Weather by month for Lyon, the best months to go and how France's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
May, Jun, Aug, Sep
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 20°C to 28°C · 7–12 rain days
Mar, Apr, Jul, Oct
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 13°C to 29°C · 8–12 rain days
Jan, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs 7°C to 8°C · 12–13 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C / 1°C | 13 days (67 mm) | 4.7 h/day | 3.2/10 |
| February | 10°C / 1°C | 9 days (45 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 4.7/10 |
| March | 13°C / 4°C | 12 days (70 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 6.0/10 |
| April | 17°C / 6°C | 10 days (64 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: May | 20°C / 11°C | 12 days (97 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| Best month: June | 26°C / 15°C | 11 days (87 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| July | 29°C / 17°C | 8 days (59 mm) | 13.0 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: August | 28°C / 17°C | 7 days (61 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: September | 23°C / 13°C | 8 days (73 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 8.5/10 |
| October | 18°C / 10°C | 9 days (102 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| November | 11°C / 5°C | 11 days (81 mm) | 5.8 h/day | 5.1/10 |
| December | 8°C / 2°C | 12 days (75 mm) | 4.8 h/day | 3.7/10 |
Figures for Lyon; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
7°C / 1°C · 13 rain days · 4.7 h sun
In Lyon, January highs reach just 6.8°C with lows near freezing at 0.7°C. Rain falls on 13.3 days, and sunshine is thin at 4.7 hours a day. With a score of 3.2, this is a tough, cold, grey month, though New Year's Day brings some low-key celebration.
10°C / 1°C · 9 rain days · 6.8 h sun
Highs climb slightly to 9.9°C and rain days drop to 8.8, with sun hours up to 6.8. The score of 4.7 marks this as an ok month: still cool, but noticeably drier and brighter than January.
13°C / 4°C · 12 rain days · 8.7 h sun
Temperatures rise to a 13.3°C high, with lows of 3.6°C. Rain days increase again to 11.6, but sun hours reach 8.7. Scoring 6, March is a good shoulder month as spring weather starts to take hold.
17°C / 6°C · 10 rain days · 10.1 h sun
Highs reach 16.7°C with 10 rain days and 10.1 hours of sun daily. This is one of the best months to visit, scoring 7.6. Easter Monday falls in early April, adding a public holiday to the mix.
20°C / 11°C · 12 rain days · 10.8 h sun
May brings warmer days at 20.4°C, though rain is heaviest of the year so far at 97mm over 12.4 days. Sun hours hit 10.8. The score of 7.8 keeps it rated best, helped by Labour Day, Victory in Europe Day, Ascension Day and Whit Monday all falling this month.
26°C / 15°C · 11 rain days · 12.5 h sun
Summer arrives with highs of 25.8°C and lows of 15.3°C. Rain days drop to 11.3 despite 87mm of rainfall, and sun hours jump to 12.5. June scores 7.9, a best-rated month for warm, long days.
29°C / 17°C · 8 rain days · 13.0 h sun
July is the hottest month with highs of 28.5°C and lows of 17.3°C. Rain days fall to just 7.5, and sun hours peak at 13. Bastille Day on 14 July brings national celebrations. The month scores 7.6, still rated best despite the heat.
28°C / 17°C · 7 rain days · 11.9 h sun
Highs stay near summer peak at 28.1°C with lows of 17°C. Rain days hold at 7.2, among the driest of the year, with 11.9 hours of sun. Assumption Day falls on 15 August. The score of 8 keeps August as a best-rated month, though the heat can feel intense.
23°C / 13°C · 8 rain days · 10.1 h sun
Highs ease to 23.4°C and rain days stay low at 7.5, with sun hours at 10.1. September scores highest of the year at 8.5, making it the top-rated month as summer heat fades but warmth and sunshine remain.
18°C / 10°C · 9 rain days · 7.5 h sun
Highs drop to 17.9°C and rain increases to 102mm over 9.3 days, the wettest month of the year. Sun hours fall to 7.5. Still, October scores 7.8 and keeps its best rating, offering mild autumn days despite the extra rain.
11°C / 5°C · 11 rain days · 5.8 h sun
Highs fall to 11.3°C with lows of 4.7°C, and rain days rise to 11.4. Sun hours drop to 5.8. All Saints' Day and Armistice Day both fall this month. With a score of 5.1, November is an ok month as colder, wetter weather sets in.
8°C / 2°C · 12 rain days · 4.8 h sun
December highs reach only 8°C, with lows of 2°C and rain on 12.4 days. Sun hours are among the lowest of the year at 4.8. Scoring 3.7, this is a tough month weather-wise, though Christmas Day brings festive lights and markets to brighten the cold and grey.
Regional differences
Average daytime high each month, coloured by that city's own month score.
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | 7°C | 10°C | 13°C | 17°C | 20°C | 26°C | 29°C | 28°C | 23°C | 18°C | 11°C | 8°C |
| Toulouse | 9°C | 12°C | 15°C | 18°C | 21°C | 26°C | 29°C | 29°C | 25°C | 20°C | 14°C | 11°C |
| Nice | 13°C | 14°C | 15°C | 18°C | 21°C | 25°C | 29°C | 29°C | 25°C | 21°C | 17°C | 14°C |
| Strasbourg | 6°C | 9°C | 12°C | 16°C | 20°C | 25°C | 27°C | 26°C | 22°C | 16°C | 10°C | 7°C |
| Bordeaux | 10°C | 13°C | 15°C | 18°C | 21°C | 25°C | 27°C | 28°C | 25°C | 20°C | 15°C | 12°C |
Best Good OK Tough weather
By trip type
City sightseeing
May, June, September and October work best for city breaks. Lyon's highs sit between 17°C and 25.8°C in these months, with fewer rain days than spring's wettest stretch, making walking tours comfortable without summer's peak heat.
Beach
June through September suit beach time. July and August bring the warmest conditions, with Lyon highs of 28.5°C and 28.1°C and only around 7 rain days a month, while June and September offer similar sun with slightly cooler air.
Hiking & nature
April, September and October are the pick for hiking. Daytime highs range from 16.7°C in April to 23.4°C in September, avoiding the heaviest heat of summer, though October brings more rain (102mm) than the other two months.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Easter Monday (6 Apr)
Public holidays: Labour Day (1 May), Victory in Europe Day (8 May), Ascension Day (14 May), Whit Monday (25 May)
Public holidays: Bastille Day (14 Jul)
Public holidays: Assumption Day (15 Aug)
Public holidays: All Saints' Day (1 Nov), Armistice Day (11 Nov)
Public holidays: Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes, August scores 8 out of 10 and ranks among the best months. Daytime highs reach 28.1°C with a low of 17°C at night, and rain falls on only 7.2 days with 61mm total. Sun hours stay high at 11.9, making it a warm, mostly dry month, though the heat can feel intense for some travellers.
Yes, September is the top-scoring month at 8.5 out of 10. Highs average 23.4°C and lows 13.3°C, which is cooler and more comfortable than peak summer. Rain days drop to 7.5 with 73mm, and sun hours stay strong at 10.1, giving a good mix of warmth and lower humidity.
January is the lowest-scoring month at 3.2 out of 10. Daytime highs only reach 6.8°C and lows drop to 0.7°C, with rain on 13.3 days, the most of any month. Sun hours are just 4.7, the year's lowest, so days are cold, damp, and dark.
Yes, May scores 7.8 out of 10 and counts among the best months. Highs average 20.4°C with lows of 10.5°C, giving mild, pleasant temperatures. It does bring 97mm of rain over 12.4 days, the wettest tally among the top months, but sun hours still reach 10.8.
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