Best time to visit Arcachon
The best time to visit Arcachon (and the Bordeaux region) is from June to September, with mid-July to late-August the best time for a beach holiday when the weather is warm and sunny.
Arcachon weather
Arcachon has a temperate, sub-oceanic climate throughout the year, with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny summers.
Rain falls throughout the year in Arcachon.
What is the best month to visit Arcachon?
The summer months of July and August are the best months to visit Arcachon – the climate is perfect with warm, sunny weather and little to no rainfall.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and extreme heat of summer, the months of June and September are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Arcachon?
The hottest month of the year in Arcachon is normally August, with an average daily high temperature of 27°C (80°F), with moderate heat and humidity, and a low of 16°C (60°F).
However, on the warmest days of the month temperatures may reach and exceed 35°C (95°F) for a day or two.
The warm summer season lasts from mid-June to late-September, with an average daily high temperature above 23°C (73°F).
Which is the coldest month in Arcachon?
The coldest month of the year in Arcachon is January, with an average high of 10°C (50°F) and a low of 4°C (39°F).
The cool winter season lasts from late-November to early-March, with an average daily high temperature below 14°C (57°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Arcachon?
The sunniest time of year in Arcachon is usually August with an average of eight hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 56% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Arcachon?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Arcachon in August when the water temperature reaches 21°C (69°F), which is still cold for swimming.
The sea temperature never gets warm in Arcachon.
Which month has the most rain in Arcachon?
November is usually the wettest month in Arcachon with 105mm (4in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 13 days.
The wet season lasts from mid-September to late-May, with a greater than 27% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from April to mid-September. July has the least rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in Arcachon?
The windiest month of the year in Arcachon is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 17 kilometres per hour (9 knots; 10.6 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from mid-October to late-April, with average wind speeds of more than 14 kilometres per hour (7 knots; 9 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from late-April to mid-October. The calmest month of the year in Arcachon is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 12 kilometres per hour (6.5 knots; 7.5 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Arcachon.
Arcachon Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 11 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 85 | 78 | 72 | 69 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 71 | 80 | 85 | 86 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 90 | 85 | 70 | 80 | 85 | 65 | 55 | 60 | 90 | 95 | 105 | 105 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 13 |
| Arcachon, France | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: July and August are the peak season months. Arcachon is the surfing capital of France and hosts the weeklong annual Arcachon Surf Festival in July, when advance hotel bookings are required.
Typically, peak season in France revolves around school holidays – Christmas and New Year, mid-February to mid-March, Easter, July and August. Expect high hotel prices, packed beaches and traffic-clogged roads.
High season: Spring and Autumn offer the best deals and reasonable weather despite the occasional rain showers.
Source: Meteorological data for Arcachon is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by Météo-France at the closest weather station: Cazaux Air Base (Base aérienne 120 Cazaux (LFBC)) located about 18km (11mi) south of Arcachon.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Arcachon: 12 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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