Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Bodrum in May
May is a good time for Bodrum if you want warm days without relying on strong summer heat. Average highs of 22°C suit time outdoors, while nights around 17°C call for a light layer rather than just beachwear. The catch is the sea: at 19.8°C, it is bracing rather than comfortably warm. For a UK traveller, this is a sensible month for sunshine and relaxed outdoor days, but less convincing for a holiday built around swimming.
Long-term climate averages for Bodrum, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Bodrum, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Bodrum.
- Average daytime high
- 22.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 25°C
- Average night-time low
- 17.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 15°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.5°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 19.8°C
- year to year: 19°C to 21°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 9.9h
- 71% of 14.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 4
- 25 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 74%
- Days over 25°C
- 12%
- 2% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 38.1°C
- 2020-05-17
- Record low 1991-2020
- 11.9°C
- 1997-05-02
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 6 min
- 2681 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How May compares
May is the 6th warmest month of the year in Bodrum and ranks 81st of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Turkey it is 14th of 18 (Turkey in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Bodrum is 5.5°C warmer by day and 9.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Bodrum peaks at 22.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.3°C or more. Roughly 1 in 9 days top 25°C and 1 in 45 pass 30°C. Nights average 17.3°C; one night in ten drops to 14.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 38.1°C (2020-05-17) and the coldest night 11.9°C (1997-05-02).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 25 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 1994 with 73 mm, the driest 1999 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 74%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 19.8°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.6°C to 20.8°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.6°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 9.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:02 and sets about 20:11 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 29%.
Is May a good time to visit Bodrum?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Bodrum on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm days, with a layer for the evening
Pack mainly light daytime clothes, but leave room for a jumper or light jacket. The average high feels promising for sitting outside and spending time outdoors without planning everything around intense heat. Days reaching 25°C account for 12% of the month, while 30°C is uncommon at 2%, so do not book expecting consistently hot afternoons. Equally, averages are not a guarantee: the colder nights can fall to 14.9°C or below, making an extra layer useful after sunset. May suits travellers who prefer warmth to heat. Keep sunscreen and a hat handy, and take shade at midday when the sun feels strong.
Plenty of daylight, but the sea is the compromise
There is plenty of scope for outdoor plans, with about 9.9 hours of sunshine within 14 hours of daylight. Rain is still part of the picture: about 4 days have measurable rainfall, so a light waterproof and some flexibility make more sense than assuming every day will stay dry. The sea is the bigger limitation for a swimming holiday. Its average temperature is 19.8°C, with May conditions ranging from 19°C to 21°C between years. That is likely to feel bracing on entry, especially if you prefer warm water. Choose May for time beside the sea and swims if you tolerate cool water, rather than expecting comfortable, lingering sessions in it.
A little perspective
Bodrum through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.4°C | 9.8°C | 16.9°C | 5.2 | 157 | 12 | 0% |
| February | 13.7°C | 9.8°C | 16.1°C | 5.7 | 120 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 15.5°C | 11.2°C | 16.0°C | 6.9 | 84 | 9 | 0% |
| April | 18.1°C | 13.6°C | 16.9°C | 8.1 | 53 | 7 | 1% |
| MaySelected | 22.1°C | 17.3°C | 19.8°C | 9.9 | 25 | 4 | 12% |
| Junebest | 26.5°C | 21.3°C | 23.0°C | 13.0 | 5 | 1 | 70% |
| Julybest | 29.0°C | 23.6°C | 24.6°C | 14.0 | 1 | 0 | 98% |
| Augustbest | 29.3°C | 24.1°C | 25.6°C | 13.1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| September | 26.4°C | 21.7°C | 24.4°C | 11.0 | 19 | 2 | 75% |
| October | 22.7°C | 18.4°C | 22.4°C | 7.9 | 62 | 5 | 16% |
| November | 18.5°C | 14.6°C | 20.2°C | 6.0 | 118 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 14.9°C | 11.5°C | 18.3°C | 4.9 | 160 | 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
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Bodrum in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Bodrum hot in May?
Bodrum is warm in May: the average daytime high is 22.1°C and nights average 17.3°C. Roughly 1 in 9 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Bodrum in May?
The sea around Bodrum averages 19.8°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 19°C to 21°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Bodrum in May?
Bodrum sees about 4 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 25 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 1994 (73 mm) and the driest was 1999 (0 mm).
How sunny is Bodrum in May?
Bodrum gets around 9.9 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Bodrum compare with the UK in May?
Bodrum is on average 5.5°C warmer than London by day in May (22.1°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Bodrum?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Bodrum reached 38.1°C on 2020-05-17, and the coldest night dropped to 11.9°C on 1997-05-02.
How much warmer is Bodrum than London in May?
Bodrum's average daytime high is 22.1°C, compared with 16.6°C in London, a difference of 5.5°C. That is a noticeable step up in warmth for outdoor days, although you should still pack a layer for evenings rather than treating it as full summer.
Should I choose May or wait until later?
Choose May if warm daytime weather matters more than strong heat and you can accept bracing seawater. June, July and August are the stronger months overall for Bodrum. May remains a reasonable choice for outdoor days, but swimming is its main compromise.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Bodrum. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.1 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.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