Best Time to Visit France: June and July

France in summer means lavender fields in Provence, Côte d'Azur beaches without the August crush, and long evenings where dinner doesn't start until 9pm and somehow that feels perfectly reasonable. If you're wondering when to visit France, June and July deliver the country at its most open and welcoming. June brings early summer warmth, lavender beginning to bloom, and French holiday season not yet in full swing. July offers peak lavender, Bastille Day celebrations, and the French Riviera operating at maximum glamour. Both months give you France when the weather cooperates and the country embraces its summer identity.

June: Early Summer Across France

June in France means temperatures climbing into the mid-to-high twenties across most regions, perfect for the kind of leisurely exploration France rewards. Paris sheds its spring rain and the city's parks, particularly the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens, become prime territory for afternoon lounging between museum visits. The Seine riverbanks fill with locals and tourists, and the rooftop bars across the Marais and other neighborhoods open for the season.

Provence in June sees lavender beginning to bloom, particularly in early-blooming areas around Valensole Plateau. The fields start showing purple around mid-June, creating those postcard landscapes that define Provence's summer identity. The hilltop villages like Gordes, Roussillon, and Bonnieux are accessible without July's tourist numbers, and the weekly markets overflow with early summer produce: cherries, apricots, and the first tomatoes.

The French Riviera in June offers beach season without peak summer intensity. Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Antibes see their beach clubs fully operational, the water temperature reaches comfortable levels (around 21-22°C), and the yachts start appearing in harbors. June avoids the August exodus when Parisians flood south and prices spike accordingly.

July: Peak Lavender and Summer Energy

July is when Provence's lavender fields hit peak bloom, typically mid-month. The Valensole Plateau becomes an ocean of purple, the scent carries across entire valleys, and photographers descend in numbers that can make finding solitary shots challenging. The lavender harvest usually begins late July, so timing matters if witnessing the actual cutting is important.

Bastille Day on July 14th brings celebrations across France, with the biggest fireworks displays in Paris, Nice, and major cities. The military parade down the Champs-Élysées is a spectacle, and the evening fireworks at the Eiffel Tower draw massive crowds but deliver appropriately impressive displays. Smaller towns across Provence and other regions host local celebrations that feel more authentic and less tourist-focused.

July also brings the Tour de France, which winds through different regions each year but always finishes on the Champs-Élysées in late July. Even if you're not a cycling enthusiast, the atmosphere in towns hosting stages becomes genuinely festive, with road closures creating impromptu street parties.

The Côte d'Azur in July operates at peak glamour. The beach clubs charge accordingly, the restaurants require reservations made weeks in advance, and the evening scene across Saint-Tropez and Monaco reaches maximum energy. If you find crowds energizing rather than exhausting, July delivers the French Riviera at its most itself.

Where We'd Stay: Lily of the Valley

For the French Riviera, Lily of the Valley sits in the hills above Saint-Tropez with views across the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to the Mediterranean. The property spreads across 12 hectares of gardens and forest, with rooms, suites, and villas designed for privacy and views. The architecture is contemporary Provençal, meaning stone, wood, and large windows that frame the landscape rather than block it.

What sets Lily of the Valley apart is the combination of seclusion and access. You're removed from Saint-Tropez's beach club chaos but close enough for easy excursions when you want that energy. The property has multiple pools, a spa emphasizing local ingredients and techniques, and restaurants that source from the property's gardens and nearby producers. The beach club partnership provides access to the coast without requiring you to navigate Saint-Tropez's parking and crowds independently.

June and July both showcase the property's setting beautifully. The gardens are in full bloom, the temperatures support all-day outdoor living, and the infinity pools with views across the gulf become the natural gathering points. The Riviera's summer light, particularly in early evening, creates the kind of glow that makes everything look better. Through our Virtuoso partnership, you'll receive daily breakfast, a resort credit, and room upgrades when available.

Why These Months Work

June and July offer France during summer without the August complications. August brings French domestic holiday season when many restaurants and shops close for congé (annual vacation) and the remaining open businesses operate at capacity. June and July maintain full operations while delivering summer weather and long days that make France genuinely enjoyable rather than just endurable.

Both months require accepting higher prices than shoulder seasons and busier attractions than spring or fall. But the tradeoff is experiencing France when it's most alive, most celebratory, and most willing to stay outside until midnight because the weather allows it and the culture encourages it.

Ready to experience France in summer? Enquire with The Camel Collection and let us design your French journey, from lavender fields to Riviera beaches to summer celebrations, complete with exclusive Virtuoso benefits.