Day 3439 (Sunday) 8th November 2026.

This is Villefranche-sur-Mer

and this is Fort de la Revere above Eze.

After such a lovely day yesterday we were disappointed that it was grey and miserable today. There was a vide greniers on the beach today (similar to a car boot sale) but we didn’t go because it was spitting with rain, it didn't really rain but it was damp so we stayed at home.

I found this article about what to do in France in November, it’s a bit long so I’ll post it over two days…enjoy.

France in November

November isn’t our favourite month to visit France. The weather is often grey and rainy, and shorter days leave less time for exploring. If you’re looking forward to wandering through pretty villages, visiting gardens and enjoying relaxed lunches outside, we would encourage you to consider a different time of year.

If your dates are flexible, we generally recommend April, May, June, September or October. The best choice depends on where you want to go, but these months usually offer more pleasant conditions for discovering France’s towns, villages and countryside.

Of course, we know that vacation time doesn’t always give you that flexibility. If you need to visit France in November, we recommend focusing on cities. Nice, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and Avignon are worth considering for the generally milder weather in the south of France, although you should still prepare for rain. Paris and Lyon have plenty of museums, restaurants and indoor visits for colder or wetter days.

There are seasonal experiences to enjoy, too. Beaujolais Nouveau Day, on the third Thursday of November, brings celebrations of the year’s new wine. 

The winter truffle-hunting season starts to get underway in late November, depending on the region and conditions, and France's Christmas markets begin opening toward the end of the month. 

Although the weather in France can be variable all year round, in November it tends to be greyer, colder, and wetter. There are also fewer hours of daylight. By the end of November, the sun rises after 8am and sets before 5pm in Paris (although you might not actually see much of the sun).

The warmest part of France in November is the south of France, where temperatures range between 9-16°C (48-61°F). In Northern and Central France the average temperature is normally under 10°C (50°F) in November, and it’s normally a few degrees warmer (but wetter) on the Atlantic coast. Even Nice on the French Riviera receives an average of 12.7 days of rainfall in November.

So if you’re travelling to France at this time of year, bring a warm, waterproof overcoat and footwear, and an umbrella. Bringing layers is a good idea if you’ll be exploring both the North and the South of France, as you may be lucky enough to enjoy some milder temperatures in the south.

Paris is one of the French cities worth considering for a November trip because you can plan plenty of indoor visits around the weather. If art is a particular interest, our art and museum tours in France offer ideas for including it in a personalised itinerary.

Take the opportunity to visit the Louvre museum. 

If you book with France Just For You, we’ll recommend a whistle-stop tour that takes in the most famous pieces, or sections that you tell us you’re interested in. Otherwise, check the Louvre website and plan which exhibitions you want to see beforehand. You can easily spend more than a day visiting the whole museum, and you may prefer to just spend a couple of hours seeing the exhibitions and masterpieces that are most interesting to you. 

Other museums that are worth visiting are:

Musée d’Orsay, which used to be a train station - get a photo by the huge glass clock.

Centre Pompidou - a museum of contemporary art in an incredible industrial-style building.

Musée de l’Armée - see weapons and uniforms from French military conflicts - check out Napolean’s tomb

Panthéon - an 18th century monument in the Latin Quarter and place of rest for notable French citizens, including Emile Zola, Pierre and Marie Curie and Victor Hugo.

Musée Marmottan Monet and Musée de l'Orangerie - where you can see some of his famous water lily paintings.

Since November is outside of peak season in France, it’s also a good time to go up the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, when there are fewer visitors. Just remember to bring a warm coat - it can get very cold and windy at the top

The South of France

Menton on the French Riviera

It will probably be too cold to really enjoy the beach in the south of France. Although temperatures can reach the 20s/70s during a warm spell, the average temperature across the month is typically around 15°C/59°F. However, sunny weather and warmer temperatures mean that it will still be a nice time to explore the cities, as well as the hilltop villages. You may still catch some of the pretty autumn colours, as autumn tends to start a bit later in Provence and the French Riviera. 

Some of our favourite villages and towns include Mougins, Gordes and Menton.

If you’re visiting the French Riviera, be sure to visit the most famous art museums. We love the Chagall Museum in Nice and the Picasso Museum in Antibes. 

Chagall Museum

Picasso Museum in Antibes.

There are also plenty of high-end boutiques and restaurants, if you want to experience some of the glamour of this region.

Burgundy

Burgundy is always a wonderful region for food and wine lovers, but November is especially interesting thanks to the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction, one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, held on the third Sunday of November. 

The auction itself is reserved for registered professionals and bidders, but tourists can still enjoy the lively atmosphere that fills Beaune during this weekend. The town buzzes with cellar tastings, food markets, parades, and concerts, giving visitors a chance to experience Burgundy at its most festive.

Beyond Beaune, the Côte d’Or wine route winds through world-renowned villages such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Pommard, and Meursault, where you can visit cellars and taste the iconic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. 

In Dijon, the regional capital, you’ll find gourmet markets, the historic Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, and plenty of cosy restaurants serving hearty seasonal dishes. 

For history lovers, Cluny Abbey, once the largest church in Christendom, is worth a visit, with its remains and surrounding medieval town. 

To the north, Fontenay Abbey - a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1118 - is one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in Europe, with serene Romanesque architecture and peaceful gardens. Together, they offer a fascinating glimpse into Burgundy’s medieval spiritual life.

I will post the rest of these tomorrow.