The French Riviera — Côte d'Azur in French — stretches roughly 150 km from the Italian border to Saint-Tropez. Mediterranean water warms from 15°C in March to 25°C in August, with the calmest swimming in late June and early September when the crowds thin. Expect pebble coves in Nice and Villefranche, golden sand around Cannes and Antibes, and protected calanques east of Menton.
French Riviera
Glamorous Côte d'Azur beaches from Saint-Tropez to Menton.
Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Avg sea temp now
22.1°C
Best months
June – September
Best time to swim in French Riviera
The sea in French Riviera peaks in August, when the water averages around 24°C.
The main swimming season runs from June – September, when surface temperatures stay comfortable for extended sessions.
On average, 4 months a year sit above 20°C — the threshold most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.
Shoulder months like May and October are noticeably cooler but often quieter, with fewer crowds and steadier weather.
Outside peak season the water drops toward 15°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable.
The coldest month is typically January at around 13°C, when cold-water swimmers dominate the coast.
French Riviera sea temperature history
Long-term climatology for French Riviera shows an annual mean sea temperature of 17°C, ranging from 13°C in winter to 24°C at the summer peak.
The seasonal swing is roughly 11°C between the coldest and warmest month — a useful yardstick when comparing years or checking whether the current sea is running above or below average.
Recent decades have trended slightly warmer at French Riviera, in line with regional sea-surface temperature records for the wider basin.
Monthly averages below are drawn from multi-decadal climatology and are updated as new observations arrive.
Jan
13°C
Feb
13°C
Mar
13°C
Apr
14°C
May
17°C
Jun
20°C
Jul
23°C
Aug
24°C
Sep
22°C
Oct
19°C
Nov
16°C
Dec
14°C
Values are area averages; individual beaches vary by exposure and depth.
French Riviera sea temperature: frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month to swim in French Riviera?
August is the warmest month in French Riviera, when the sea averages about 24°C. Late-season warmth often persists a few weeks after peak.
When is the sea coldest in French Riviera?
The coldest month in French Riviera is typically January, when the water averages around 13°C. Cold-water swimmers and surfers dominate this period.
When can you swim in French Riviera without a wetsuit?
The main swimming season in French Riviera runs from June – September — about 4 months a year when the sea sits above 20°C, the level most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.
Do I need a wetsuit in French Riviera?
Outside peak summer the water in French Riviera drops toward 15°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable. In peak months most swimmers go without.
What is the average sea temperature in French Riviera?
The long-term annual mean sea temperature in French Riviera is about 17°C, based on multi-decadal climatology of the surrounding waters.
How do I check the current sea temperature in French Riviera?
The live reading at the top of this page shows the current sea temperature in French Riviera, updated hourly from marine buoy and satellite data. The 7-day forecast covers water, air, waves, wind and UV for the week ahead.
Beaches in the French Riviera
Ranked by current live sea temperature.
- 1Plage de la GaroupeAntibes, France22.7°C
- 2Plage de la CouronneMartigues, France22.7°C
- 3Plage de l'EscaletRamatuelle, France22.6°C
- 4Plage du VerdonLa Couronne, France22.6°C
- 5Plage GazagnaireCannes, France22.6°C
- 6Plage de la NapouleMandelieu-la-Napoule, France22.6°C
- 7Plage de l'AiguilleThéoule-sur-Mer, France22.6°C
- 8Plage du DébarquementCavalaire-sur-Mer, France22.6°C
- 9Plage des GraniersSaint-Tropez, France22.6°C
- 10Plage de la GaronnetteSainte-Maxime, France22.6°C
- 11Plage des SablettesLa Seyne-sur-Mer, France22.6°C
- 12Calanque de MorgiouMarseille, France22.6°C
