Best time to go around Lyon for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go around Lyon?
Even though this destination can be visited all year round, the best time to visit the Lyonnais is in spring and autumn. Indeed, summer can be stifling and winters are very cold. During the shoulder seasons, there is a good chance of mild weather and pleasant temperatures. However, you may need to plan your visits around possible showers.
When to visit the Lyonnais based on your interests?
- For hiking in the moors of Montagny or in the Pilat Regional Natural Park, it is best to avoid the intense heat of July and August. Opt for the months of May and June, as well as September and October: nature is then in full swing and will offer you breathtaking landscapes!
- For touring the Beaujolais wine route, between Civrieux d'Azergues and Saint-Amour, the ideal season is autumn, when the vineyards take on unreal colors.
- To visit while avoiding crowds, steer clear of school holidays and long weekends in May, especially since in a city like Lyon, there is always something happening: a celebration, a festival... the choice is yours!
- To stroll through the villages of "Little Tuscany", the best period extends from late April to October. Among the most beautiful, Oingt will dazzle you.
- For swimming in the lakes, head to the Lyonnais in summer! The Sapins, Aiguebelette, or Nantua lakes welcome you to enjoy water sports.
- To attend the Festival of Lights, in December, remember to book your accommodation as early as summer as the city gets very crowded.
- For skiing: January and February are perfect for skiing down the slopes of the Retord plateau, in the east of Ain.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Ain
Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain), Belley, Pérouges...
Isère
Vienne, Voiron, Bourgoin...
Loire
Saint-Etienne, Roanne, Sainte-Croix-en-Jarrez...
Rhône
Lyon, Villeurbanne, Montagny...
To get all the information about the climate and weather around Lyon for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in january Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in february Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in march Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in april Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in may Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in june Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in july Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in august Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in september Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in october Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in november Lyonnais (Around Lyon) in december
Best time to travel to Lyonnais (Around Lyon) by cities
Ain 
Isère 
Loire 
Rhône 
Climate and Weather around Lyon
Overall, the climate in the Lyonnais region is semi-continental, but it is increasingly influenced by the Mediterranean climate over the years. The seasons are very distinct and humidity is present due to frequent rains, as well as the presence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.
The weather in the Lyonnais region also depends on the departments and the relief:
- In the Loire department: the medium mountain areas have a more mountainous climate, as in Saint-Étienne, located at over 500m above sea level. Winters will be colder there, and summers milder. The plain areas may experience a Mediterranean influence with occasional Cévennes episodes.
- In the Rhône and northern Isère departments: the semi-continental climate is influenced by Mediterranean, continental, and oceanic influences. Compared to neighboring departments, the wind is more present and is regularly felt from the north of the Rhône valley.
- In the Ain department: the climate is considered more temperate with a slight continental tendency. Temperature variations between seasons are less pronounced there.
Summer in the Lyonnais
The climate in the Lyonnais during the summer is hot and thunderstorms are very frequent. Moreover, the ambient humidity is significant, especially around the two rivers.
The average temperature in the region is 26°C (79°F) in July and August, but can easily exceed 30°C (86°F) during heatwaves. In Lyon, the sensation of heat is even stronger as it is reinforced by pollution.
If you wish to visit the region during this period, it is better to avoid cities and head to the medium mountains of Isère.
Autumn in the Lyonnais
October is the best month to visit the Lyonnais:
- Temperatures are mild, with averages around 17°C (63°F) during the day.
- Precipitations are very low and the sky is mostly clear.
In November, the weather deteriorates: the temperature drops rapidly and the precipitation becomes more intense. Opt for city trips so you can quickly take shelter from the rain, for example in Saint-Étienne or Bourg-en-Bresse.
Winter in the Lyonnais
Winter is the least pleasant season for strolling in the region:
- It is very cold with temperatures ranging from 0 to 5°C (41°F) in January.
- The air humidity level is high even though rainfall is quite low.
- Snowfalls are frequent and can paralyze cities for several days.
It is therefore ideal to wait until the beginning of March to visit the Lyonnais, when spring slowly starts to show up.
Spring in the Lyonnais
The winter snow gradually gives way to a nature awakening. From mid-March onwards, temperatures become very pleasant, even turning summery by June.
The months of May and June are the rainiest of the year and humidity levels are high. It might be wise to pack an umbrella in your suitcase!
Temperatures and rainfall around Lyon
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Lyonnais (Around Lyon) and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Lyon, Belley, Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain), Pérouges and Roanne.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons around Lyon
Find out when Lyonnais (Around Lyon) 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 around Lyon
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, November and December. The number of visitors to Lyonnais (Around Lyon) is high in: May, June, July, August, September and October.
- Very low season around Lyon: January and February.
- Low season around Lyon: March, April, November and December.
- High season around Lyon: May, June, September and October.
- Peak season around Lyon: July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Lyonnais (Around Lyon) month by month
Average price for flights around Lyon
A return flight between Montreal and Lyon is generally cheaper if you go in september ($ 700 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 305 more for your airline ticket to Lyon if you go in july.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices around Lyon
Where to go around Lyon?
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. |
| Lyon | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Belley | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 81°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain) | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Pérouges | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Roanne | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 65°F | 74°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Saint-Etienne | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Vienne | 43°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 81°F | 81°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Villeurbanne | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Montagny | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Belleville-en-Beaujolais | 43°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Pilat Regional Natural Park | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Sainte-Croix-en-Jarrez | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Ambérieu-en-Bugey | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Bellegarde-sur-Valserine | 40°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 65°F | 74°F | 77°F | 77°F | 70°F | 63°F | 52°F | 43°F |
| Bourgoin | 43°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 81°F | 74°F | 63°F | 52°F | 47°F |
| Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne | 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Firminy | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 59°F | 65°F | 74°F | 77°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| Givors | 45°F | 47°F | 56°F | 63°F | 68°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 74°F | 65°F | 54°F | 47°F |
| Hauteville-Lompnes | 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 67°F | 76°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
| La Cote-Saint-Andre | 43°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 67°F | 74°F | 79°F | 79°F | 72°F | 63°F | 52°F | 45°F |
Legend:
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Lyonnais (Around Lyon)
What can I do around Lyon?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Lyonnais (Around Lyon) reliable?
Climate data for Lyonnais (Around Lyon) has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Lyonnais (Around Lyon) allows us to determine the average for each month in Lyon, Belley, Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain), Pérouges, Roanne, Saint-Etienne, Vienne, Villeurbanne, and 20 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.