Are you wondering what to wear in France in October? In this guide we will tell you how to pack for France in October for sightseeing, the Fall weather, dress codes, dinner and more.
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Weather in France in October
Fall is in full swing across France in October. And as the leaves change color so does the temperature. But how cold does France get in October?
Note: it is worth noting that the weather between months changes quite dramatically in France. Therefore if your trip spans a couple of months then please be sure to check out our other monthly:
How cold is France in October?
France in October is full Fall and the temperatures are starting to drop. However it depends on where you are going in France as too how cold the temperatures get.
For instance the temperatures in Paris October have an average high of 17C/62F and average lows of 10C / 50F. While further South in Provence for instance was warmer temperatures with lows of around 54°F/12°C and highs of 68°F/20°C.
Generally speaking you can expect cooler temperatures in Normandy and the north of France than on the islands and in the South of France.
Does it rain a lot in October in France?
Although there is more rain than in October there is only around a 20% chance of a rainy day with around 56mm of rain falling across the whole month. In the north you can get showers, however you can get some stormy weather in the South.
Note: it is important to note that there are some regional differences in France in October. For this reason we have some specific regional guides linked below:
- What to wear in Corsica
- What to wear in Paris in September
- What to wear in Provence
- What to wear in the South of France
Overall October is a great time to visit France if you want to avoid the peak summer crowds. However it is not the best time to visit if you want to have plenty of beach time.
Note: Although not as busy as summer it is still worth buying your attraction tickets in advance with skip the line access.
Considerations for you France Packing List for October
Before we get onto the exact items to include in your France outfits for October, we thought is would be worth outlining some considerations for your packing list. These are:
Pack Light
We always recommend you pack light when traveling to Europe. Accommodations in Europe are much smaller than their American counterparts, and lots of luggage can be a strain on space. Also, you are likely to be using at least some form of public transport on your vacation in France. For this reason it is really important to not overpack.
For more information on how to pack light for France in Summer we recommend checking out our guide on the 5 4 3 2 1 packing method or the Sudoku packing method which will help you create the perfect French Fall Capsule Wardrobe.
If you want to know more about how to pack a minimalist capsule wardrobe for any season check out this post.
What to Wear in France in October
What to Wear in France in October for women
Skirts and dresses
Skirts and dresses are perfect for touring France in October. In October it is worth packing a pair of think tights to wear wear them in.
I personally tend to opt for midi or maxi length dresses and skirts especially in the cities and usually stick to items made of natural fabrics which are better for the heat.
Click here to shop skirts and dresses for Paris.
Trousers
If skirts and dresses aren’t your thing then trousers are a great choice. Depending on the time of month you are traveling will depend on the type of trousers that are best.
Personally I think jeans are the perfect trouser for October in France.
For more information on what to wear to dinner in France check out this post.
Click here to shop trousers for Paris.
Blouse
Loose blouses are perfect for France in the Fall for both sightseeing and going out to dinner. They can be dressed up or down for night and day, and work in almost all venues that you will be visiting.
T Shirts
I don’t think I ever visit France without a t shirt on my packing list. As the weather is quite changeable in October we recommend packing a mix of Long and short sleeve t shirts.
Plain t shirts tend to be more in keeping with local style over patterned, graphic or slogan tees to be more in keeping with the local style.
Note: don’t lean in too much to the striped Breton and red look. It will undoubtedly mark you as a tourist. However a striped t shirt on its own is fine for Paris paired with nice trousers or skirt.
Layers
For France in October I would pack layers such as cardigans and sweaters.
Usually for October I will have a cardigan, a hoodie, smart sweater and a jacket with me for a week. For Fall I like to stick to neutral colors in France but this is just a personal preference.
Jacket
For October, we recommend packing a slightly heavier weight jacket than for September. A trench coat can be an excellent selection for Early October, however a lightweight puffer jacket is good for later in the month. Click here to shop jackets.
Pashmina
Pashminas are on all my European packing lists as they are so versatile. They can be an extra layer if you get a sudden cold snap but can also make an outfit more modest.
PJs or Nightie
European accommodation is not guarunteed to have air conditioning. Therefore we recommend packing lightweight pyjamas and nighties in case your accommodation does not have it.
