Best time to go to the French Alps 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 the French Alps?
There isn't really a best time to go to the French Alps as it will really depend on what you want to do there. All year round, the region offers many activities to enjoy and the beauty of the landscapes will dazzle you. Whatever the season, remember to pack warm clothes, a hat, good sunglasses, and sunscreen.
When to go to the French Alps depending on your interests?
- Summer is the ideal season for hiking and picnicking in the great outdoors by a high-altitude lake: the days are long, and the temperatures are very pleasant as soon as you climb a bit. It is also the most touristy period, the best compromise to enjoy it while avoiding the crowds is to go to the Alps in September.
- Autumn: from October, the Alpine mountains take on vibrant colors that are particularly photogenic. The season still offers beautiful sunny days conducive to walks and is the perfect time to visit cities like Gap, Annecy, or Chambéry: the temperatures are not too cold and the crowds are less than in summer.
- Winter, snow enthusiasts will be in heaven! Depending on the area, you can practice a whole range of sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowball fights, and building snowmen, not to mention the carrot for the nose!
- In spring, the melting snow will delight lovers of white-water sports, with rafting and canoeing at the top of the list. Ski touring can be practiced until early April, depending on the sunshine on the slopes. It is also the best time for climbing and paragliding.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Haute-Savoie
Annecy (Haute-Savoie), Chamonix, La Clusaz...
Hautes-Alpes
Gap (Hautes-Alpes), Briançon, Les Orres...
Isère
Grenoble (Isère), Alpe d'Huez, Charmant Som...
Savoie
Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains, Val Thorens...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in the French Alps for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
French Alps in january French Alps in february French Alps in march French Alps in april French Alps in may French Alps in june French Alps in july French Alps in august French Alps in september French Alps in october French Alps in november French Alps in december
Best time to travel to French Alps by cities
Haute-Savoie 
Hautes-Alpes 
Isère 
Savoie 
Climate and Weather in the French Alps
Located in the southeast of France, on the border with Italy and Switzerland, the French Alps form a region of high mountains. Overall of a mountainous continental type, the climate of the Alps experiences numerous variations, notably due to complex relief. They can thus be divided into two main parts:
- The Northern Alps are formed by the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie. With 90% of mountainous territory, the climate there will be harsher than in the southern part.
- The Central Alps cover the departments of Hautes-Alpes and the mountainous part of Isère. More open towards the south and at a lower altitude, this part of the Alps experiences a mountainous Mediterranean climate.
Summer in the French Alps
During the summer season, the climate in the French Alps is marked by high temperatures (around 30°C (86°F) in the valleys). In places like Gap, temperatures can quickly become stifling, so it's better to seek refuge at higher altitudes where the thermometer offers very pleasant values.
In terms of precipitation, it is not uncommon for a thunderstorm to break out, especially at the end of a very hot day. Brief but intense, they quickly cool the atmosphere, which can be refreshing!
Autumn in the French Alps
By the end of September, the weather in the French Alps cools down, but precipitation remains low, except in Grenoble: located at the confluence of three mountain ranges, the city experiences heavy showers throughout the year.
Moreover, this region can be subject to the effects of the "Foehn," a dry and warm wind that blows from early autumn to late winter. Thus, the valleys, especially in the Maurienne, can experience sudden and heavy rain or snowfall.
From November, the first snowflakes fall on the peaks, and ski resorts begin their winter season.
Winter in the French Alps
Unsurprisingly, winters in the French Alps are cold, even very cold, especially in Savoie and Haute-Savoie, with temperatures generally ranging between -5 and 5°C (41°F) .
The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature drops and the more abundant the snowfall becomes. However, the days can be very sunny, giving a sense of mildness thanks to the dry climate.
Spring in the French Alps
In spring, temperatures become milder and the snow slowly melts, revealing a beautifully colorful flora. In Annecy, temperatures can range between 10 and 15°C (59°F) in the middle of the day, ideal for a stroll around the lake.
