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
16.0°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 MalaCap d'Ail, France16.7°C
- 2Plage de la CouronneMartigues, France16.7°C
- 3Plage du VeillatSaint-Raphaël, France16.7°C
- 4Plage de BoulourisSaint-Raphaël, France16.7°C
- 5Plage des SablettesLa Seyne-sur-Mer, France16.7°C
- 6Calanque de SugitonMarseille, France16.7°C
- 7Plage de la CroisetteCannes, France16.6°C
- 8Plage du VerdonLa Couronne, France16.6°C
- 9Plage de GigaroLa Croix-Valmer, France16.6°C
- 10Plage des JumeauxRamatuelle, France16.6°C
- 11Plage de la Pointe RougeMarseille, France16.6°C
- 12Plage du MourillonToulon, France16.5°C
- 13Plage de l'AlmanarreHyères, France16.5°C
- 14Plage de la VerneLa Croix-Valmer, France16.5°C
- 15Plage du LavandouLe Lavandou, France16.4°C
- 16Plage de PampelonneRamatuelle, France16.4°C
- 17Plage du DébarquementSaint-Raphaël, France16.4°C
- 18Plage de la BatterieFréjus, France16.4°C
- 19Plage de la NartelleSainte-Maxime, France16.4°C
- 20Plage de PramousquierLe Lavandou, France16.4°C
- 21Calanque de Port-MiouCassis, France16.4°C
- 22Plage de l'EscaletRamatuelle, France16.3°C
- 23Plage de MiramarThéoule-sur-Mer, France16.3°C
- 24Plage de la PoncheSaint-Tropez, France16.3°C
- 25Plage des SalinsSaint-Tropez, France16.3°C
- 26Plage de la Grande MerCassis, France16.3°C
- 27Plage KellerAntibes, France16.2°C
- 28Plage du BestouanCassis, France16.2°C
- 29Plage du ProphèteMarseille, France16.2°C
- 30Larvotto BeachMonaco, France16.1°C
- 31Plage de l'AlmanarreHyères, France16.1°C
- 32Plage de PassableSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France16.1°C
- 33Plage de la Baie des FossettesSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France16.1°C
- 34Plage GazagnaireCannes, France16.1°C
- 35Plage de la BouillabaisseSaint-Tropez, France16.1°C
- 36Plage de la BergerieRamatuelle, France16.1°C
- 37Calanque d'En-VauCassis, France16.1°C
- 38Plage des GraniersSaint-Tropez, France16.0°C
- 39Plage de la MoutteSaint-Tropez, France16.0°C
- 40Plage des ÉléphantsSainte-Maxime, France16.0°C
- 41Plage du LangoustierÎle de Porquerolles, France16.0°C
- 42Plage de la CapteHyères, France16.0°C
- 43Plage de PampelonneRamatuelle, France15.9°C
- 44Plage de TahitiRamatuelle, France15.9°C
- 45Plage de Saint-ClairLe Lavandou, France15.9°C
- 46Plage de la FossetteLe Lavandou, France15.9°C
- 47Plage de la PaludÎle de Port-Cros, France15.9°C
- 48Calanque de SormiouMarseille, France15.9°C
- 49Calanque de Port-PinCassis, France15.9°C
- 50Plage d'AgaySaint-Raphaël, France15.8°C
- 51Plage de la NapouleMandelieu-la-Napoule, France15.8°C
- 52Plage de Fréjus-PlageFréjus, France15.8°C
- 53Plage de la CourtadeÎle de Porquerolles, France15.8°C
- 54Plage de la SalisAntibes, France15.7°C
- 55Plage du MidiCannes, France15.7°C
- 56Plage de l'AiguilleThéoule-sur-Mer, France15.7°C
- 57Plage du TrayasSaint-Raphaël, France15.7°C
- 58Plage du DébarquementCavalaire-sur-Mer, France15.7°C
- 59Plage de PardigonCavalaire-sur-Mer, France15.7°C
- 60Plage de la RéserveBeaulieu-sur-Mer, France15.6°C
- 61Plage des FourmisBeaulieu-sur-Mer, France15.6°C
- 62Plage de la CroisetteSainte-Maxime, France15.6°C
- 63Plage Notre-DameÎle de Porquerolles, France15.6°C
- 64Plage de la GaroupeAntibes, France15.5°C
- 65Plage de la GravetteAntibes, France15.5°C
- 66Plage de l'EscaletRamatuelle, France15.5°C
- 67Plage de CavalièreLe Lavandou, France15.5°C
- 68Plage d'ArgentÎle de Porquerolles, France15.5°C
- 69Plage de la BadineHyères, France15.5°C
- 70Anse du CrosMarseille, France15.5°C
- 71Plage des CatalansMarseille, France15.5°C
- 72Plage du PradoMarseille, France15.4°C
- 73Plage du ChâteauMandelieu-la-Napoule, France15.4°C
- 74Calanque de MorgiouMarseille, France15.4°C
- 75Plage de PalomaSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France15.3°C
- 76Plage d'AnthéorSaint-Raphaël, France15.3°C
- 77Plage de BonporteauCavalaire-sur-Mer, France15.3°C
- 78Plage de la GaronnetteSainte-Maxime, France15.3°C
Swimming in the French Riviera — FAQ
How warm is the sea in the French Riviera in November?
The Mediterranean Sea off the French Riviera averages about 16.0°C in November, 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.