Your March weather guide
CoolWeather in Side in March
Side in March is better suited to a break with walks and flexible plans than a beach holiday. Average daytime highs are 11.6°C, nights fall to 4.5°C, and about 16 days have rain. For a UK traveller seeking dependable warmth, that is a significant catch: pack for cool, wet weather rather than summer. Go if you are happy spending time outdoors between showers, with indoor alternatives when the weather turns.
Long-term climate averages for Fatsa, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Side, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Fatsa.
- Average daytime high
- 11.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 19°C
- Average night-time low
- 4.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -0°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +1.1°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 8.1°C
- year to year: 7°C to 9°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.9h
- 33% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 16
- 114 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 1%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 28.3°C
- 2018-03-18
- Record low 1991-2020
- -7.3°C
- 2004-03-08
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 36 min
- 3076 km, mid-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 March compares
March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Side. Within Turkey it is 16th of 18 (Turkey in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Side is 1.1°C warmer by day and 1.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Side peaks at 11.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 18.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 100 days top 25°C. Nights average 4.5°C; one night in ten drops to -0.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 28.3°C (2018-03-18) and the coldest night -7.3°C (2004-03-08).
Rain in March
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 16 days with 1 mm or more, 114 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2005 with 184 mm, the driest 2002 with 56 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 8.1°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 6.8°C to 9.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.5°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:42 and sets about 18:36 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 66%.
Is March a good time to visit Side?
March is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Side on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Expect cool days, cold evenings and no easy sea swimming
Layers matter more than beachwear in March. A jumper and jacket are sensible for daytime outings, with warmer clothing for evenings when temperatures drop. The warmer days can reach 18.8°C or more, so you may get spells comfortable enough for lighter clothing, but those are not the conditions to build your holiday around. Some nights fall below freezing, which makes a warm outer layer useful even if the forecast looks mild during the day. The sea averages just 8.1°C: it is cold, not merely refreshing. If relaxed swimming and long periods sitting outside are central to your plans, March is a poor fit.
Keep outdoor plans flexible
Rain is a practical consideration rather than a minor inconvenience this month. With wet days common, bring a waterproof jacket and footwear you can comfortably wear in the rain. Avoid making every day depend on dry weather; leaving room to change plans is more useful than expecting uninterrupted time outdoors. There are about 3.9 hours of sunshine within 11.7 hours of daylight, so daylight does not mean continuous sun. Use brighter spells for walks and keep something warmer handy when cloud returns. March suits travellers who can enjoy a cool coastal stay without needing either reliable sunshine or warm water to make the trip worthwhile.
A little perspective
Side through the year
March 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 | 8.8°C | 2.6°C | 9.5°C | 3.0 | 111 | 14 | 0% |
| February | 9.0°C | 2.2°C | 8.1°C | 3.5 | 89 | 13 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 11.6°C | 4.5°C | 8.1°C | 3.9 | 114 | 16 | 1% |
| April | 15.2°C | 7.8°C | 10.1°C | 5.2 | 106 | 15 | 2% |
| May | 19.1°C | 12.2°C | 14.9°C | 6.3 | 104 | 15 | 5% |
| Junebest | 22.7°C | 16.4°C | 20.9°C | 7.9 | 93 | 13 | 20% |
| Julybest | 25.0°C | 19.3°C | 24.4°C | 8.5 | 76 | 12 | 49% |
| Augustbest | 25.5°C | 20.0°C | 25.5°C | 7.5 | 80 | 13 | 60% |
| September | 22.7°C | 16.8°C | 23.4°C | 5.9 | 119 | 14 | 23% |
| October | 19.5°C | 13.3°C | 19.6°C | 4.3 | 142 | 15 | 10% |
| November | 15.2°C | 8.4°C | 15.6°C | 4.0 | 113 | 11 | 1% |
| December | 11.0°C | 4.9°C | 12.1°C | 3.1 | 108 | 14 | 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 March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Bulgaria · 11°C by day · sea 7°C
Sunny Beach
France · 12°C by day
Paris
Italy · 12°C by day · sea 10°C
Venice
Italy · 13°C by day · sea 10°C
Lido di Jesolo
Hungary · 11°C by day
Budapest
A little more detail
Side in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Side hot in March?
Side is cool in March: the average daytime high is 11.6°C and nights average 4.5°C. Roughly 1 in 100 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Side in March?
The sea around Side averages 8.1°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 7°C to 9°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Side in March?
Side sees about 16 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 114 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2005 (184 mm) and the driest was 2002 (56 mm).
How sunny is Side in March?
Side gets around 3.9 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Side compare with the UK in March?
Side is on average 1.1°C warmer than London by day in March (11.6°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Side?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Side reached 28.3°C on 2018-03-18, and the coldest night dropped to -7.3°C on 2004-03-08.
Is Side much warmer than London in March?
Not on average. Side's daytime high is only 1.1°C above London's 10.5°C. You may catch a warmer spell, but the typical difference is too small to make March a convincing choice if warmth is your main reason for travelling.
Which months are better if I want a warmer holiday?
July, August and June are the strongest choices here for holiday weather. March is cool and wet, so shifting your trip towards those months makes more sense if warmth matters more to you than travelling at this time of year.
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 Fatsa. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.1 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