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The best time to visit Chartres is from May to September, when daytime highs sit between 18.9C and 24.9C (66F to 77F) and the free Chartres en Lumières light show runs nightly. For the fewest crowds and lowest hotel prices, April, October and November are better, at the cost of cooler, wetter weather. Most visitors arrive as day-trippers from Paris, so the cathedral is busiest between 11:00 and 16:00 on weekends. Check the Chartres weather by month guide for full climate data, and start from the Chartres guide for the city overview.
Best Time to Visit Chartres for Good Weather
June, July and August offer the warmest weather, with highs of 22.2C to 24.9C (72F to 77F) and the most sunshine, peaking at 216 hours in July. May and September are slightly cooler but still pleasant, with highs around 18.9C to 20.9C (66F to 70F). Avoid the dead of winter if you dislike the cold: January averages 3.9C (39F) with only 62 hours of sunshine. Rain is evenly spread through the year at 40 to 60 mm per month, so no month is reliably dry.
Best Time to Visit Chartres for Fewer Crowds
Chartres cathedral draws day-trippers and coach groups every day, but crowds thin sharply outside school holidays and on weekday mornings. April, early May and October are the quietest months with decent weather. To beat the crowds any time of year, enter the cathedral at its 8:30 opening or after 17:00, and climb the north tower early. The things to do in Chartres list includes several sights away from the main cathedral square that stay calm even in high season.
Best Time to Visit Chartres for Lower Prices
Hotel rates in Chartres are lowest from November to March, excluding the Christmas market weeks in December. Rooms at the Mercure Chartres Cathedrale and Jehan de Beauce can drop by 30 to 40 percent in January and February compared with July. Train tickets from Paris Montparnasse cost about 16 euros each way and do not vary much by season, but book at least a few days ahead for the cheapest TER fares. See our where to stay in Chartres guide for hotel picks in every price band.
Best Time to Visit Chartres for Events
Two events anchor the calendar. Chartres en Lumières runs from April to January, illuminating 28 sites around the city every night after dark for free, and is at its best from May to October. The Fête de la Lumière and the summer International Organ Festival run through July and August. The annual Notre-Dame de Chrétienté pilgrimage walks from Paris to Chartres over the Pentecost weekend in late May or early June, filling the cathedral with around 10,000 pilgrims. See the Chartres events and festivals calendar for exact dates.
Best Time to Visit Chartres: Month by Month
January and February are the coldest, quietest months, good for hotel deals but with highs of only 6.6C to 8.0C (44F to 46F). March and April bring spring and fewer crowds. May to September offer the best overall balance of warmth and long evenings for the light show. October and November are mild and uncrowded but increasingly wet. December is chilly and busy around the Christmas market on Place des Épars. For area guidance once you arrive, read the Chartres neighborhoods guide, and for logistics see our Chartres travel tips.
