Weather in Marmaris in May

How May compares

May is the 6th warmest month of the year in Marmaris and ranks 57th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Turkey it is 5th of 18 (Turkey in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Marmaris is 8.0°C warmer by day and 8.5°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in May

The typical May day in Marmaris peaks at 24.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 2 days top 25°C and 1 in 18 pass 30°C. Nights average 16.8°C; one night in ten drops to 14.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 40.8°C (2020-05-17) and the coldest night 10.1°C (1997-05-03).

Rain in May

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 36 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 1994 with 80 mm, the driest 1999 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 70%.

Sea temperature in May

The sea averages 19.9°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.0°C to 20.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.9°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 9.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:59 and sets about 20:07 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 30%.

Is May a good time to visit Marmaris?

Yes - it is one of the better months: warm days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Marmaris on our scoring are September, June, May; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Warm days, with cooler evenings

Daytime warmth should be comfortable for spending time outdoors, though May is not consistently hot. Temperatures reach 25°C on 42% of days, so pack lighter clothes without assuming every afternoon will feel like summer. The warmer days can make shade appealing at midday; keep anything energetic for when you feel more comfortable. After dark, a light jumper or jacket is a sensible addition rather than an unnecessary extra. The coldest 10% of nights fall to 14.2°C or below, which could feel cool if you are sitting outside in clothes chosen for the afternoon.

The sea is the main compromise

The sea is bracing rather than comfortably warm in May. Its average temperature is 19.9°C, with a year-to-year range of 19°C to 21°C, so warm air does not necessarily mean an inviting swim. If you enjoy cooler water, a dip may be part of the appeal; if you tend to feel the cold, do not make lengthy sea swims the centre of your plans. Bring something dry to put on afterwards, especially if you stay out into the evening. May makes more sense for enjoying time beside the water than for expecting bath-like sea temperatures.

Plenty of sunshine, but keep plans flexible

With about 9.8 hours of sunshine within 14.0 hours of daylight, May gives you plenty of scope to spend the day outside without fitting everything around midday. Sun protection belongs in your bag even though this is not the hottest part of the year. The catch is rain: about 6 days receive measurable rainfall, so an entirely dry holiday is not something to count on. A light waterproof and plans you can rearrange are more useful than packing only for clear skies. Rainy days do not necessarily mean days lost, but leave yourself some flexibility.