Fontainebleau, just south of Paris, features a temperate oceanic climate with warm, pleasant summers and cold, damp winters. The city experiences moderate rainfall year-round, distinct seasonal changes, and frequent breezes. With long summer days, lush forests, and atmospheric autumns, Fontainebleau is a popular destination for outdoor adventure, history, and relaxation.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Fontainebleau’s climate is shaped by its inland location and proximity to the famous forest, resulting in four distinct seasons. Summers (June–August) are warm and comfortable, with average highs of 23–26°C and lows of 13–16°C. July is the hottest month, but heatwaves can occasionally push temperatures above 35°C. Rainfall is moderate, with July and August typically seeing 45–63 mm over 6–8 days per month. Sunshine is abundant in summer, with up to 7.5 hours per day and daylight stretching to 16 hours at the solstice. Humidity is moderate, and breezes are gentle, making summer ideal for hiking, bouldering, and exploring the forest.
Winters (December–February) are cold and damp, with average highs of 7–9°C and lows near 2°C. January is the coldest month, and nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. Snow is possible but not frequent, and most winter precipitation falls as rain or drizzle, with December being the wettest month (up to 77 mm over 16 days). Days are short and often cloudy, with only 1.9 hours of sunshine and 8–9 hours of daylight. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild to cool temperatures (12–21°C in May/September), frequent showers, and vibrant foliage or blossoming flowers. Winds are generally light to moderate (8–14 km/h), but can be brisk during storms. Fontainebleau receives about 747 mm of precipitation annually and enjoys 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine per year, supporting its lush forests and diverse outdoor activities.
| Average climate data for Fontainebleau, France | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 25 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 41 | 45 | 41 | 34 | 59 | 64 | 49 | 45 | 26 | 40 | 51 | 59 | 553 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 194 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 33 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 86 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 82 | 77 | 76 | 79 | 79 | 75 | 71 | 74 | 79 | 86 | 88 | 79 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 14 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 59 | 57 | 49 | 42 | 44 | 47 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 45 | 58 | 58 | 48 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Fontainebleau is from May to September, when temperatures are warmest (19–26°C), rainfall is moderate, and the forest is lush and vibrant. These months offer ideal conditions for hiking, bouldering, cycling, and exploring the historic château, with long daylight hours and comfortable evenings.
The least favourable time to visit Fontainebleau is from November to February, when temperatures are lowest, days are shortest, and frequent rain or occasional snow can limit outdoor activities. While winter is atmospheric, the cold, damp, and cloudy conditions may not appeal to all travellers, though the town remains peaceful for those seeking a quiet escape.
Fontainebleau has a temperate oceanic climate with warm, pleasant summers and cold, damp winters. Rain falls year-round, with peaks in late autumn and winter. Summers are ideal for outdoor activities, while winters are chilly and often cloudy.
The best time to visit Fontainebleau is from May to September, when the weather is warm, rainfall is moderate, and the forest is lush and vibrant—perfect for hiking, bouldering, and sightseeing.
Snow is possible in Fontainebleau from December to February, but accumulations are usually light and short-lived. Most winter precipitation falls as rain or drizzle, and the city remains accessible year-round.
Fontainebleau receives about 747 mm of precipitation annually, with rainfall spread fairly evenly throughout the year. December is the wettest month, while July and August are drier but still see occasional showers.
Summer highs in Fontainebleau typically reach 23–26°C, with July being the warmest month. Heatwaves can occasionally push temperatures above 35°C, but evenings are usually cool and pleasant.
Pack layers for cool mornings and evenings, a rain jacket for showers, and sun protection for summer. In winter, bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and waterproof shoes for cold, damp conditions.
Winds in Fontainebleau are generally light to moderate (8–14 km/h), but can be brisk during storms, especially in spring and autumn. The forest offers shelter from the wind during outdoor activities.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (24.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 15.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (14.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (1.4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (63.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (26.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 553.5 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is May (18.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (11.6 days). Over the whole year there are 193.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (32.9 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 86 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (3.7 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, May, August, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 11.7 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (87.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (71 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (15.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (9.9 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 12.5 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (58.9 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (36.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 47.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 9.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3.1 h). Over the whole year there are 6.4 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.3.
