--- title: "Best Time to Visit France, Switzerland & Germany" description: "When to visit France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy or Belgium: month-by-month weather, crowds, prices and events, ranked for cities, mountains, lakes,…" url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/best-time-to-visit" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/og_image.png" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Tools](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools) 3. Best time to visit [Free tool](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools) # Best Time to Visit France, Switzerland & Germany Weather, crowds, prices and events month by month, ranked by what you want from the trip. How it works There is no single best month, there is a best month for *your* trip. Lavender in Provence blooms from late June to mid-July. The Swiss hiking lifts run from June to mid-October. Christmas markets open in the last week of November and close on December 23 or 24. September is the month our designers pick for almost everything: warm, calm, grape harvest, clear mountain views. Choose a country and what matters to you, and the tool ranks the months. *Outil interactif disponible sur la page : https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/best-time-to-visit* Our designers’ advice Dates to know: Oktoberfest runs from the second half of September to the first Sunday of October; the Nice Carnival is in February; Lake Como's villas open in late March; most ski resorts open the first weekend of December. For a Christmas trip, see our [Christmas markets itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/trips/christmas-markets); for the Alps in summer, our [mountains and lakes trips](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/trips/mountains-and-lakes). ## Read next [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![Lucerne 2](/_astro/01M5J4124FV0NDJM68AX2V6K08.BBevgpTQ_2aG6B0.webp) ### [Best Time to Visit Switzerland: A Season-by-Season Guide](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/best-time-to-visit-switzerland) When to visit Switzerland for scenic trains, hiking, lakes or skiing: our Alps designers compare every season, month by month, with crowds and prices. ![Paris, Luxury France Honeymoon in 14 Days: Paris, Burgundy, Alps & Provence](/_astro/01M5J4124P7PY48RACVWQSBEXE.B9VV2pv1_Z2bQRUB.webp) ### [Best Time to Visit France: Seasons, Regions and Events](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/best-time-to-visit-france) The best time to visit France depends on where you go: Paris, the Riviera, lavender, harvest or Christmas markets. Our local designers explain each season. ![Salzburg](/_astro/01M5J4124G5VVC5A2V1M09TXP3.CF3-EdhH_ZUNgJf.webp) ### [The Best Christmas Markets in Europe: Germany, Alsace and Switzerland, 2026 Dates](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/most-beautiful-christmas-markets-in-germany-and-france) Confirmed 2026 dates and hours for Strasbourg, Colmar, Nuremberg, Munich, Dresden, Basel and Montreux, the best week to go, and three routes by train. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best month to visit Switzerland? September for hiking, trains and clear views, with fewer people than July and August. For skiing, February. For Christmas markets, the first three weeks of December. ### When is lavender season in Provence? Fields around Valensole bloom from about June 20 to July 15; the harvest starts right after. Higher plateaus (Sault) bloom until early August. ### When do the Christmas markets open? Strasbourg and Colmar open in the last week of November and run until December 24 (Colmar until December 29). German markets open the Friday before the first Advent Sunday and close on December 23 or 24. Few markets stay open between Christmas and New Year. ### Is Europe crowded in July and August? Yes, on the coasts, in Zermatt and at Jungfraujoch. Cities like Paris and Milan are actually quieter in August because residents are on holiday. If you must travel in summer, we book mountain excursions for first departures and hotels nine months ahead. Tailor-made, from France ## Get a free, personalized quote Tell us your dates and who is traveling. A travel designer based in France replies within 48 hours with a tailor-made proposal, prices included. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 9 travel designers in Lyon and Nice reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8896](tel:+16073548896) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. Free and without obligation. ## Our other tools Free tool ### [Europe trip cost calculator](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/europe-trip-cost-calculator) Hotels, trains, experiences, meals: a realistic per-person budget for France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy or Belgium. Free tool ### [Swiss Travel Pass calculator](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/swiss-travel-pass-calculator) Pick your train legs and mountain excursions: see whether the Swiss Travel Pass, a Half Fare Card or single tickets costs less. Free tool ### [How many days do you need?](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/how-many-days-in-europe) Enter your countries, days and pace: get a night-by-night split between the bases our designers recommend. ## Contact Plan a tailor-made trip in Europe with Mobee International: https://tally.so/r/nWplRv — e-mail contact@mobeeinternational.com — phone +33 4 26 30 36 82 (Europe) or +1 607 354 8896 (US). ## Données structurées ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "TravelAgency", "@id": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/#organization", "name": "Mobee International", "url": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com", "logo": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/images/brand/mobee-international.png", "description": "Mobee International is a Destination Management Company (DMC) based in France: tailor-made trips and packages in France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Belgium, designed by local travel experts for travelers, travel agencies and tour operators.", "telephone": "+33426303682", "email": "contact@mobeeinternational.com", "areaServed": [ "US", "CA", "FR", "CH", "DE", "IT", "BE" ], "knowsLanguage": "en", "legalName": "MOBEE INTERNATIONAL", "vatID": "FR33824986947", "foundingDate": "2016", "sameAs": [ "https://www.kimkim.com/o/mobee-international", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/mobee-international", "https://www.instagram.com/mobeeinternational/", "https://www.youtube.com/@MobeeInternational", "https://www.trustpilot.com/review/mobeeinternational.com" ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "206 rue Alexandre Richetta", "postalCode": "69400", "addressLocality": "Villefranche-sur-Saône", "addressCountry": "FR" }, "contactPoint": [ { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer service", "telephone": "+16073548896", "areaServed": "US", "availableLanguage": [ "English" ] }, { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer service", "telephone": "+33426303682", "areaServed": "FR", "availableLanguage": [ "English", "French", "Spanish" ] } ], "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "MOBEE INTERNATIONAL", "url": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com", "vatID": "FR33824986947", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "206 rue Alexandre Richetta", "postalCode": "69400", "addressLocality": "Villefranche-sur-Saône", "addressCountry": "FR" } } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/#website", "url": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com", "name": "Mobee International", "inLanguage": "en", "publisher": { "@id": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "WebApplication", "name": "Best Time to Visit France, Switzerland & Germany", "url": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/best-time-to-visit", "description": "When to visit France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy or Belgium: month-by-month weather, crowds, prices and events, ranked for cities, mountains, lakes, Christmas markets, skiing or lavender.", "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication", "operatingSystem": "Any", "inLanguage": "en", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "publisher": { "@id": "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/#organization" } } ] } ```