Water temperature on the Cote d'Azur in June. French Riviera out of season
My June tour turned out to be mega eventful! After all, in a short period, only 10 days, I planned to visit as many resort places on the Cote d'Azur as possible. By the way, I’ll say right away that having an active holiday at the beginning of summer turned out to be more comfortable than I could have imagined...
Cote d'Azur in June: warm and sunny
No, no, I didn’t make a mistake, it’s really warm at the local resorts. There is still no heat at the beginning of summer. The temperature at all resorts (I visited Narbonne, Montpellier, Marseille) remained approximately the same. In the daytime it did not rise above +25. The only thing is that I arrived in Montpellier on a cloudy day. But, fortunately, there were no cold spells or precipitation. The rest of the holidays turned out to be fine. I never swam in the sea... The water is too cold. Her temperature barely reached +20. Still, for a beach siesta you need to go here in July-August. It gets dark here after 19:00. Daylight hours continue to increase. Darkness falls on the Cote d'Azur after 21:00. And remember about the temperature difference. It's noticeable here. The nights are really cool. The temperature dropped to +17 after sunset.
Crowd of vacationers on the June tour
The beach season (so that it’s comfortable) is still on the way, but more people are growing every day... Prices for services and accommodation have already begun to rise. But I didn’t notice any rush to find housing. The peak seasonality, for general information, starts here in mid-summer.
What things to take on summer vacation
Since I didn’t attend cultural events, I limited myself to wearing comfortable clothes on the trip, taking a sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers for the evening. I advise you to take:
- swimsuit;
- tennis shoes;
- shorts;
- skirts;
- headdress.
Yes, you can’t do without sunscreen anymore. The sun is not shining yet, but the snow-white skin burns instantly.
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My active holiday turned out to be a good one.
The hot tourist season begins, and I receive questions in personal messages and emails about is it worth visiting Nice or Cannes in May.
My answer from a knowledgeable and experienced tourist and local resident - of course it’s worth visiting the Cote d’Azur in May! And it’s even better to choose May for your voyage than, say, July or August.
After all, May in Nice is the very threshold, the overture of the summer season, the very beginning of a new cycle of life in the capital of vacation France.
Pros of a May holiday on the Cote d'Azur
This is not only fresh air, but also the smiles of local residents, sellers, waiters, hoteliers and restaurateurs, holding their breath in anticipation of something big and grandiose, smelling of good income, new acquaintances, sensations, fun and just life.
✔ Great weather/great tan
I'll start my pros with the weather conditions.
Precipitation in May on the Cote d'Azur is only slightly more than in June and much less than in September.
The temperature regime is more favorable to residents of northern latitudes who have just survived a long winter - the sun is not yet so hot, and when you go outside, steam does not hit your face like from a Turkish hammam.
On the beach the air warms up to very comfortable temperatures. 25 degrees Celsius and creates excellent conditions for a good tan. Yes, the water in the sea is still cold (only +17), but many are already swimming - including my husband, who always opens the swimming season in Nice in May.
✔ Fresh air
It was not for nothing that I mentioned fresh air above - after all, in July-August, air pollution reaches its peak due to the abundance of cars, and the speed of traffic on highways is forcibly reduced. In this period Nice becomes the country's leader in gas pollution city air, which no one, naturally, is in a hurry to inform tourists about.
✔ Fewer tourists
Another significant plus is the absence of summer crowds of tourists, and, as a result, less stress from traveling on foot or by car, fewer queues, more attention from hotel and restaurant staff or salespeople in shops and boutiques. More parking space, more choice of places on the beach.
✔ Great shape
The Cote d'Azur in May is also less tiring when visiting all the sights due to the absence of the scorching sun and sweltering heat.
At the same time, daylight hours are longer than in August and you can easily visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Biot, the Verdon Gorge, and any coastal city in one day.
✔
Plus number five. This is an opportunity to visit Cannes during the festival (from May 14 to May 25, 2014), breathe this festive air, and absorb the atmosphere of chic, luxury and exclusivity.
✔ Formula 1
It is in May that the famous Formula 1 races take place in Monaco! Well, getting from Nice to Monaco is even faster and more convenient than from Chertanovo to Zamoskvorechye. Joke).
✔Low prices
The seventh plus, and for many the decisive one, is competitive and very favorable prices for everything relative to the high season, including accommodation, flights, tariffs for all kinds of entertainment and attractions. Prices are lower even for flowers and vegetables, fruits and olives in local markets.
