Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Packing list for France in Fall: The third-largest country in Europe, France is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. The country has numerous tourists’ attractions starting with Paris, famously known as the city of love.
Apart from being a romantic getaway, Paris is the capital city of France and is known for great shopping, patisseries, classical art museums including the Louvre, and monuments like the Eiffel Tower.
Putting Paris aside, the rest of the country is known for its wines and sophisticated cuisine, spectacular Mediterranean beaches, alpine villages, romantic language and so much more. It’s no wonder that according to the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) France has been the world’s most popular tourist destination for over 25 years.
Read on to find exactly what to pack for France in Fall / Autumn. This France packing list is perfect for a 1-2 week trip, but if you’re going for longer it’ll also work if you use your hotel’s laundry facilities.
What to Wear in France in Fall
1-2 x flats: the weather’s not too cold that you have to wear boots all the time
1 pair of boots: great for keeping your feet warm on colder days. Pick something classic, or zazzy.
1 pair of sneakers: only bring these if you’ll use them for daily use or have a few hikes planned. If you’re using a backpack you can tie these onto the outside while wandering around France. Otherwise, ignore.
4-5 x socks if bringing sneakers
6-10 pairs of underwear
3-5 bras
Cardigan / sweater x 1-2: Have one that is a little warmer if you’re not going to bring a coat as well
1-2 x jacket/ coat: time to bring out your trench coat and one cute jacket for evenings
Tops x 4-7: Bring a mix of long and short sleeves
Dresses x 1-3
Sleepwear
Pants x 2-4
Leggings x 1-2: Great for hikes
Stockings x 1-2: Wear them underneath dresses and skirts
1x beanie / woollen hat
1x scarf
What to Pack for France in Fall
Makeup & Toiletries
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Regular makeup kit: Mostly carry lip gross, eye shadow, lipstick, setting powder among others
- Wipes
- Tissue paper
- Deodorant
- Solid shampoo or travel sized shampoo and conditioner
- Hair products
Technology
- Phone and charger
- Digital camera and lenses- If you can only afford one lens go for the wide-angle lenses.
- 2 or 3 16GB Memory cards- This will help you out in case one memory card fails or gets lost.
- International adapter for power points.
- Camera’s charger and batteries
- Portable battery to charge a phone or a camera.
Medical
- Pain killers
- Anti-acid medicine
- Prescribed medicine- remember to carry the prescription in case you require a refill
Luggage
- Suitcase- It is the most ideal for traveling as you will be able to put all your things in one place
- Backpack- If you are not carrying a lot of things, a backpack is suitable for you
- Passport pouch – To keep your documents especially your passport, cash and credit cards safe, the belt wallet is better than putting your wallet in your pocket. If you prefer to hide the wallet, a neck wallet is more ideal for you
Everything Else
- 2 bank cards such as a Master Card and a Visa card
- A lock for your suitcase or bag
- Photocopies of your documents such as passport incase theft happens
Seasonal Packing Guide for France
France weather is generally temperate climate. The climate is mostly formed under Atlantic’s influence making the country have four climate zones. The zones include Atlantic, Alpine, Continental and the Mediterranean.
Although there are different zones, the country generally enjoys cool winters and mild summers, except for the Mediterranean areas where mild winters and hot summers are experienced.
Spring in France (March, April, and May): Spring is considered the most romantic season in France, and is a great time to explore both lesser known regions (such as the Dordogne region with its beautiful villages) and bigger cities like Paris.
The weather is pleasant throughout the three months although you can expect variable weather in the month of March, due to the seasonal transition. The north of the country is known to experience cool weather, with the south region experiencing mild to chilly weather.
April is usually warm throughout with temperatures ranging from 13C to 17C (55-62F). Now is the time to indulge in stylish coats, cute shoes and stockings.
Summer in France (June, July, and August): Summer is the most ideal season for tourists. It has pleasant weather with June and August being warm throughout the country. However, some mountain areas experience cool weather, such as Mont-Blanc which is covered with snow all year round.
The temperature is usually 25C / 77F. Think summer dresses, sandals and sunscreen.