It is, however, the rainiest season in the French Alps, especially in Isère. Elsewhere, the showers remain moderate, allowing you to go hiking under the sun.
Temperatures and rainfall in the French Alps
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of French Alps and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Grenoble (Isère), Aix-les-Bains, Alpe d'Huez, Annecy (Haute-Savoie) and Chambéry.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in the French Alps
Find out when French Alps 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 the French Alps
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, April, May, September, October, November and December. The number of visitors to French Alps is high in: February, March, June, July and August.
- Very low season in the French Alps: November.
- Low season in the French Alps: January, April, May, September, October and December.
- High season in the French Alps: February, March, June and July.
- Peak season in the French Alps: August.
Figure: Visitor index for French Alps month by month
Where to go in the French Alps?
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. |
| Grenoble (Isère) | 40°F | 43°F | 49°F | 56°F | 61°F | 68°F | 74°F | 74°F | 67°F | 61°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Aix-les-Bains | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 81°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Alpe d'Huez | 32°F | 34°F | 38°F | 45°F | 50°F | 59°F | 65°F | 65°F | 58°F | 50°F | 41°F | 36°F |
| Annecy (Haute-Savoie) | 41°F | 45°F | 52°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Chambéry | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 81°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Chamonix | 31°F | 32°F | 38°F | 45°F | 52°F | 61°F | 67°F | 67°F | 59°F | 52°F | 41°F | 32°F |
| La Clusaz | 36°F | 38°F | 43°F | 54°F | 59°F | 67°F | 72°F | 72°F | 65°F | 58°F | 47°F | 38°F |
| La Plagne | 29°F | 29°F | 34°F | 40°F | 45°F | 56°F | 59°F | 61°F | 54°F | 45°F | 38°F | 32°F |
| Les Menuires | 29°F | 31°F | 36°F | 43°F | 50°F | 61°F | 65°F | 65°F | 59°F | 50°F | 40°F | 32°F |
| Savoy | 29°F | 29°F | 34°F | 40°F | 45°F | 56°F | 59°F | 61°F | 54°F | 45°F | 38°F | 32°F |
| Tignes | 29°F | 31°F | 34°F | 41°F | 47°F | 59°F | 65°F | 65°F | 58°F | 47°F | 36°F | 29°F |
| Val Thorens | 29°F | 31°F | 36°F | 43°F | 50°F | 61°F | 65°F | 65°F | 59°F | 50°F | 40°F | 32°F |
| Avoriaz | 34°F | 36°F | 41°F | 50°F | 56°F | 65°F | 68°F | 68°F | 63°F | 56°F | 45°F | 38°F |
| Bonneval-sur-Arc | 27°F | 29°F | 32°F | 40°F | 47°F | 58°F | 63°F | 65°F | 56°F | 47°F | 36°F | 29°F |
| Bourget Lake (Lac du Bourget) | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 81°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Briançon | 32°F | 34°F | 38°F | 45°F | 52°F | 63°F | 68°F | 68°F | 61°F | 52°F | 40°F | 34°F |
| Gap (Hautes-Alpes) | 41°F | 43°F | 49°F | 58°F | 63°F | 72°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 50°F | 43°F |
| Les Orres | 32°F | 32°F | 38°F | 47°F | 52°F | 63°F | 68°F | 68°F | 61°F | 52°F | 41°F | 34°F |
| Thonon-les-Bains | 41°F | 43°F | 49°F | 56°F | 61°F | 68°F | 74°F | 76°F | 70°F | 61°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Aiguille du Midi | 31°F | 32°F | 38°F | 45°F | 52°F | 61°F | 67°F | 67°F | 59°F | 52°F | 41°F | 32°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About French Alps
What can I do in the French Alps?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Is this weather information for French Alps reliable?
Climate data for French Alps has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for French Alps allows us to determine the average for each month in Grenoble (Isère), Aix-les-Bains, Alpe d'Huez, Annecy (Haute-Savoie), Chambéry, Chamonix, La Clusaz, La Plagne, and 46 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.