I think I have provided enough evidence to finally convince hesitant tourists on the issue the advisability of visiting the Cote d'Azur and Nice in May.
Bonne Voyage!
Cordialement, Galina Shevaler.
In the summer, the Côte d'Azur for many becomes an ideal dream, a passionate desire, an exemplary journey - everything that encourages them to make the anticipated vacation a reality. And indeed, in our azure lands it is not hot in the summer, the temperature rarely rises above 30 degrees and the sea warms up to such an extent that you don’t want to leave it. In addition, during the summer there are many different festivals, events and holidays. But this is one side of the coin. The other is that in the summer the Côte d'Azur is very crowded. This results in some inconveniences - traffic jams, close proximity on the beaches, long service in restaurants, queues at museums... Therefore, if the beach is not an absolute criterion for relaxation for you, come to the Riviera out of season. Moreover, both in spring and autumn on the Cote d'Azur you can swim to your heart's content in the gentle, warm sea.
French Riviera off-season
On the Cote d'Azur, autumn is magical, winter is fantasy and spring is fabulous! This was noticed at the end of the 19th century by English and Russian aristocrats who fled to the Riviera from gloomy winter England and snow-covered Russia.
Côte d'Azur in autumn
Let's start with the fact that September on the Cote d'Azur is considered a noble month. The water temperature in the sea is compared with the air temperature, which makes staying on the beach very comfortable. Markets are bursting with an abundance of fruits and vegetables. More parking spaces become available, and an atmosphere of calm begins to reign in the air. In October, when Indian summer ends in the vast post-Soviet space, the Cote d'Azur continues to warm you with cozy warmth and delight you with the bright colors of autumn. And at the same time, the sea temperature is still above 20 degrees and beckons you to take a swim. In November, the daylight hours become shorter, but the colors of autumn are brighter. The Alpine foothills glow with porphyry, and the sea plays with obstinate waves.
Holidays on the Cote d'Azur in winter
In December, Christmas markets open everywhere, the smells of mulled wine, marzipan and roasted chestnuts fill the air, and New Year's decorations make you believe that miracles exist. And we believe, we believe like children! (Read more about the Christmas holidays on the Riviera) In January, the daytime temperature is 11-12 degrees, and if there is no wind, it rises to 15. You can dine on the sun-drenched terrace and enjoy tasting Provençal wine. In winter, admiring the coastline, you will understand where the Côte d'Azur gets its name. Indeed, thanks to low humidity, the sea and sky of the Riviera at this time acquire an almost unreal deep azure color. The extraordinary transparency of the January air allows you to see Corsica from panoramic platforms. Despite the middle of winter, you can soak up the rays of the gentle sun and recharge yourself with vitamin D3. In February, you should definitely visit the carnival in Nice, catch flowers at the flower battles on the Promenade des Anglais, admire the colossal citrus sculptures in Menton and drive along the “Mimosa Roads”.
And at the same time there is snow at home and often gray gloomy mornings, you understand...
Spring on the Riviera
March on the Cote d'Azur is the season of violets, it is getting warmer, the awakening nature pleases with flowers and fresh greenery. April will greet you with waterfalls of purple wisteria and envelop you in the scent of jasmine. It’s so nice to stroll through the local villages and simply inhale the April aromas, dissolving in them. Well, in May you can already enjoy swimming in the sea. The beaches are ready to receive tourists and the weather is, as usual, sunny.
And don’t forget that autumn, winter and spring on the Riviera delight with a generous scattering of festivals and holidays (more details at the link). The Monte Carlo Rally, the world-famous carnival in Nice, antiques fairs in Antibes and Cannes, tennis tournaments, the international Cannes Film Festival, sailing regattas, the circus festival - this is only a very incomplete list of events on the Côte d'Azur outside the summer season.
I hope this short essay will encourage you to embark on a new and unforgettable journey. Believe me, on the Cote d'Azur there is always something to do and something to be delighted with.
Well, after everything you’ve read, you still haven’t packed your suitcase?! Hurry up! Give yourself the Côte d'Azur out of season, and it will not leave you indifferent. And I, as your guide on the Riviera, will do everything to make your vacation pleasant, interesting, easy and educational.
The famous Cote d'Azur is a dream for many of us. What can we say, there is every reason for this, because it is not without reason that the aristocrats chose this particular region of France. If you want to relax on its beaches in the most comfortable conditions, we recommend planning your trip for June. Why? Read about it in our article on the Tour Calendar.
