Nice weather
At the heart of the French Riviera, Nice boasts a Mediterranean climate, as well as a refreshing coastal breeze during the hot summer months.
Nice weather averages and climate
August is the warmest month of the year with average daily maximum temperatures of 28 °C, while July is the driest month with an average rainfall of 12 mm.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.1 | 13.6 | 15.4 | 17.3 | 21.2 | 24.8 | 27.4 | 27.8 | 24.6 | 21.1 | 19.6 | 13.7 | 19.7 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 64 | 66 | 69 | 71 | 70 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 71 | 69 | 63 | 67 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | 41 | 37 | 73 | 44 | 29 | 12 | 22 | 96 | 114 | 133 | 97 | 781 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.5 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.3 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 9.1 |
When is the best time to visit Nice?
The best time to visit Nice is between June and August when Nice boasts long hours of warm sunshine, cooled only by a light, pleasant coastal breeze. Whilst Nice enjoys a pleasant spring, as much as 73 mm of rain is anticipated for the month of April.
Spring
The weather in Nice in the spring is warm, with highs of around 21 °C in May. Rain is also likely, particularly in April when Nice can expect an average of 73 mm of rainfall throughout the month. Nice offers around 6 daily hours of sunshine in March which then rises to 9 hours by May.
Summer
Nice can almost guarantee a hot summer with minimal rainfall. July offers visitors 11 hours of sunshine a day, perfect for those wanting to enjoy evening walks around the harbour. The temperature in Nice is at its highest in August, with an average of 28 °C, but the driest month is July, with an average monthly rainfall of just 12 mm.
Whilst the summer climate in Nice is warm, visitors can enjoy a pleasant coastal breeze.
Autumn
Nice attracts visitors well into the autumn thanks to its pleasant climate; with temperatures of around 21 °C in October and 6 hours of daily sunshine. Later in the autumn, temperatures fall to around 19 °C (still warmer than most European countries) and the likelihood of rain increases, with an average rainfall of 133 mm in November.
Even by late autumn visitors to Nice can still enjoy around 5 hours of sunshine during the day.
Winter
In December, the temperature in Nice falls to a mild 13 °C, but the amount of rain also decreases, to 97 mm in December and 83 mm in January. February expects as little as 41 mm.
December is the breeziest month with average wind speeds of 11.2 mph. An umbrella and jacket are advisable for the winter months, but by February the weather begins to improve, with significantly less rain and more sunshine hours during the day.
Nice tourist information
Nice is one of France's most prestigious and beautiful cities, and also a vital access point to the South of France. Nice's position in the heart of the French Riviera gives it access to all of the famous Côte d'Azur names such as Monte Carlo, Monaco, Cannes and Antibes.
Castle Hill provides incredible views over the Nice coastline and the Old Town, which is one of the most charming old quarters in France. It is in this part of Nice that tourists find an abundance of restaurants and small boutique style craft shops, as well as some of the more traditional bars.
Promenade des Anglais stretches along the seashore and lighting conditions here often feel particularly tranquil; the area was a favourite for some of the great French painters including Chagall.
The promenade is so named due to the English affection for Nice in its early years as a popular resort. The city continues to draw wealthy visitors from around the world, often due to its harbour facilities, luxury hotels and world class restaurants.
The huge town square named Place Massena is one of the most sprawling and impressive in France. The square stands on the perimeter of the main part of the Old Town, near the famous Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. At the other end of the Old Town, you will find the Place Garibaldi which is not so big but is equally agreeable, and Place Rossetti is worthy of note - here you will find some fine pavement cafes for those sunny days.
The Orthodox Cathedral and Nice Opera House attract plenty of visitors, and the Allianz Arena mustn't be forgotten; the state of the art home of OGC Nice is the reason many people visit the city. Nice is one of the most famous teams in the French Ligue 1 and had their heyday in the 50s with players such as Joaquin Valle.