Summer marks the peak tourist season, with the highest number of visitors in August. It is the perfect time to go hiking and enjoy bucolic getaways in the forests and vineyards. Moreover, the lakes and rivers offer wonderful opportunities to cool off or engage in water sports activities in stunning locations, such as paddleboarding or canoeing. Cycling enthusiasts will also be delighted by the over 3000 km of greenways and dedicated routes. As a bonus, thanks to its low light pollution, the region is ideal for stargazing, especially in August.
When is the best time to visit Burgundy for breathtaking views? Autumn is the answer. Between late September and late November, the vineyards, meadows, and hills are adorned with fantastic colors. Even though rain may be part of the picture, the season is often pleasant, with beautiful sunny days. While hiking, you will feel like you are in a world of your own, surrounded by a postcard-worthy setting, enhanced by the scents of the undergrowth intensified by the ambient humidity. It is also the right time to visit Burgundy if you are a wine lover. Indeed, the season coincides with the grape harvest, an essential step in the production of local great wines. It will be an opportunity to participate in tastings and visits to wineries, for example in the Beaune area.
In winter, temperatures drop and nature falls asleep. If you still want to visit Burgundy despite the cold, plan cozy indoor activities, such as a spa day or dining at a great restaurant to savor the excellent local specialties. Additionally, the weather does not prevent visiting the must-see places, and the low tourist season allows for beautiful discoveries in peace, whether in Dijon, Mâcon, or Auxerre.
In spring, between March and June, nature awakens and offers enchanting landscapes, with abundant multicolored flowers. To fully enjoy this, it is best to wait until May when temperatures rise and allow for outdoor strolls. And if the weather is not ideal, this period is also favorable for a cultural and gastronomic tour.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Côte-d'Or
Dijon, Beaune, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain...
Nièvre
Nevers (Nièvre), Lac des Settons, Lac de Pannecière...
Saône-et-Loire
Macon, Haut-Folin, Solutré-Pouilly...
Yonne
Auxerre (Yonne), Tonnerre, Vézelay (The Morvan Regional Natural Park)...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Burgundy for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Burgundy in january Burgundy in february Burgundy in march Burgundy in april Burgundy in may Burgundy in june Burgundy in july Burgundy in august Burgundy in september Burgundy in october Burgundy in november Burgundy in december
Best time to travel to Burgundy by cities
Côte-d'Or 
Nièvre 
Saône-et-Loire 
Yonne 
Climate and Weather in Burgundy
Burgundy is a region in the eastern center of France. It includes the departments of Yonne, Côte d'Or, Nièvre, and Saône-et-Loire.
The climate of Burgundy is oceanic with a temperate summer, with semi-continental tendencies depending on the specific location.
In general, the weather in Burgundy is characterized by frequent rainfall throughout the year and rapidly changing conditions. Winters are cold with fairly frequent snowfall, and summers are quite warm without being scorching. In the Morvan massif, east of Nevers, rainfall is higher than in other parts of Burgundy, and temperatures are lower.
Lastly, it is worth noting that Burgundy experiences one of the highest annual temperature variations in France, with an average difference of 18°C (65°F) .
The climate in Burgundy in summer
During the summer season, from late June to late September, the weather in Burgundy is quite pleasant. The maximum temperatures range between 23 and 26°C (79°F) , and the minimum temperatures between 12 and 15°C (59°F) . June is the month with the highest precipitation, with an average of 5 to 11 rainy days. In contrast, September is the driest period of the year. The region can also experience violent thunderstorms, especially in the second half of August, after a few days of intense heat.
The climate in Burgundy in autumn
Autumn, from late September to late December, is cool and humid in Burgundy.
- In October, temperatures are mild, with highs around 17°C (63°F) . Although precipitation remains moderate, the first snowfalls are already appearing on the mountains.
- In November, the temperature drops rapidly. Expect an average of 5°C (41°F) at night and 12°C (54°F) during the day. Additionally, showers become more frequent.
- By early December, winter has arrived. The sky is often gray, rains are frequent in the plains, and snow covers the heights in white.
The climate in Burgundy in winter
Winter is harsh in Burgundy: it is cold and humid from December to late March, with January being particularly unfavorable. Temperatures then vary between 1 and 7°C (45°F) and the sky remains overcast for most of the month. In February, the weather is clearer, but snowfall can be abundant and temperatures remain low. However, the minimum temperatures at this season generally remain positive, except at higher altitudes. In March, temperatures rise significantly and precipitation becomes rarer, but spring is slow to arrive.
The climate in Burgundy in spring
In spring, temperatures gradually rise, but showers intensify in May and June with up to 12 rainy days per month.
In April, temperatures reach around 17°C (63°F) at the warmest part of the day and snow can still occur at night in some places. In May, temperature variations decrease: expect averages between 11 and 19°C (67°F) . In June, summer is already in the air with temperatures around 25°C (77°F) .
Temperatures and rainfall in Burgundy
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Burgundy and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Dijon, Auxerre (Yonne), Beaune, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain and Lac des Settons.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Burgundy
Find out when Burgundy 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 Burgundy
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, October, November and December. The number of visitors to Burgundy is high in: May, June, July, August and September.
- Very low season in Burgundy: January, February and December.
- Low season in Burgundy: March, April, October and November.
- High season in Burgundy: May, June, July and September.
- Peak season in Burgundy: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Burgundy month by month
Where to go in Burgundy?
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. |
| Dijon | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 74°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Auxerre (Yonne) | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Beaune | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 74°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
| Flavigny-sur-Ozerain | 43°F | 45°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 77°F | 70°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
| Lac des Settons | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
| Macon | 43°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Nevers (Nièvre) | 45°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Tonnerre | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Noyers-sur-Serein | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Vézelay (The Morvan Regional Natural Park) | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Chablis | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Haut-Folin | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
| Lac de Pannecière | 45°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Mont Beuvray | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
| Parc national de Forêts | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 58°F | 63°F | 70°F | 74°F | 74°F | 68°F | 59°F | 49°F | 43°F |
| Parc naturel de Boutissaint | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Solutré-Pouilly | 43°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Surgy | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Autun | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
| Auxonne | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 74°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 52°F | 45°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Burgundy
What can I do in Burgundy?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Burgundy reliable?
Climate data for Burgundy has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Burgundy allows us to determine the average for each month in Dijon, Auxerre (Yonne), Beaune, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Lac des Settons, Macon, Nevers (Nièvre), Tonnerre, and 32 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.