Country guide
Turkey weather by month
For Turkey, choose June or September for beach weather with less heat than midsummer, and spring or autumn for days spent walking around cities. July and August reach an average daytime 31°C, while September stays warm at 28°C with sea temperatures of 25°C. The catch is that these country averages are not a promise for every destination. Winter is cooler and wetter, and spring sunshine arrives before the sea becomes comfortably warm.
- Hottest month
- 31.3°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 12.3°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 26.7°CAugust
- Destinations tracked
- 18warmest: Belek
Turkey, month by month
A little perspective
Turkey through the year
Country figures are the mean of the 18 destinations listed below; individual resorts can differ by several degrees.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.3°C | 6.1°C | 16.0°C | 4.6 | 158 | 12 | 0% |
| February | 13.0°C | 6.2°C | 15.0°C | 5.2 | 117 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 15.3°C | 7.8°C | 14.9°C | 6.3 | 91 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 18.6°C | 10.6°C | 16.1°C | 7.5 | 62 | 8 | 4% |
| May | 23.1°C | 14.9°C | 19.3°C | 9.3 | 43 | 7 | 29% |
| Junebest | 28.0°C | 19.3°C | 23.0°C | 12.1 | 19 | 4 | 78% |
| Julybest | 31.1°C | 22.3°C | 25.5°C | 13.1 | 11 | 2 | 94% |
| August | 31.3°C | 22.8°C | 26.7°C | 12.2 | 11 | 2 | 96% |
| Septemberbest | 27.9°C | 19.7°C | 25.5°C | 10.3 | 29 | 4 | 81% |
| October | 23.3°C | 15.7°C | 23.0°C | 7.4 | 77 | 6 | 35% |
| November | 18.2°C | 11.2°C | 20.2°C | 5.6 | 115 | 8 | 2% |
| December | 13.9°C | 7.9°C | 17.7°C | 4.4 | 158 | 12 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
When to go to Turkey
Daytime highs average 25°C or more in June, July, August, September. The sea reaches a swimmable 22°C from June to October. Winter (December to February) averages 13°C by day - cool, closer to a British spring. January is the wettest month (158 mm) and July the driest (11 mm).
Destinations in Turkey
Each has a 12-month table; our most searched places have month-by-month detail pages.
| Destination | Hottest month | Coolest month | Months 25°C+ | Sea (warmest) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya | July 34°C | January 13°C | 4 | 29°C | 4 h 24 min |
| Sidein Antalya | August 26°C | January 9°C | 2 | 26°C | 4 h 36 min |
| Marmaris | July 34°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Bodrum | August 29°C | January 13°C | 4 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Istanbul | August 28°C | January 8°C | 2 | 24°C | 3 h 54 min |
| Belekin Antalya | August 35°C | January 14°C | 6 | 29°C | 4 h 24 min |
| Lara Beachin Antalya | July 34°C | January 13°C | 4 | 29°C | 4 h 24 min |
| Dalaman | August 33°C | January 14°C | 5 | 28°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Fethiye | August 33°C | January 14°C | 5 | 28°C | 4 h 18 min |
| Icmeler | August 30°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Oludeniz | August 31°C | January 12°C | 4 | 28°C | 4 h 18 min |
| Hisaronu | August 27°C | January 8°C | 2 | 25°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Dalyan | August 33°C | January 14°C | 5 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Alanyain Antalya | August 31°C | January 13°C | 4 | 29°C | 4 h 30 min |
| Sarigerme | August 31°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Kusadasi | July 35°C | January 13°C | 5 | 25°C | 4 h |
| Gumbetin Bodrum | August 29°C | January 13°C | 4 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Kemerin Antalya | August 32°C | January 10°C | 4 | 23°C | 3 h 48 min |
Warmest place in Turkey each month
| Month | Warmest destination | Day | Coolest destination | Day | Warmest sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dalyan | 14°C | Istanbul | 8°C | Alanya 18°C |
| February | Dalyan | 15°C | Istanbul | 9°C | Alanya 17°C |
| March | Belek | 17°C | Istanbul | 11°C | Alanya 17°C |
| April | Belek | 21°C | Hisaronu | 15°C | Alanya 18°C |
| May | Belek | 25°C | Side | 19°C | Alanya 21°C |