Underwear and Socks
Goes without saying. I would also add sneaker socks to your packing list to reduce sweat and odour in your sneaker.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are essential in France in October but the pair you pack should have decent UVA protection.
Sunhat (optional)
Really only needed for the South of France in October.
Swimwear (optional)
Swimwear is an optional item for your France packing list. If you are heading to the coast or are visiting a pool or staying in a hotel with a pool then it is worth bringing with you. Hpwever if none of these things are on your list then you can leave the swimwear at home.
What to pack for France in October for Men
The packing list for men is quite similar as the ladies packing list for France and we recommend packing:
T Shirts and Shirts
As with the packing list for women, we recommend packing t shirts that are plain as opposed to graphic or slogan.
For October you are likely to need more short sleeve t shirts however I would add at least a couple of long sleeves too!
But on top of t shirts we recommend having a button down shirt with long or shorts sleeves with you. These work for restaurants with smart casual dress codes and at museums and tourist attractions such as Versailles and the Louvre.
Click here to shop mens t shirts.
Chinos/ Jeans
Jeans are great for sightseeing in October. You may want to add a smarter pair of chinos to the packing list too for nights out and fancier dinners.
Shop men’s travel chinos here.
Blazer
A blazer is perfect if you are going to a high end restaurant in France and will double up as a jacket as an extra layer if you are visiting towards the end of October.
Layers
A hoodie, jumper and sweater alongside the jacket are the perfect layers for 7 days in France.
Swimwear
As with the ladies packing list this is only required if you are staying somewhere with a pool or heading to the South Coast.
Sunglasses
An essential no matter the month.
Hat
For same reason as above. Baseball caps aren’t commonly seen in the cities on locals, so a smarter hat is a better idea.
Underwear, Socks and Pjs
Note: if you plan to head over the border into a Monaco and are staying into the evening you may also need to pack a jacket to meet local dress code requires.
Best Shoes for France in October
One of the trickiest areas of any packing list is shoes. If you are traveling to France in October we recommend packing at least 2-3 pairs of shoes. Our favorite shoes for France at this time of year are:
Sneakers
Sneakers are my top sightseeing shoe for anywhere in Europe. They are good in the cities but are also good on beaches and in the countryside and can even cope well on cobblestones streets, of which there are plenty of in France. .
Just be sure to have a lightweight pair with you that can cope with the heat as well as having sneaker socks with you too. At the moment my go to lightweight sneaker is the All Birds Tree Runner but select the sneaker you are most comfy in. Click here to shop sneakers.
Ankle Boots
As the weather is changeable in France in October we recommend having a leather boot with some waterproofing as well as a sneaker. These are also better for wearing for evenings out where there are smart casual dress codes.
Click here to shop ankle boots.
Flip Flops (optional)
These are only required if you are staying in a hotel with a pool or are heading to the beach. If you are staying in cities, flip flops can be left at home.
What to Pack for France in October (non clothing)
So now you know the clothes to pack for France in October, what other items should be on your what to pack for France in October list .
Personally I always pack the below for France in October:
Our essentials to pack for France in October are:
- Backpack – for storing items on your day trips.
- Crossbody Bag – anti theft type as with any city it can have issues with pickpockets around main tourist attractions.
- Sun Screen – an essential for all travel packing list.
- Lipbalm with SPF – Our favorite brand at the minute is sun bum.
- Reusable Water Bottle –
- Camera
- Charging Equipment
- Power pack / Battery Pack
- Travel Adapaters for electronics – France uses standard European outputs and plugs.
- Beach Bag (optional) – useful if you are visiting an island or plan on doing excursions by boat.
- Towel (optional) – only for those planning on spending time on the beach or on boat excursions. We recommend a quick dry one where possible.
FAQs about our France in October Packing List
Are there any special events in France in October?
There are no real special events in France in October that have special dress codes. Also Halloween is not really a big thing in France so you don’t need to worry about Halloween dress costumes in France.
What to wear to dinner in France?
France is a great foodie country no matter the time of year you are visiting. So what should you wear to dinner in France?
Most restaurants in France (apart from very touristy ones) will informally adopt a smart casual dress code in evenings. For this reason I tend to wear linen trousers, blouses and sandals or a maxi dress when I dine out in France at night at this time of year.
Do you have any questions about what to wear in France in October? Drop us a comment below and we will do our best to answer.