The Best Time To Visit Southern France For No Crowds And Gorgeous Weather, Per Rick Steves

Southern France has everything from incredible nature to major entertainment events to historic Roman ruins. Cities like Cannes, Nice, Saint-Tropez, and Nîmes feel glamourous, yet chic. Narrowing down what you want to see can be overwhelming. Thankfully, narrowing down when to visit is much easier. Travel expert Rick Steves has spent plenty of time in France. He even calls it the most exciting country in all of Europe. As for France's southern portion, Steves explained on a blog post that he enjoys visiting in May because of the moderate weather and lack of crowds.

Despite being around the same latitude as Toronto, southern France has vastly different weather compared to Canada. Southern France benefits from the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, Mediterranean is itself a widely used climate term along with subtropical or polar. Regions in southern France, like Occitanie and Provence, rarely see excessively warm or cold weather. See Provence echoed Steves's sentiments, asserting that May is one of the best times to visit Southern France. Expect highs in the 60s Fahrenheit and lows in the 50s.

One of the most well-known parts of Provence is the French Riviera. This section of the Mediterranean Sea is nicknamed Côte d'Azur thanks to the ocean's bright blue color along these shores. Rick Steves gave high praise to the French Riviera, stating on his website that it shows off, "some of France's most stunning scenery." Events like the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix bring people to this part of the country in May, but there are plenty of other towns that these visitors miss. Among them is Nice.

Visiting Nice in May allows you to explore a wonderful part of the French Riviera with less tourists than in neighboring cities or during peak summer months. Another thing that Steves enjoys about southern France is its plethora of free activities. Just a simple walk along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice gives you free views of ornate and colorful buildings, palm trees, rocky hilltops, and benches overlooking the ocean. Keep going toward the port to see adorable boats that almost seem to follow a planned color scheme. For more free sightseeing, walk up the nearby hilltop path to Colline du Château, a must-visit for panoramic sea views.

One of Rick Steves's recommendations throughout southern France are the public markets found in multiple cities. Steves especially shouted out the market in Nîmes called Les Halles de Nîmes. This market has vendors selling every type of food from produce to meat to pastries. "Eat at the diners in the markets — the quality is great [and the] prices are amazing," says Steves. Everything is sold fresh, and given that locals eat here too, you'll likely be getting an authentic French experience. Elsewhere in Nîmes, stop by the Amphitheatre of Nîmes (Arènes de Nîmes). The condition and beauty of this Roman structure definitely rivals that of the Colosseum, but with much less crowds.

Nîmes is in France's Occitanie region, which borders Provence. Both regions have plenty of underrated tourist destinations to visit in France. Avignon in Provence is as historic as it is gorgeous. At Musée Louis Vouland, you can see art from the 17th and 18th centuries in a mansion that feels straight out of a storybook. Go back in time even further by walking along the medieval Pont Saint-Bénezet (Le Pont d'Avignon). Cross the Rhone River to get the best views of this bridge with the town behind it.