Marseille vs Montpellier/Méditerranée: which is sunnier?
🇫🇷 France vs 🇫🇷 France · 102 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Marseille is the sunnier overall: about 2,885 hours of sunshine a year to Montpellier/Méditerranée's 2,544. Marseille has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months; the other 6 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Marseille | Montpellier/Méditerranée | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,885 | 2,544 |
| Sunniest month | July (93/100) | July (90/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 32/100 | 31/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 92/100 | 89/100 |
| Rain / year | 532 mm | 575 mm |
| Warmest sea | 23°C / 73°F | 24°C / 75°F |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 8 (very high) |
Marseille vs Montpellier/Méditerranée month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marseille | Montpellier/Méditerranée | Marseille | Montpellier/Méditerranée | Marseille | Montpellier/Méditerranée | Marseille | Montpellier/Méditerranée | |
| January | 22 | 21 | 11° | 11° | 45 | 52 | 14° | 12° |
| February | 30 | 29 | 12° | 12° | 35 | 39 | 14° | 12° |
| March | 52 | 50 | 15° | 15° | 38 | 48 | 14° | 13° |
| April | 73 | 69 | 18° | 18° | 47 | 59 | 14° | 15° |
| May | 88 | 85 | 22° | 22° | 43 | 49 | 17° | 18° |
| June | 91 | 88 | 27° | 27° | 28 | 30 | 21° | 22° |
| July | 93 | 90 | 30° | 30° | 16 | 20 | 22° | 24° |
| August | 92 | 89 | 29° | 30° | 21 | 25 | 23° | 24° |
| September | 86 | 85 | 25° | 25° | 54 | 51 | 22° | 22° |
| October | 83 | 79 | 21° | 21° | 73 | 82 | 20° | 20° |
| November | 47 | 47 | 15° | 15° | 87 | 73 | 17° | 16° |
| December | 29 | 28 | 12° | 12° | 45 | 47 | 15° | 12° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Marseille · May Marseille · Jun Marseille · Jul Marseille · Aug Marseille · Sep even · Oct Marseille · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Marseille averages 32/100, Montpellier/Méditerranée 31/100. Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 13°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Marseille (average score 71/100 vs 68). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 18°C).
- June–August: Marseille (average score 92/100 vs 89). Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: Marseille (average score 85/100 vs 82). Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 23°C).
Sea temperature
Montpellier/Méditerranée's sea gets warmer: 24°C / 75°F at its peak vs 23°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Marseille about 4 months a year, Montpellier/Méditerranée about 4 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Marseille weather by month · Montpellier/Méditerranée weather by month · Best time to visit France.
More comparisons: Marseille vs Nice · Marseille vs Toulon · Montpellier/Méditerranée vs Toulon · Montpellier/Méditerranée vs Perpignan/Rivesaltes · Montpellier/Méditerranée vs Carcassonne · all head-to-heads