Montpellier, located in southern France near the Mediterranean coast, enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The city is one of the sunniest in France, offering long daylight hours in summer and a dynamic weather pattern with moderate rainfall, making it an appealing destination for travellers year-round.
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.
Montpellier features a Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot, sunny summers and mild, relatively rainy winters. Summer (June to August) brings average daytime highs of 26–29°C and lows around 15–17°C. July and August are the hottest and driest months, often experiencing extended periods of sunshine – up to 11 hours per day – and minimal rainfall, with only 18–21 mm on average. The Mediterranean Sea moderates extreme heat, and a gentle breeze often provides relief from the summer warmth. Sea temperatures peak at 21–22°C from July to September, though the water can feel cool due to persistent north winds.
Winters (December to February) are generally mild, with average highs of 11–12°C and lows of 2–4°C. Rainfall is more frequent in autumn and winter, with October and November being the wettest months, sometimes seeing over 100 mm of rain. Snow is rare but possible during cold spells. Spring and autumn are transitional, with pleasant temperatures (15–22°C), increasing or decreasing rainfall, and variable weather. Montpellier enjoys about 2,700–2,800 hours of sunshine annually, and daylight ranges from 9 hours in winter to over 15 hours in summer. Humidity is moderate, and winds are typically gentle, though stronger gusts can occur during storms. The climate supports a vibrant outdoor lifestyle, from beach visits to city festivals.
| Average climate data for Montpellier, France | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 11 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 27 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 26 | 18 | 24 | 37 | 30 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 30 | 79 | 56 | 19 | 385 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 107 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 68 | 68 | 71 | 69 | 67 | 65 | 65 | 66 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 69 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 36 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 31 | 39 | 35 | 27 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
The best time to visit Montpellier is from mid-April to mid-June and in September, when the weather is warm, rainfall is moderate, and the city’s outdoor life is at its best. These periods offer comfortable temperatures for sightseeing, fewer tourists than in peak summer, and vibrant local events.
The least favourable time to visit Montpellier is in late autumn and winter (October to February), when rainfall is highest, days are shorter, and cooler temperatures can limit outdoor activities. However, the city remains milder and sunnier than much of northern France, with occasional bright, clear days.
Montpellier has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Summers are sunny and ideal for outdoor activities, while winters are generally mild but can be rainy, especially in late autumn.
The best time to visit is from mid-April to mid-June and in September, when temperatures are comfortable, rainfall is moderate, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor events.
Snow is rare in Montpellier but can occur during cold spells in winter. Most winters are mild, with temperatures usually above freezing and occasional frosty mornings.
Montpellier receives moderate rainfall, averaging 700–900 mm annually. The wettest months are October and November, while summer is typically dry with only a few rainy days.
Montpellier generally experiences gentle breezes, especially in summer, which help moderate the heat. Stronger winds can occur during storms, particularly in autumn and winter.
The Mediterranean Sea near Montpellier is warmest from July to September, with temperatures of 21–22°C. Swimming is pleasant in summer, but the water can feel cool due to local winds.
In summer, bring light clothing, sun protection, and a hat. For spring and autumn, pack layers and a light jacket. In winter, bring a raincoat and warmer clothes for cooler, damp days.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (27.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (10.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (20.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (6.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 12.9 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is October (79.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (18.3 mm). Over the whole year there are 385 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is November (13 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (6.4 days). Over the whole year there are 107.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (0.3 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are March, April, May, July, September, October and December (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.7 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (73.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (65 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 69.2 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (17.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (12.8 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (39.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (13.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 27.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 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 June (Average sunshine: 11.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 8.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.3.
