Our favorite months to go on a Loire Valley driving tour are May, June, July and September. Although the average maximum summer temperature is around 24°C/74°F, it can get much hotter, especially in August. In 2022, parts of the Loire Valley had temperatures of over 40°C/104°F, and in 2023 they reached around 35°C/95°F.

In the winter months, the weather can drop to as low as 0°C or less, and the days are shorter. So unless you’re planning to enjoy the festive Christmas atmosphere, we recommend waiting until at least April to visit the Loire Valley, or preferably May, when the weather tends to be much better. 

Visiting the Loire Valley during late spring, early summer and early fall will help you to avoid the most extreme temperatures, and are the ideal times to enjoy walking and cycling in the region.

If you’re visiting the castles of the Loire Valley (a must-see!), traveling between April and June or September and October will mean you avoid the largest tourist crowds. You’re also likely to see the castle gardens at their most beautiful. Some gardens open at night during the summer months and offer a beautifully lit musical setting, such as the ‘Nocturnes in the Garden’ at the Chateau de Chaumont. This can be a magical and romantic experience!

Gardens at the Chateau de Villandry
Gardens at the Chateau de Villandry
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France Just For You

The Loire Valley by Month 

March and April

Some of the castles will have Easter egg hunts, which are fun if you’re traveling with children. You’ll see tulips and blossom in bloom in the gardens.

April through November

Enjoy the International Garden Festival at the Chateau de Chaumont. The gardens evolve throughout the year, so they’re always beautiful to see.

Summer

Look out for the sound and light shows at the castles of Blois, Chartres, Orleans, Tours and more.

June

The wine fairs at Vouvray are the ideal opportunity to try some of the Loire Valley’s sparkling wines. This is a lovely month for a Loire Valley road trip.

July and August

In the gardens of Villandry you can enjoy candlelit evenings - ‘Nights of a Thousand Lights’ - on certain evenings during these months. However, this is also the busiest, hottest, and driest time in the Loire Valley.

September

The grape harvest starts in September and can run to mid-November. The fall colors in the vineyards are a splendid sight while you sample some of the fabulous wine at local wineries. When you book with France Just For You, we’ll send you to our favorite wineries and vineyards! We'll make sure you get to experience as many of the best things to do in the Loire Valley as possible!

Fall colors in the French vineyards
Fall colors in the French vineyards
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Fall

There are Fall Festivals at some chateaux from September to November. If you’re interested in experiencing one of these, let us know and we’ll see if any of these are taking place on your tour dates.

Winter

Some chateaux close during the quieter winter months to carry out restoration and renovation work. Those that stay open may have pretty Christmas decorations and lights in December. We recommend checking ahead to see what’s open if you’ll be traveling to the Loire Valley in the winter.

Winter and early spring

The Loire Valley can get a lot of rain at this time of year, which makes walking and cycling less enjoyable or practical.

 

So to summarize, the best time to visit Loire Valley is in May, June, July, September and early October.

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France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

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Maroun
I cannot say enough good things about Emilie and "France Just for You". We spent 15 days in France in June to celebrate our special anniversary and it was more than perfect. I found this superlative agency while browsing online, looking for a custom made trip to France that does not involve hopping on a tour bus with a large group of people, being …
George from the US
The best French experience Wonderful self-drive trip through France. The FJFY team selected wonderful lodging, arranged for all the activities that we were interested in, and made a complex trip very easy. The detailed guide book and app helped us chose our daily activities. The integration of the guide with gps navigation is brilliant, and made …
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We feel lucky that we found Emilie online! Usually, we like to plan our own trips, but we did not have the language capabilities or confidence to plan this vacation alone. Emilie to the rescue! She listened to our concerns and wishes and planned the perfect trip. Loved the small boutique hotel in the perfect part of Paris, and all the bed and …
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Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I …
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My wife and I traveled in Provence and Dordogne in early April 2018. Whie the weather was mostly on the rainy/windy side, the trip was so well planned and organized, with so much to see, that we did not pay much attention to the weather. All B&Bs were excellent in terms of accommodation, food (sic!) and very welcoming. All hosts were bi-lingual and …
Naomi
My boyfriend and I spent a week in Paris last month and we decided that we would do a couple of day-tours outside of the city during our trip. We really wanted to avoid the typical tour-bus day-tour and the crowds that come along with these kinds of tours – we wanted something more personalized that would allow us to go at our own pace. I found the …