Best time to go to Périgord - Dordogne for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Périgord - Dordogne?
The best time to visit the Périgord (former name of the Dordogne) is from early May to late October. Outside of this period, cold and rainy weather can occur, which may make your stay less enjoyable.
When to visit Dordogne-Périgord based on your interests?
- For a cultural city break in Périgueux, Sarlat, or Bergerac, it is ideal to go during the shoulder seasons: in May/June and September/October. The weather will be pleasant, and you can enjoy these splendid cities without the summer crowds.
- For hiking: the weather conditions are perfect during the summer, as this is when the risk of rain is lowest in the region. If you are concerned about the heat, September is a great choice, with slightly lower temperatures than in July and August.
- For swimming in the numerous rivers of the Dordogne, go in the summer when the temperatures are highest. These refreshing moments in a beautiful setting will be a highlight of your stay.
- For canoeing or kayaking, summer is the best season weather-wise, but the tourist crowds can be off-putting. We recommend trying these activities in June or September.
- For trying out spelunking, know that Périgord is a true paradise! Summer is the perfect time to explore underground caves, especially since their coolness will be welcome. If you don't mind the cold, caves welcome tourists all year round.
- For exploring the various themed routes in the region, visit Dordogne between spring and autumn when the natural landscapes are at their most beautiful. Whether it's the Wine Route of Bergerac, the foie gras route, the Périgord walnut route, the apple route, the castle route, the arts and crafts route... There is something for everyone!
Annual weather in Périgord - Dordogne
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Périgord - Dordogne for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F to 50°F | very bad weather | |||
| February | 36°F to 52°F | very bad weather | |||
| March | 40°F to 59°F | very bad weather* | |||
| April | 45°F to 65°F | tolerable weather | |||
| May | 50°F to 70°F | good weather | |||
| June | 58°F to 79°F | good weather | |||
| July | 61°F to 83°F | perfect weather | |||
| August | 59°F to 85°F | perfect weather | |||
| September | 54°F to 79°F | good weather* | |||
| October | 49°F to 68°F | good weather | |||
| November | 43°F to 58°F | tolerable weather | |||
| December | 40°F to 52°F | very bad weather* |
Best time to travel to Périgord - Dordogne by cities
Climate and Weather in Périgord - Dordogne
Like its neighbors Gironde and Charente, the climate in the Périgord (Dordogne) is oceanic.
However, the influence of the Atlantic diminishes as one moves eastward in the department. Thus, in the part of Dordogne that marks the border with the Massif Central, the climate is more of a semi-mountainous type depending on the valleys' depth, orientation, vegetation, and soil nature.
Above the national average, the sunshine in the former historical region of Périgord reaches an average of 200 days of sun per year.
Summer in Périgord - Dordogne
Reminiscent of the climate of Midi-Toulousain, summer in Dordogne is generally hot and sunny, with heat peaks around 35°C (95°F) in the Bergerac area.
The season is punctuated by violent thunderstorms, which most often occur at the end of a particularly hot day. They can be accompanied by heavy rains, hail, and strong gusts of wind coming from the Atlantic Ocean.
Autumn in Périgord - Dordogne
The weather in Dordogne during autumn is divided into two periods:
- In October, summer extends its benefits: temperatures are mild with highs around 20°C (68°F) in Périgueux and the risk of showers is still low. In the eastern part of the department, the first morning frosts may appear, but they are quickly erased by the sun, which is very present at this time.
- From early November, the atmosphere cools down and humidity gradually returns. The thermometer struggles to exceed 10°C (50°F) at the warmest part of the day in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and rain is part of the picture.
Winter in Périgord - Dordogne
Thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream coming from the ocean, winter in Dordogne is generally moderately cold, but often rainy.
In the northern part of the department, on the border with Limousin, temperatures are lower and snowfalls more frequent than in the south.
The month of January is the coldest of the year in Dordogne, with lows between 0 and 5°C (41°F) and highs rarely exceeding 10°C (50°F) .
As for precipitation, they are frequent, especially in December and January, to calm down in February and March. It is around Périgueux that the showers are the most significant.
Spring in Périgord - Dordogne
The climate in Périgord in spring remains very rainy, but temperatures gradually rise to reach highs around 25°C (77°F) in June in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.
From mid-April, frosts disappear and the sun is increasingly present, heralding beautiful and mild spring days.
In the southwest of the department, around Bergerac, the sun is more often present and rains less frequent, while in Périgueux it generally rains half of the month of May.
Temperatures and rainfall in Périgord - Dordogne
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Périgord - Dordogne and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Périgueux, Bergerac, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Beynac-et-Cazenac and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Périgord - Dordogne
Find out when Périgord - Dordogne has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Périgord - Dordogne
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, October, November and December. The number of visitors to Périgord - Dordogne is high in: April, May, June, July, August and September.
- Very low season in Périgord - Dordogne: January, February and December.
- Low season in Périgord - Dordogne: March, October and November.
- High season in Périgord - Dordogne: April, May, June and September.
- Peak season in Périgord - Dordogne: July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Périgord - Dordogne month by month
Where to go in Périgord - Dordogne?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Périgueux | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 50°F |
| Bergerac | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Sarlat-la-Canéda | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Beynac-et-Cazenac | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Castelnaud-la-Chapelle | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Domme | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Excideuil | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 50°F |
| Eymet | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Hautefort | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| La Roche-Chalais | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| La Roque-Gageac | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 70°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Lalinde | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Le Bugue | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Monbazillac | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Monpazier | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Montignac | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Mussidan | 50°F | 52°F | 59°F | 65°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 79°F | 68°F | 58°F | 52°F |
| Nontron | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 50°F |
| Reignac (Tursac) | 47°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 77°F | 83°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
| Saint-Astier | 49°F | 50°F | 58°F | 65°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 83°F | 77°F | 67°F | 56°F | 50°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Périgord - Dordogne
What can I do in Périgord - Dordogne?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Gastronomy
Is this weather information for Périgord - Dordogne reliable?
Climate data for Périgord - Dordogne has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Périgord - Dordogne allows us to determine the average for each month in Périgueux, Bergerac, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Beynac-et-Cazenac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Domme, Excideuil, Eymet, and 23 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.