#1Cool
Dalyan
- Day
- 14.1°C
- Sea
- 17.9°C
- Sun
- 5.0h
- Rain days
- 12
Your January weather guide
Weather in Turkey in January
January is a good month for Turkey if you want mild-weather walks rather than a beach holiday. Country averages of 12°C by day and 6°C at night call for layers, while 12 rainy days make flexible plans sensible. The southern and south-western coastal destinations are the better fit for warmth; Istanbul is cooler. Come for time outdoors between showers, not reliable sunbathing, and choose accommodation where you will be comfortable spending a wet afternoon.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 12.3°Cacross 18 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 6.1°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 16.0°Ccold for swimming
- Rainy days
- 12days1 mm or more
Turkey, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Turkey in January
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
Turkey destinations ranked for January
All 18 places we track in Turkey, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dalyan | 14.1°C | 7.5°C | 17.9°C | 5.0 h | 12 | 4 h 12 min |
| 2 | Marmaris | 13.9°C | 8.3°C | 17.8°C | 5.0 h | 12 | 4 h 12 min |
| 3 | Sarigerme | 13.9°C | 8.2°C | 17.9°C | 5.0 h | 12 | 4 h 12 min |
| 4 | Dalaman | 13.8°C | 6.8°C | 17.9°C | 5.0 h | 11 | 4 h 12 min |
| 5 | Fethiye | 13.8°C | 5.7°C | 17.9°C | 5.1 h | 10 | 4 h 18 min |
| 6 | Icmeler | 13.8°C | 9.9°C | 17.9°C | 5.0 h | 12 | 4 h 12 min |
| 7 | Belek | 13.6°C | 6.4°C | 17.8°C | 5.1 h | 11 | 4 h 24 min |
| 8 | Bodrum | 13.4°C | 9.8°C | 16.9°C | 5.2 h | 12 | 4 h 6 min |
| 9 | Gumbet | 13.4°C | 9.8°C | 16.9°C | 5.2 h | 12 | 4 h 6 min |
| 10 | Alanya | 12.7°C | 5.6°C | 18.0°C | 5.0 h | 12 | 4 h 30 min |
| 11 | Antalya | 12.6°C | 5.4°C | 17.7°C | 4.7 h | 13 | 4 h 24 min |
| 12 | Lara Beach | 12.6°C | 5.4°C | 17.7°C | 4.7 h | 13 | 4 h 24 min |
| 13 | Kusadasi | 12.5°C | 5.4°C | 16.3°C | 4.9 h | 11 | 4 h |
| 14 | Oludeniz | 11.7°C | 3.8°C | 17.9°C | 5.1 h | 11 | 4 h 18 min |
| 15 | Kemer | 9.8°C | 3.5°C | 14.3°C | 3.5 h | 11 | 3 h 48 min |
| 16 | Side | 8.8°C | 2.6°C | 9.5°C | 3.0 h | 14 | 4 h 36 min |
| 17 | Hisaronu | 8.4°C | 2.4°C | 8.6°C | 3.0 h | 14 | 4 h 6 min |
| 18 | Istanbul | 8.2°C | 4.1°C | 8.4°C | 3.1 h | 12 | 3 h 54 min |
18 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
January climate overview
Daytime highs across Turkey in January run from 8.2°C (Istanbul) to 14.1°C (Dalyan). Days over 25°C are rare anywhere in Turkey in January. Nights average 6.1°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Istanbul fall to 0°C or below.
Rainfall in January
Expect around 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) in January, with Fethiye the driest (10 days) and Side the wettest (14 days). The wettest January at Dalyan between 1991 and 2020 was 2009 with 412 mm; the driest was 1992 with 4 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 16.0°C around Turkey in January - warmest at Alanya (18.0°C). That is cold for swimming without a wetsuit.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 9.7 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
January against the rest of the year in Turkey
January is the 12th warmest month of the twelve in Turkey. It is 1.6°C cooler than December and 0.7°C warmer in February. The hottest month here is August (31°C) and the coolest January (12°C).
Which part of Turkey in January?
- Most sunshine: Bodrum, 5.2 h a day.
- Driest: Fethiye, about 10 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Alanya, 18°C.
- Hottest: Dalyan, 14°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Istanbul, 8°C.
What to pack for Turkey in January
Based on the averages: proper layers and a jacket - daytime highs average only 12°C; a warm layer for evenings, when it drops to around 6°C; a rain jacket - roughly 12 wet days.
Similar weather elsewhere in January
Within 1.5°C of Turkey's January daytime average: Lisbon (14°C, sea 15°C), Zante (14°C, sea 16°C), Kefalonia (14°C, sea 16°C), Menorca (13°C, sea 15°C), Naxos (13°C, sea 16°C). See the full ranking for January.
Where to go for the mildest weather
Dalyan is among the warmest choices at 14°C by day, but it shares that temperature with Marmaris, Sarigerme, Dalaman, Fethiye, Icmeler and Belek. That makes rain and evening temperatures more useful for choosing between them than daytime warmth alone. Fethiye has 10 rainy days, compared with 12 in Dalyan and Marmaris, so it has a modest advantage if outdoor time matters most. Icmeler stays milder after dark at 10°C, while Fethiye and Belek fall to 6°C. Bodrum and Gumbet offer slightly cooler days but similarly mild nights to Icmeler. Istanbul, at 8°C by day, calls for a more winter-focused wardrobe rather than expectations of coastal mildness.
What the weather means for your days
Plan around cool weather and interruptions from rain, rather than midday heat. Average sunshine of 4.6 hours leaves room for pleasant outdoor spells, but it is not a promise of clear skies throughout the day. A waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes that cope with wet ground and layers you can add after sunset are sensible packing choices. Keep outdoor plans movable so you can use brighter spells when they arrive. The sea averages 16°C nationally and reaches 18°C at many of the listed coastal destinations: still cool for a leisurely swim. January suits travellers happy to walk in a jacket better than those wanting long days in swimwear.
A little more detail
Turkey in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Turkey in January?
Dalyan is the warmest of the 18 places we track in Turkey in January with an average high of 14.1°C; Istanbul is the coolest at 8.2°C.
Is the sea warm in Turkey in January?
Not really: the warmest sea we track in Turkey in January is 18.0°C at Alanya, below the 22°C most people find comfortable.
Is Turkey warmer than London in January?
Yes, on the country average: Turkey reaches 12°C by day, compared with London's 7°C. Location matters, though. Dalyan averages 14°C, while Istanbul averages 8°C, so the difference feels more useful on the milder coast than in Istanbul.
Which destination has the fewest rainy days among those listed?
Fethiye has the fewest rainy days among the destinations with rain figures supplied, at 10. Dalaman and Belek follow with 11. That gives Fethiye a slight edge for outdoor plans, but you should still pack for rain rather than expect a dry holiday.
Will it be warm enough to sit outside in the evening?
Expect to need warm layers rather than rely on daytime warmth lasting. Icmeler, Bodrum and Gumbet average 10°C at night, while Fethiye, Belek and Alanya drop to 6°C. A jacket is sensible even in the milder evening locations.
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