Side weather by month

When to go to Side

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: July, August. October is the wettest month (142 mm, about 15 rainy days) and July the driest (76 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 25.5°C and coolest in February at 8.1°C.

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Ordu-Giresun Airport (OGU, 50 km from Fatsa) takes roughly 4 h 36 min - mid-haul (4.5-7 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Istanbul.

Records and extremes, 1991-2020

The hottest day recorded in Side between 1991 and 2020 reached 37.2°C on 27 July 2017; the coldest fell to -10.6°C on 27 January 2010. In August one day in ten tops 28.3°C and about 2% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to -3.1°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was October 2015 with 291 mm, against a October average of 142 mm.

Winter: cool days and cold water

December, January and February are better suited to a break without swimming than a beach holiday. December averages 11°C by day, falling to 9°C in January and February, so bring a proper jacket rather than relying on a light evening layer. Nights are colder still, with February averaging 2°C. The sea is cold throughout this period and offers little incentive for casual swimming. Rain is another practical consideration: January and December each average 14 rain days, making waterproof footwear and a flexible daily plan useful. With limited sunshine, use brighter spells for time outdoors and keep expectations focused on cool-weather comfort rather than warmth.

Spring into June: gradual warming, but keep a layer

March is still cool, averaging 12°C by day and 4°C at night, and its 16 rain days make a waterproof a sensible part of your packing. April feels milder at 15°C, but the sea remains cold. May brings more comfortable daytime conditions at 19°C, although sea temperatures of 15°C will feel chilly for casual swimming. These months suit travellers happy to spend time outdoors in layers rather than plan every day around the water. June marks the more useful shift for a beach-focused trip: daytime temperatures reach 23°C and the sea averages 21°C. Even then, keep an evening layer handy and allow for showers rather than assuming an uninterrupted dry spell.

Summer into autumn: warmer seas, then shorter sunny spells

July and August suit travellers who put swimming first. July averages 25°C by day with sea temperatures of 24°C; August reaches 26°C in both air and water. Choose light clothing and take shade breaks around midday, but do not treat either month as reliably dry: even July, the driest month, averages 12 rain days. September keeps the sea at 23°C while nights ease to 17°C, making it a useful compromise between swimming comfort and cooler evenings. October is more marginal for warmth, with both daytime and sea averages at 20°C and less sunshine than September. By November, days average 15°C and nights 8°C. Bring warmer layers then, and treat any swimming as an optional extra rather than the main reason to travel.