Provence enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters, warm springs, and hot, dry summers. There is really no bad time to visit, but the season you choose will shape the experience.
The Mistral is the defining weather feature. This strong wind blows down the Rhone valley from northern Europe, bringing clear skies but sometimes biting cold even in early summer. Locals say it blows in multiples of three days. It can be relentless, flinging open windows and making cycling difficult, but it is also responsible for the extraordinarily sunny skies that Provence is known for.
Summer crowds are the main reason to consider visiting outside July and August. Provence is the playground for much of northern Europe, and French families clog the roads heading south during those months. Prices peak, restaurant tables are hard to come by, and traffic on the main toll road from Paris can back up for hours. If you can visit in June or September, you will get good weather, lower prices, and far fewer people.
Events worth timing a trip around:
- Easter in Arles brings the Easter Feria, with bullfights in the Roman amphitheatre and three days of festivities
- Late spring sees the Transhumance, when shepherds move their flocks through villages to higher pastures
- Late May brings the gypsy pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
- July sees the famous theatre festival in Avignon and the music festival at the Roman theatre in Orange
- September and October bring wine and olive harvest festivals throughout the region
- November and December feature santon fairs across Provence, showcasing the hand-crafted figurines that populate the traditional Christmas creche