Marseille, set on France’s Mediterranean coast, enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The city is renowned for its abundant sunshine – over 300 days per year – and refreshing sea breezes. Seasonal contrasts are marked by long, sunny days in summer and occasional rain and wind in the cooler months.
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.
Marseille’s climate is defined by hot, sunny summers and mild, relatively rainy winters. Summer (June–August) brings average highs of 28–31°C, with occasional heatwaves pushing temperatures above 35°C. Nights remain warm, and rainfall is minimal – July is the driest month, often with just 10 mm of rain. The Mediterranean Sea moderates the heat, and sea temperatures peak at 22°C in August, ideal for swimming. Sunshine is abundant, with up to 12 hours per day, making Marseille the sunniest city in France.
Winter (December–February) is generally mild, with daytime highs of 11–13°C and lows of 3–5°C. Rain is more frequent, especially in October and November, but rarely extreme – annual precipitation averages about 515 mm, with most rain falling in autumn and winter. Snow is rare and usually melts quickly. The city is also known for the Mistral, a strong, cold, northwesterly wind that can reach speeds of 100 km/h, especially in winter and spring, bringing clear skies but a sharp chill. Spring and autumn are transitional, with pleasant temperatures (15–25°C), increasing rainfall in autumn, and fewer crowds. Daylight ranges from 9 hours in winter to over 15 hours in summer, supporting Marseille’s lively outdoor culture year-round.
| Average climate data for Marseille, France | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 10 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 27 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 32 | 30 | 28 | 48 | 39 | 24 | 12 | 14 | 28 | 63 | 77 | 33 | 429 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 106 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 63 | 68 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 70 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 21 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 34 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 24 | 35 | 31 | 24 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
The best time to visit Marseille is from late April to early October, when temperatures are warm (20–31°C), rainfall is minimal, and sunshine is abundant. May, June, and September are especially pleasant for sightseeing, outdoor dining, and swimming, with fewer crowds and comfortable conditions.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Marseille experiences its coolest temperatures (11–13°C), more frequent rain, and strong Mistral winds. While winters are mild by European standards, shorter days and unsettled weather can limit outdoor activities.
Marseille has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (28–31°C), mild, wetter winters (11–13°C), and over 300 days of sunshine annually. Rain is most common in autumn and winter, and snow is rare.
The best beach weather is from late June to early September, when sea temperatures reach 21–22°C, days are hot and sunny, and rainfall is minimal—ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
The Mistral is a strong, cold, northwesterly wind that can reach speeds of 100 km/h, especially in winter and spring. It brings clear skies but can make temperatures feel colder.
Snow is very rare in Marseille. When it does occur, it usually melts quickly and does not accumulate. Most winters pass without any snowfall.
Marseille receives about 515 mm of rain annually, with most precipitation falling in autumn and winter. July is the driest month, often with just 10 mm of rain.
Pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, bring layers and a windproof jacket. For winter, add a warm, waterproof coat and an umbrella.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (27.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (10.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.3 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (20.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (6.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 12.9 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is September (22 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (12.8 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 17.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is November (76.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (12.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 429.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is November (12.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (4.8 days). Over the whole year there are 106.4 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are January, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (0.7 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July, October and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 1.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is November (75.4 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (63.2 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 69.8 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (21.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (14.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 18.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (35 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (10.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 23.7 %.
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 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 12.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 8.7 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.