- 13Plage de la SalisAntibes, France22.5°C
- 14Plage de PalomaSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France22.5°C
- 15Plage d'AnthéorSaint-Raphaël, France22.5°C
- 16Plage du DébarquementSaint-Raphaël, France22.5°C
- 17Plage de Fréjus-PlageFréjus, France22.5°C
- 18Plage de la MoutteSaint-Tropez, France22.5°C
- 19Plage de PramousquierLe Lavandou, France22.5°C
- 20Calanque de SormiouMarseille, France22.5°C
- 21Plage du ProphèteMarseille, France22.5°C
- 22Plage de TahitiRamatuelle, France22.4°C
- 23Plage des ÉléphantsSainte-Maxime, France22.4°C
- 24Plage de la PaludÎle de Port-Cros, France22.4°C
- 25Plage de la Grande MerCassis, France22.4°C
- 26Plage de PampelonneRamatuelle, France22.3°C
- 27Plage de la RéserveBeaulieu-sur-Mer, France22.3°C
- 28Plage de BoulourisSaint-Raphaël, France22.3°C
- 29Plage de GigaroLa Croix-Valmer, France22.3°C
- 30Plage de la CapteHyères, France22.3°C
- 31Plage KellerAntibes, France22.2°C
- 32Plage de la CroisetteSainte-Maxime, France22.2°C
- 33Plage d'ArgentÎle de Porquerolles, France22.2°C
- 34Plage de la CourtadeÎle de Porquerolles, France22.2°C
- 35Calanque de Port-MiouCassis, France22.2°C
- 36Plage des CatalansMarseille, France22.2°C
- 37Plage de la CroisetteCannes, France22.1°C
- 38Plage du LavandouLe Lavandou, France22.1°C
- 39Plage de PampelonneRamatuelle, France22.1°C
- 40Plage de la Baie des FossettesSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France22.1°C
- 41Plage du TrayasSaint-Raphaël, France22.1°C
- 42Plage de la NartelleSainte-Maxime, France22.1°C
- 43Plage du BestouanCassis, France22.1°C
- 44Plage du MidiCannes, France22.0°C
- 45Plage de l'AlmanarreHyères, France22.0°C
- 46Plage de la BergerieRamatuelle, France22.0°C
- 47Calanque de SugitonMarseille, France22.0°C
- 48Plage de la BatterieFréjus, France21.9°C
- 49Plage de PardigonCavalaire-sur-Mer, France21.9°C
- 50Anse du CrosMarseille, France21.9°C
- 51Plage de PassableSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France21.8°C
- 52Plage de la GravetteAntibes, France21.8°C
- 53Plage du VeillatSaint-Raphaël, France21.8°C
- 54Plage de la FossetteLe Lavandou, France21.8°C
- 55Plage MalaCap d'Ail, France21.7°C
- 56Plage d'AgaySaint-Raphaël, France21.7°C
- 57Plage du MourillonToulon, France21.7°C
- 58Plage du ChâteauMandelieu-la-Napoule, France21.7°C
- 59Plage de la BouillabaisseSaint-Tropez, France21.7°C
- 60Plage des SalinsSaint-Tropez, France21.6°C
- 61Plage de Saint-ClairLe Lavandou, France21.6°C
- 62Plage Notre-DameÎle de Porquerolles, France21.6°C
- 63Plage du LangoustierÎle de Porquerolles, France21.6°C
- 64Plage de la VerneLa Croix-Valmer, France21.6°C
- 65Plage de la Pointe RougeMarseille, France21.6°C
- 66Plage des FourmisBeaulieu-sur-Mer, France21.5°C
- 67Plage de BonporteauCavalaire-sur-Mer, France21.5°C
- 68Plage de CavalièreLe Lavandou, France21.5°C
- 69Plage de la BadineHyères, France21.5°C
- 70Calanque d'En-VauCassis, France21.5°C
- 71Calanque de Port-PinCassis, France21.5°C
- 72Larvotto BeachMonaco, France21.4°C
- 73Plage de MiramarThéoule-sur-Mer, France21.4°C
- 74Plage de la PoncheSaint-Tropez, France21.4°C
- 75Plage des JumeauxRamatuelle, France21.4°C
- 76Plage de l'AlmanarreHyères, France21.4°C
- 77Plage du PradoMarseille, France21.3°C
- 78Plage de l'EscaletRamatuelle, France21.3°C
Swimming in the French Riviera — FAQ
How warm is the sea in the French Riviera in September?
The Mediterranean Sea off the French Riviera averages about 22.0°C in September, based on long-term monthly averages for this coast.
When is the best time to swim in the French Riviera?
The French Riviera is warmest in August (around 24.0°C) and coldest in January (around 13.0°C). There are typically 3 months a year when the water sits above 22°C.
What is the average yearly sea temperature in the French Riviera?
Across all twelve months, the sea in the French Riviera averages about 17.3°C.
Do you need a wetsuit to swim in the French Riviera?
In peak season (around August, ~24.0°C) most swimmers are comfortable without a wetsuit. Outside summer, when the water drops toward 13.0°C, a 3/2mm to 5/4mm wetsuit is recommended.