| June | Kusadasi | 31°C | Side | 23°C | Alanya 25°C |
| July | Kusadasi | 35°C | Side | 25°C | Belek 28°C |
| August | Kusadasi | 35°C | Side | 26°C | Belek 29°C |
| September | Belek | 31°C | Side | 23°C | Alanya 28°C |
| October | Belek | 26°C | Hisaronu | 19°C | Alanya 25°C |
| November | Belek | 20°C | Istanbul | 14°C | Alanya 22°C |
| December | Dalyan | 16°C | Istanbul | 10°C | Alanya 20°C |
Winter and spring: better for walking than swimming
January and February bring average daytime temperatures of 12°C and 13°C, with nights at 6°C, so pack warm layers rather than relying on a light holiday wardrobe. Rain is a regular consideration, making flexible city plans more sensible than days built entirely around being outdoors. March starts the warming trend, but April is the clearer step towards comfortable walking weather at 19°C by day. Its sea temperature of 16°C still makes swimming a chilly prospect. May offers a useful compromise: daytime warmth reaches 23°C, evenings remain mild enough for lighter layers, and the sea rises to 19°C. It suits travellers who value outdoor time more than warm-water swimming.
Summer and autumn: choose your balance of heat and warm sea
June is a strong beach choice, with daytime temperatures of 28°C and a sea temperature of 23°C. July and August are hotter, both averaging 31°C by day and just 2 rain days, so leave room for shade and a slower pace at midday. August has the warmest sea at 27°C, but nights averaging 23°C offer limited relief from the heat. September keeps the sea warm at 25°C while daytime temperatures ease to 28°C. October is a reasonable option if swimming matters but intense heat does not: both air and sea average 23°C, though rain becomes more likely. November and December bring a clearer shift towards layers and weather-dependent outdoor plans.
Destination differences: do not assume every coast feels the same
Belek has the warmest average daytime temperature across the year at 23.7°C, while Side is coolest at 17.1°C. That makes destination choice important alongside the month, though an annual average does not establish the temperature for a particular week. For beach stays in places such as Antalya, Bodrum or Marmaris, consider sea warmth as well as daytime heat: spring can feel pleasant on land before swimming feels inviting. For an Istanbul city break, walking comfort and evening layers matter more than sea temperature. Spring and autumn offer a sensible starting point for city plans, while summer better suits travellers who want heat and can adjust their pace around midday.
A little more detail
Turkey weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
When is the best time to visit Turkey?
Weighing warmth, low rainfall and sunshine across 18 destinations, the best months for Turkey are June, September, July. August is the hottest month (average high 31.3°C) and January the coolest (12.3°C).
How many months is Turkey over 25°C?
4 months average a daytime high of 25°C or more across our Turkey destinations.
Which is the hottest place in Turkey?
Over the year, Belek has the highest average daytime temperature of the 18 Turkey destinations we track (23.7°C averaged across all months).
When is the sea warmest in Turkey?
August has the highest average sea temperature at 27°C, followed by July at 26°C. September remains warm at 25°C, making it a useful choice if you want warm-water swimming with less daytime heat than in midsummer.
Is October warm enough for a beach holiday?
October averages 23°C both by day and in the sea, so it can suit a beach holiday without peak-summer heat. The catch is greater weather uncertainty, with 6 rain days on average, while nights at 16°C call for a light layer.
Is May a good month for a city break?
May is a sensible choice for walking-focused trips, with average daytime temperatures of 23°C and nights at 15°C. Pack a light evening layer and something for showers: the month averages 7 rain days, so keep outdoor plans flexible.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 18 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C