Best time to go to Charentes 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 Charentes?
The best time to visit the Charentes starts in early April and ends in October. Whether in Charente or Charente-Maritime, the climate remains fairly mild all year round, and it is entirely possible to consider a stay in the region in March and November, even though some days may be rainy.
When to visit the Charentes based on your interests?
- For a city break in Angoulême or La Rochelle, all periods are suitable between Easter and All Saints' Day.
- To enjoy the beach and take a trip to the islands of Oléron, Ré, or Aix, in Charente-Maritime, it is best to go in the summer, when the sun and heat are at their peak.
- To taste the famous Marennes oysters, choose the months with an "R": from September to April. That's when they are at their best!
- For hiking, know that the Charentes are very rich in waymarked paths, which are pleasant to explore between April and October. Among the most beautiful routes, mention the GR4, 360, and 8, not to forget the paths of the Ways of St. James, which cross both departments.
- For cycling tourism in this cycling paradise, head to the Charentes in good weather, ideally between June and September.
- For a sailing boat trip, Charente-Maritime benefits from regular winds all year round.
- For water sports: windsurfing, surfing, bodyboarding, or kitesurfing, the winds and waves allow for year-round practice, but the most pleasant periods are spring and autumn, when the weather is nice but tourists are scarce on the beach.
- For a thalassotherapy in Jonzac, Rochefort, or Saujon, the thermal centers welcome tourists all year round!
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Charente
Angoulême (Charente), Cognac, Mansle...
Charente-Maritime
La Rochelle, Royan, Saintes...
Île de Ré
Saint-Martin-de-Re, Ars-en-Re, Sainte-Marie-de-Re...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Charentes for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Charentes in january Charentes in february Charentes in march Charentes in april Charentes in may Charentes in june Charentes in july Charentes in august Charentes in september Charentes in october Charentes in november Charentes in december
Best time to travel to Charentes by cities
Charente 
Charente-Maritime 
Île de Ré 
Climate and Weather in Charentes
The climate in the Charentes is Aquitaine oceanic. However, in the department of Charente, this climate tends to deteriorate as you move east from Angoulême, all the way to the foothills of the Massif Central.
In this area of the Limousin Charente, where the relief begins to rise, winters are harsher and summers are hotter. Rainfall is also higher and thunderstorms more frequent than in Charente-Maritime.
Overall, both Charentes benefit from significant average sunshine hours, with, for example, over 2200 hours of sunshine per year on the Charente coast, making it the sunniest area on the Atlantic coast.
The islands of Charente-Maritime have a climate almost Mediterranean, with a much clearer sky than on the mainland and less temperature variations. This microclimate allows botanical species from southern France to thrive: olive trees, mimosa, evergreen oak, and parasol pine.
It is worth noting that the department of Charente-Maritime is the most affected in France by tornadoes, with an average of 31 cases per year.
Summer in the Charentes
The weather in the Charentes during the summer is generally very pleasant, with rarely excessive heat and clear skies. Two nuances should be noted depending on the departments:
- In Charente, thunderstorms often break out in the late afternoon, accompanied by heavy rains. These episodes are short and then give way to a clear blue sky.
- In Charente-Maritime, summer can be marked by widespread drought due to lack of rain.
Autumn in the Charentes
In both departments of the Charentes, the month of October experiences an enjoyable Indian summer, with daytime highs around 19°C (67°F) in Saintes or Angoulême.
In November, the weather gradually deteriorates with more frequent rains and decreasing temperatures. Thus, nighttime lows range from 9 to 12°C (54°F) in Saintes or Cognac.
In December, the weather is wintry, with regular showers and temperatures struggling to rise above 10°C (50°F) in the Limousin region of Charente.
Winter in the Charentes
Winters are most often mild and rainy, except in the eastern part of the Charente department where the temperature often hovers around 0°C (32°F) , conducive to snowfall, as in the neighboring Haute-Vienne.
Elsewhere, rainfall is abundant and days are often marked by overcast skies. In terms of temperatures, highs are around 10°C (50°F) in Cognac or La Rochelle.
Spring in the Charentes
During spring, the climate in the Charentes gradually improves and by early April the weather is pleasant. The temperature rises and reaches averages around 23°C (74°F) inland in June.
On the coast, spring arrives more timidly, with slightly lower temperatures than elsewhere and winds coming from the Atlantic that promote a cool atmosphere until early June.
In terms of precipitation, May is the rainiest month, especially in the Angoulême region, but still allows for beautiful sunny days.
Temperatures and rainfall in Charentes
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Charentes and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Saint-Martin-de-Re, Angoulême (Charente), Ars-en-Re, Sainte-Marie-de-Re and Cognac, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Charentes
Find out when Charentes 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 Charentes
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, June, September, October, November and December. The number of visitors to Charentes is high in: May, July and August.
- Very low season in Charentes: January.
- Low season in Charentes: February, March, April, June, September, October, November and December.
- High season in Charentes: May and July.
- Peak season in Charentes: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Charentes month by month
Average price for flights to Charentes
A return flight between London and La Rochelle is generally cheaper if you go in october ($ 85 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 297 more for your airline ticket to La Rochelle if you go in december.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to Charentes
Where to go in Charentes?
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. |
| Saint-Martin-de-Re | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Angoulême (Charente) | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 63°F | 68°F | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 50°F |
| Ars-en-Re | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 58°F | 61°F | 68°F | 72°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Sainte-Marie-de-Re | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Cognac | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 63°F | 68°F | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F | 77°F | 67°F | 58°F | 50°F |
| Île d’Oléron | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 58°F | 61°F | 68°F | 72°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| La Palmyre | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 58°F | 61°F | 68°F | 72°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| La Rochelle | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Mansle | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 63°F | 68°F | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 50°F |
| Royan | 50°F | 52°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Saintes | 50°F | 52°F | 58°F | 63°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 76°F | 67°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Aix Island (ile d'aix) | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Marais poitevin (Marans) | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Rochefort | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Yves | 50°F | 50°F | 56°F | 59°F | 65°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 67°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| La Couarde-sur-Mer | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 63°F | 70°F | 74°F | 74°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| La Flotte | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 63°F | 68°F | 72°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 63°F | 70°F | 74°F | 74°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Les Portes-en-Ré | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 63°F | 70°F | 74°F | 74°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
| Loix | 50°F | 50°F | 54°F | 59°F | 63°F | 70°F | 74°F | 74°F | 70°F | 65°F | 58°F | 54°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Charentes
What can I do in Charentes?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Gastronomy
Is this weather information for Charentes reliable?
Climate data for Charentes has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Charentes allows us to determine the average for each month in Saint-Martin-de-Re, Angoulême (Charente), Ars-en-Re, Sainte-Marie-de-Re, Cognac, Île d’Oléron, La Palmyre, La Rochelle, and 44 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.