Weather on the Cote d'Azur in June
The climate on the French Riviera is such that the canonical seasons begin here a month earlier. So, spring comes in February. And summer, accordingly, comes into its own in May. Thus, in June the weather already clearly states that it is time to start using sunglasses, sunscreen and wearing a hat. True, there is no talk of any heat. According to meteorologists, the average daily temperature is about +24 °C. It is typical for cities such as Antibes, Nice, Saint-Raphael and Saint-Tropez. A degree lower in Cannes and Menton. But in Marseille - everything is +26 °C. It should be understood that the values we give cannot accurately reflect the situation prevailing on the coast, since they are derived using a simple arithmetic formula and are averaged. On some days the thermometer can rise to +26..+27 °C. As for the relative air humidity, in June it is within the normal range, therefore, unlike other Mediterranean resorts, it is not stuffy here. However, as well as the grueling heat. Although solar activity reaches 9-10 hours a day, the level of insolation is absolutely not high.
Of course, if you lie on the beach in the open air for several hours in a row at midday, this will inevitably lead to a burn, but if you do not provoke such situations, ultraviolet radiation will only be beneficial. Special mention should be made about precipitation. With the onset of summer, their number decreases sharply - approximately 40-43 mm, which is equivalent to 5-7 rainy days. As you understand, for most of the month the sky is transparent blue, and only occasionally the “colors” thicken on it when sudden clouds cover it. There are never strong winds; their penetration is resisted by the northern “guardians” - the high peaks of the Alps. Light breezes blow by the sea. But if during the day they are very pleasant, then in the evening they create some discomfort. After sunset the air cools down significantly - to +15..+16 °C. A woolen sweater, jacket or demi-season jacket is a must-have in your wardrobe. Especially if you want to spend a few evenings on the terrace of a restaurant - for some reason unknown to everyone, not all of them provide blankets.
What to do on the Cote d'Azur in June?
Despite the fact that June marks the official start of the swimming season, coupled with a series of summer festivals, the mood at the resorts is lazy and calm. The beaches are just beginning to be filled with visitors, and there is still a lot of free space on them. So this is a great time for those who prefer to spend it without too much noise and fuss. The splendor of picturesque nature, multifaceted with stunning landscapes, in this region is harmoniously combined with man-made masterpieces - both historical and modern. The Cote d'Azur is a vacation not only for the body, but also for the soul. Its indispensable component is cultural enrichment.
Beach holiday
At the beginning of June it is quite possible to swim, but the water is still invigorating - +18..+19 °C, so the majority of people sunbathe. Around 14-15 the sea becomes warmer - about +20..+22 °C, children appear on the beaches. Storms are extremely rare, so high waves do not bother the local bays.
Entertainment and excursions
In June the weather is conducive to active recreation. Tasting delicious dishes in restaurants, playing in a casino, exciting sea cruises, shopping, dancing until dawn in nightclubs - the Cote d'Azur simply obliges you to try it all. However, you can spend money in a slightly different way - through participation in excursion programs.
Poetic villages perched on steep cliffs with a peculiar sleepy atmosphere, the most beautiful palaces and castles, crystal rivers and rushing waterfalls, hidden in dense forest thickets, perfectly convey the romanticism of this part of France. Stock up on your cameras and move forward to new discoveries!
Holidays and festivals
Every day the influx of vacationers is becoming more significant. In order for the public not to get bored (and they are quite distinguished here), festive events were invented. On the summer solstice, which falls on the 21st, the whole country celebrates Music Day. It is marked by widespread multi-style concerts, solo performances by artists, ceremonial parades and themed parties. Saint-Tropez remembers its long fishing past this month at the Fisherman's Festival. A colorful spectacle takes place in the port waters - a performance involving over a hundred decorated boats. The ancient churches of the historical part of Nice, filled with mysterious coolness, organize the Festival of Sacred Music. In addition to it, the city hosts many other musical events every year. So, on June 1, 2013, we had fun here at the Crossover electronic pop music festival. Also in June, Nice is expecting a Book Festival held in the Albert 1st Gardens, an athletics meeting at the Charles Herman sports stadium, a triathlon competition on the Promenade des Anglais and a contemporary art fair at the Acropolis exhibition center. Antibes hosts sailing competitions, as well as the magnificent Flower Battles in Antibes festival.
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