What's the Weather like in Marseille in June
Marseille, France, is a popular beach resort destination in the southeast of the country that remains busy and bustling in terms of tourism all-year round thanks to the glorious Mediterranean climate. The city experiences hot and dry summers, with temperatures easily reaching the 30°Cs, and rainfall somewhat of a rarity, with mild and humid winters that provide relief from other parts of Europe suffering from icy gales and cold storms.
Rainfall
The biggest difference between the weather in May and the weather in June is the change in precipitation. While May has the lingering April showers, June sees rainfall drop drastically to just 20mm across the month, spread out over only 5 days. That, of course, means that there are 25 days without any rain drops at all.
The probability that you will experience rainfall decreases significantly in the course of June. The beginning of the month is the wettest with a 25% chance of rainfall; the end is the driest with a chance of 17%. If it does rain, it will most likely be moderate rain, which occurs on 47% of the days with rainfall. Thunderstorms happen on 32% of those days, light rain on 20%
Temperature.
While the rainfall totals drop, temperatures continue to steadily rise, and typically range between 16°C at night and 26°C in the afternoon during this early summer month. Both these temperatures increase throughout the month, respectively from 15°C to 18°C and from 25°C to 28°C. The average temperature is a wonderful 21°C.
Average Sea Temperature
The sea temperature is exactly the same as the air temperature, averaging 21°C as well, which is already suitable for dips in the Mediterranean Sea.
Average Sunshine Hours
June is one of the sunniest months of the yearhere are 10 hours of sunshine per day on average, the same as in August and only one hour fewer than the annual maximum of 11 in July. Two factors influence this high amount of sunshine.
First, the fact that June is the "longest" month of the year. No other month has days that are as long as June's. June 20 is the longest day of the year with 15.25 hours of daylight. Second, cloud cover drops greatly in the course of the month, from 35% to 23%, opening up the sky from more sunshine.
Marseille Hotels in June
Holiday Inn Express Marseille Saint Charles
The Holiday Inn Express Marseille Saint Charles is one of the many chain hotels located close to the train station. It offers decently priced rooms, that price also including a full continental breakfast each morning. There is a business centre and fitness centre onsite, as well as public meeting places, lounges, ice machines on most floors, and safety deposit boxes for protecting valuables. This hotel is in keeping with other accommodations under the same famous brand.
Novotel Suites Marseille
A wonderful accommodation choice to have in June is the four-star Novotel Suites Marseille Centre Euromed. This hotel features suites that boast stunning sea views and is located within walking distance from many highlights and shops. There is a 24-hour self-service "boutique gourmande", free Wi-Fi, a bar and fully equipped fitness centre.
Mme Vincent
If you would rather stay at a B&B, consider booking a room at Mme Vincent, a well-rated bed and breakfast in central Marseille. Located close to all the action, yet offering a cosy and peaceful retreat, this nice place to stay features free Wi-Fi, parking, TVs and, of course, breakfast.
Marseille Beaches for June
Marseille is home to many great beachest's a popular beach destination in southern France in June with the sea water now averaging a temperature of 21°C. The Plage des Catalans is a beautiful sand beach near the city's iconic Old Port. This is the nearest beach to the city centre, featuring lifeguards, showers, a volleyball court and clear blue water. Because of the surrounding buildings and roads, it might not be the most scenic of Marseille's beaches, but its central location makes it quite popular.
People who would like to hit the waves can do so at Plage Escale Borély, a pebble beach to the south of the city centre. The pebbles and stones make it not ideal for sunbathing, but its windiness and great waves create great conditions for windsurfing and regular surfingt's popular all-year round, but particularly in summer.
Eating and Drinking Out
Vodka drinkers can't pass up the opportunity to drink at Marseille's premier vodka bar, Polikarpov. Vodka-based cocktails are all the rage here, although there are beers and wines on offer too. There is always something going on at this bar, including concert Wednesdays, cultural Thursdays, and DJ Fridays and Saturdays.
For food, head to Chez Michel, a nice restaurant in the 7th arrondissement that is renowned for its fish and seafood dishes. Serving artisan food in an inviting and cosy setting, this restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy dishes such as bouillabaisse, grilled fish and fish soup.
Things to Do in Marseille in June
Marseille is a stunning place for a vacation in June. This is when the weather is superb, temperatures rise up to 26°C in the afternoon, but with the added perk that the summer tourists haven't arrived yet. This is a great time to visit.
The best way to explore the city is on foot, wandering the streets of Old Marseille and the Old Port. La Canebière is an area not to be missed either, dating back to 1666 when Louis XIV ordered the expansion of the city. The name comes from the French word "canebe", meaning hemp, which refers to the rope makers that used to live there.
This is one of the most charming areas in the city, featuring stunning architecture, green parks, tree-lined streets and a vibrant social life. Make sure to see or visit the Opera House, Beauvau Street and the many statues that dot the streetscape. Take the time to stop and relax at one of the numerous pavement cafés.
June also sees Marseille welcome one of its many annual music festivals. La Fête Bleue is a three day event, primarily free for all, that features local musicians displaying their talents. The theme of the entire festival is the colour blue, and there is an unofficial blue dress code for the performances. The festival is held in honour of Blue Day, which celebrates the founding of the city back in 600 AD.