Marseille weather by month & the best time to visit
France · coastal city break · Mediterranean climate
The best time to visit Marseille is July — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 93/100), with August and June close behind. Marseille averages about 2,885 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 30°C / 86°F and roughly 16 mm of rain in July.
When is the best time to visit Marseille?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Marseille is July, then August and June. The dullest month is January (22/100, 45 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Marseille?
Marseille gets a lot of sun: around 2,885 hours a year. 71 Sunshine Score points separate July (93) from January (22), so the month you pick matters. Marseille is the sunniest of the 53 destinations tracked in France. Rain has a clear season: the wettest stretch, around October, carries about 40% of the annual 532 mm.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22 | 11° / 52°F | 5° / 41°F | 45 mm | 1 | 14° / 57°F |
| February | 30 | 12° / 54°F | 4° / 39°F | 35 mm | 2 | 14° / 57°F |
| March | 52 | 15° / 59°F | 7° / 45°F | 38 mm | 3 | 14° / 57°F |
| April | 73 | 18° / 64°F | 10° / 50°F | 47 mm | 5 | 14° / 57°F |
| May | 88 | 22° / 72°F | 14° / 57°F | 43 mm | 6 | 17° / 63°F |
| June | 91 | 27° / 81°F | 18° / 64°F | 28 mm | 7 | 21° / 70°F |
| July | 93 | 30° / 86°F | 21° / 70°F | 16 mm | 8 | 22° / 72°F |
| August | 92 | 29° / 84°F | 20° / 68°F | 21 mm | 7 | 23° / 73°F |
| September | 86 | 25° / 77°F | 17° / 63°F | 54 mm | 5 | 22° / 72°F |
| October | 83 | 21° / 70°F | 14° / 57°F | 73 mm | 3 | 20° / 68°F |
| November | 47 | 15° / 59°F | 9° / 48°F | 87 mm | 1 | 17° / 63°F |
| December | 29 | 12° / 54°F | 6° / 43°F | 45 mm | 1 | 15° / 59°F |
Sea temperature in Marseille by month
The sea off Marseille is warmest in August at around 23°C / 73°F, and coolest in January at 14°C / 57°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly 4 months a year. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
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Head-to-head
How Marseille compares month by month: Marseille vs Nice · Marseille vs Toulon · Marseille vs Montpellier/Méditerranée · all comparisons
Marseille: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Marseille?
Marseille is a coastal city break in France with a Mediterranean climate — the sea reaches 23°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) about 4 months a year.
How many hours of sunshine does Marseille get a year?
Marseille gets about 2,885 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around July.
When is the best time to visit Marseille?
The sunniest time to visit Marseille is July, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 93/100 (with August and June close behind). Expect daytime highs around 30°C / 86°F.
What is the least sunny month in Marseille?
January is the least sunny month in Marseille, scoring 22/100 with about 45 mm of rain.
Is Marseille the sunniest place in France?
Yes — with about 2,885 hours of sunshine a year, Marseille has the most annual sunshine of the 53 France destinations tracked by Sunshine Atlas.
What is the sea temperature in Marseille?
The sea in Marseille ranges from about 14°C (January) to 23°C (August). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Marseille?
The typical midday UV index in Marseille peaks around 8 (very high) in July, easing to about 1 (low) in January. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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