AI-generatedBesançon at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 25°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,870 h
- Rain a year
- 1,091 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 300 m
Climate in Besançon
Besançon has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 25 °C, while January is the coolest at 6 °C. With around 1,870 hours of sunshine a year, Besançon is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 8.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 16°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
07:5218:51
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:34–08:34 · evening 18:09–19:10
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:22–07:34 · evening 19:10–19:21
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Besançon in October?
In October, Besançon is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 102 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Besançon.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 58 min07:52 – 18:51
- UV index
- 3 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 65 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Paris
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %83 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %20 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %42 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Besançon
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.2 of 11.0 hours of daylight in Besançon, 38 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 2 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Besançon
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 3 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 8).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 50 min
- Fair skin
- about 60 min
- Light brown skin
- about 85 min
- Olive skin
- about 110 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Besançon: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Besançon has about 12 rainy days with 102 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Besançon
How breezy and how cloudy Besançon is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Besançon typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 65 % of the sky over Besançon: variable cloud, with about 4.2 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Besançon
How often the day gets hot in Besançon (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Besançon has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 16 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Besançon
Snow is possible in Besançon, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Besançon.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Besançon
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (0°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9 | 6° | 0° | 2.2 h | 14 | 100 |
| FebruaryFeb | 13 | 8° | 0° | 3.4 h | 12 | 85 |
| MarchMar | 35 | 11° | 2° | 4.9 h | 12 | 84 |
| AprilApr | 57 | 15° | 5° | 6.1 h | 13 | 85 |
| MayMay | 69 | 19° | 10° | 6.7 h | 15 | 104 |
| JuneJun | 79 | 23° | 13° | 7.7 h | 12 | 82 |
| JulyJul | 80 | 25° | 15° | 8.0 h | 12 | 73 |
| AugustAug | 81 | 25° | 15° | 7.6 h | 11 | 73 |
| SeptemberSep | 76 | 21° | 12° | 6.1 h | 11 | 77 |
| OctoberOct | 58 | 16° | 8° | 4.2 h | 12 | 102 |
| NovemberNov | 17 | 10° | 4° | 2.5 h | 15 | 113 |
| DecemberDec | 6 | 7° | 1° | 1.8 h | 15 | 113 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
47.25° N, 6.02° E · 300 m · Europe/Paris
Best time to visit Besançon
The best time to visit Besançon is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent from October to June; the wettest month is November with 113 mm.
Besançon through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Besançon in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 11–19 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Besançon in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 23–25 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Besançon in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 10–21 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Besançon in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 6–8 °C by day
- 3 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Besançon for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Besançon
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Besançon: score 81 against 58. In August, days are 9 °C warmer than in October. August has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 58 | 81better |
| Day high | 16° | 25° |
| Night low | 8° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 4.2 h | 7.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 102 mm | 73 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Jun
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Feb
Snow on 2 or more days
Besançon month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
9January6° · 2 h
In January, Besançon is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 100 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in January13February8° · 3 h
In February, Besançon is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 85 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in February35March11° · 5 h
In March, Besançon is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 84 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in March57April15° · 6 h
In April, Besançon is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 85 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in April69May19° · 7 h
In May, Besançon is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 104 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in May79June23° · 8 h
In June, Besançon is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in June80July25° · 8 h
In July, Besançon is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in July81August25° · 8 h
In August, Besançon is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in August76September21° · 6 h
In September, Besançon is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in September58October16° · 4 h
In October, Besançon is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 102 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in October17November10° · 3 h
In November, Besançon is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 113 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in November6December7° · 2 h
In December, Besançon is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 113 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Besançon.
Besançon in DecemberBesançon compared
Put Besançon side by side with another destination.
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Besançon vs. La Chaux-de-Fonds
In October Besançon has the better holiday weather (score 58 vs. 38). During the day La Chaux-de-Fonds is 3 °C cooler than Besançon.
| in October | Besançon | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 58 | 38 |
| Daytime high | 16° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 13 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
France in October: the best places
In October, Besançon ranks 17 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Orange20°81
- 2Valence18°74
- 3Grenoble18°68
- 4Lyon18°67
- 5Vichy17°65
- 6Fontainebleau17°65
- 7Chambéry17°63
- 8Orléans17°62
- 17BesançonThis page16°58
Planning a trip to Besançon
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Besançon in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Besançon has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8).
- 50
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 71
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 19 °C by day
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 81
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 25 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 58
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 16 °C by day
- 4.2 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 8
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 6 °C by day
- 2.0 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 20 min
- Distance
- 660 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Besançon
When is the best time to visit Besançon?
The best time to visit Besançon is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Besançon?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 6 °C.
When does it rain most in Besançon?
Rain is most frequent from October to June; the wettest month is November with 113 mm. The driest month is August with 73 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Besançon get?
Besançon gets around 1,870 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 8.0 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Besançon in?
Besançon uses the time zone Europe/Paris: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Besançon?
A nonstop flight from London to Besançon takes about 1 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 660 km.
Which school holidays are best for Besançon?
Besançon has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 50, May half-term 71, Summer holidays 81, October half-term 58, Christmas holidays 8.
Near Besançon
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Besançon
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Besançon's – good alternatives.