Fall in France (September, October, and November): Fall in France officially starts after 21st September. However, most locals consider the season to start when the student holidays come to an end and school reopens. Nonetheless, if you are not tied by any job or school, Fall is the best time to visit France especially in the southern part of the country.
Temperatures are similar to Spring so make sure you bring a light to medium warmth jacket depending on your tolerance of the cold.
Winter in France (December, January, and February): France in winter is quite different from other European countries. It mostly experiences rain rather than snow, meaning you’ll often find locals carrying umbrella (pick yourself a cute one).
The temperature rarely drops to zero making it a perfect vacation season for those who love to do some exploring. In winter you’ll want to pull out a heavier coat, jeans and embrace your favourite black boots and woollen hats.
Popular Day Tours for Fall in France
Louvre Museum in Paris (skip the line)
Take a 1.5-3 hour tour and visit the world’s largest art museum. The museum is home to the famous Mona Lisa. Apart from the stunning picture, visit the apartments of Napoleon III and admire the spectacular interiors of the palace.
The palace basement is also an interesting place to visit since you will get to see the foundation of the castle that once stood on the site. See how much it costs here.
French Riviera Tour
Take a full-day trip and experience the superb harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer as well as the exceptional site of Jean Cap Ferrat. After that, the tour guide will take you to the medieval village of Eze where you will get a free guided tour of the Fragonard perfumery.
The next stop will be the independent state in the Cote d’ Azure which is known as the principality of Monaco.
Monte Carlo and Cannes, which is known as the city of stars, are also spectacular places to visit. See the latest prices and more information here.
Lexi,
I am leaving for the south of France in October for two weeks, from October 9th-October 23rd. It will be my first trip overseas and I want to pack as light as possible but with style. I am a woman of 67yrs. Old and traveling with a childhood friend who is experienced with traveling . Can you advise, if taking a single carry-on and backpack is enough. Thank you, Marguerite
Hi Marguerite, for 2 weeks you should be fine with a carry on and a 55-65L backpack (or smaller). However, it will depend on how comfortable you are walking around with something on your back, and also how many outfits you wish to bring (and the size/ weight of your clothes). If you’re packing a few heavier jackets, you might struggle to fit everything in your backpack, even with rolling your items.
What I would recommend is to do a practice run. If you haven’t already got a backpack, put everything you want to bring on a table at home and get a good idea of how much there is. Roll up the clothing items as this is likely how you’ll pack them. Push them all together, take a photo, then go into a store that sells backpacks and have a look at the sizes to help estimate if what you’ll bring will fit inside.
On my fall trips in the area I have taken a carry on and a 55L bag, and I wore my long coat on transit days to save space. I tied my sneakers to the outside of my bag by the laces, although they would have fit inside if I didn’t have a ridiculous amount of camera gear. Your main issues will be shoes and jackets as they take up the most space.
I hope you have a great time on your trip.
Hi, I am a 65 y/o travelling for 12 days to Provence and Avignon on a guided wine tour October 13th. I tend to overdress and am not comfortable in jeans and sneakers. Are linen dresses with 3/4 t’s underneath, with stockings for the am and a scarf perhaps and optional throw sweater appropriate? Or are linens passe by this time of year? I have a light trench with hood (all the accessories could be stashed in my shoulder bag when not needed). Or should I stick with chino’s and trousers? I am concerned about being cast as the foreigner. Are leather boots appropriate for this time of year?
Hi Mary, I think you would do well either with the dress + stockings, or with non-jean trousers. I didn’t find I particularly needed pants around that time, but it can’t hurt to have one or two pairs in case it gets cold or rains. Boots are better than sneakers in my opinion; and jeans, while popular, are not a necessity. Simple knee length skirts (or shorter) with stockings look quite nice too.
Fall is not too cold, and I was happy wearing a thin coat or jacket, dress, and black boots or flats (with or without stockings) in the south. Fabric wise, I think you’ll be fine to wear linen in fall. I tried to keep things simple in France – neutral colours, nothing too elaborate, and I think that helped me not stand out too much. Leather boots are appropriate, however pack a neutral coloured pair of flats as well.
In saying all that though, its best to wear what you’re most comfortable in.