Determining the attractiveness of the Turkish coast depending on the months. When does the season start and is it worth traveling in the off-season?
It would seem that there is no simpler question than the ideal time for a vacation in Turkey. In the summer, in the heat. In principle, you can’t argue. But it is possible to spend a vacation, languishing from the heat and crowded pool, and you can – relaxing under the gentle sun on the always available sun bed. And both options fall on the most seasonal time in Turkey.
Our friends flew on all inclusive at the end of November with a child and were satisfied. So we suggest to sort out all the advantages and disadvantages of rest by months and to understand when it is better to go to Turkey, where the sea is warmer in summer, and why they praise the velvet season
When is it better to vacation in Turkey? The beginning of the season
Full-fledged beach season in Turkey begins in June, when the water temperature reaches +23°C. It ends in October, but tourists rest in hotels all year round, even in winter. To save money, it is better to go to Turkey in May or early November – the weather is good.
Yes, late April-early May can be that long-awaited mark when the holiday season starts. At this time, the sun is warm, hotels are open, cafes are open, and ice cream sellers are blowing the dust off their carts and acting skills, but it’s still a little early for comfortable swimming in the sea: +19-20°C.
March – April
On vacation in Turkey in early spring tourists arrive who understand that staying in this country – it is not only about beaches and hotels “all inclusive”, but also about secluded relaxation, allowing you to store strength to the maximum and spend them at a minimum.
The weather is already quite good in March, although sunny days (up to +20°C) are often replaced by rain and winds. By the end of March, the heat becomes more and more, and with it the first guests come to Turkey. Swimming pools and water parks do not work. The tops of the mountains on the horizon are still covered in snow, which means that you can still catch the skiing and snowboarding season at the ski resorts.
Air: +17°C
Sea: +17°C
In April, as we have already mentioned, it is possible to spend time on the beaches, but without swimming. All the beginning and middle of spring there is a relative lull in the traditional beach resorts. Among the rare tourists, the most popular is the Antalya coast, but even there, in small villages like Avsallar or Kirish, half of the establishments are closed. All life “boils” in Antalya and Alanya and separate quality hotels, which a month later will cost twice as much. The rooms are chilly, and the air conditioner wants to run exclusively on heating. But all trees and bushes begin to blossom, the air is fresh and clean, shopping centers are open and empty, and prices for air tickets and tours are fantastically low.
Air: +20°C
Sea: + 18°C
Turkey in May
May holidays in general – a suitable time for vacations in the resorts of Turkey. The fattest disadvantage of the period will be cool waves and possible storms in the afternoon, but there is an alternative – hotels with a swimming pool, which begin to fill up in early May.
Somehow we spent the whole spring in Antalya. I did not notice the first people in the sea until the middle of May. And being very heat-loving myself, I went into the water only at the end of the month. But everything else in the “May Day” season in Turkey is marked with a huge sign “+”: the weather is warm, but not stuffy, excursions bring more pleasure, because you do not have to push through the crowd to see something, the tan is manifested, in the frame do not climb unnecessary people, and the price of rest inexpensive. But at noon the sun is still strong, it is easy to burn.
We found our inexpensive tour online. As always, we compared offers on three well-known aggregators:
And if in early May the water in Turkey is still invigorating, then by the end of the month it becomes quite bathable – it warms up to +20 ° C…+21 ° C. The country is washed by four seas, but the differences in climatic conditions in Turkey in May are small. It is still preferable to buy tours to resorts located near the Mediterranean Sea, where the water heats up faster and rains less often.
Where is it warm in Turkey in May? We can confidently say that in Alanya. Side and Belek are also subject to consideration. But about Kemer reviews of tourists are not so positive; the mountainous area warms up longer. It is better to go here in the summer.
Turkey in June
In Turkey in June is unequivocally already high season. All hotels work in an active mode, and the beaches are gradually filled with vacationers, the concentration of which reaches its peak by the end of the month and continues until September.
In early June, many tourists go on vacation with children. The water temperature at this time on average reaches +22 ° C … +23 ° C, and the air during the day heats up to +30 ° C. In addition, the humidity is increasing, but it is still tolerable. However, the weather can surprise you with chilly evenings and cold sea. In order to use a swimsuit as often as possible, the season of rest in Turkey in June, we advise you to open after the 10-th numbers.
In terms of summer heat, the Mediterranean Sea is traditionally the leader (Alanya, Antalya, Belek and Side; remember that Kemer is the last place to get hot), followed by the Aegean Sea (Marmaris, Bodrum, Kusadasi) and lastly the Black Sea.
If you are pondering when to go to Turkey for a bright, but not burning sun, allowing at noon to wander around the sights or sleep on the beach, it is definitely better to do it in June.
Turkey in July – August
July and August are the hottest months. It is probably the most popular because you can swim and tan to the max.
In July the during day a reliable friend of tourists is a cream with high spf, because usually there is a debilitating heat of +35 ° C…+38 ° C outside, and only late in the evening comes a relative coolness of +22 ° C…+23 ° C. Salvation is sought in the water: in Turkey in July the sea temperature will please anyone with its +24 ° C…+28 ° C.
If you describe the whole gamut of sensations in three words, it is “stuffy and humid”. Moreover, reviews of those who visited Turkey in July assure that they will never repeat such a mistake. The air temperature on the Aegean Sea is somewhat lower, so it is advised to go there for those who do not tolerate hot weather or families with a child.
As usual, August is expected to have the most sultry weather of the year. Rains are extremely rare. Hotels are packed to the brim, the last month of summer after all, and all vacationers are eager to get some time to bask in the sun.
One of the obvious advantages of the month is the decent variety of juicy fruits and vegetables. The abundance of figs, grapes, peaches, avocados and berries will please and perhaps even refresh you in the Turkish heat. Prices for tours in August are quite reasonable, and at the end of the month there is an increased likelihood of buying hot vouchers with significant discounts.
When does the beach season in Turkey end?
While the season starts in April-May, it does not end until the second half of fall.
To know exactly when the season ends in Turkey, you need to take into account the location of the resorts. On the Aegean coast in the northern part of the country, the weather deteriorates as early as September, while near the Mediterranean coast the weather remains warm and sunny even in the second half of October.
Tour lovers appreciate this period, as there is no more exhausting heat and crowds of tourists with cameras. Moreover, a peaceful stay in comfortable hotels with spa and all inclusive is much more profitable in the fall and winter.
Turkey in fall (September, October, November)
Turkey in the fall, especially in the first two months, is no less in demand, because the velvet season starts, when sea and air temperatures are almost comparable.
In September, the water remains warm for a long time, up to +25°C…+28°C. But the scorcher gradually decreases, allowing you to be outside after 11 in the afternoon and breathe freely. It should be noted that the most comfortable period starts in the second half of the month.
Judging by the reviews, September is a great choice for a vacation with small children (preschoolers): fruits, gentle sun, less people. However, take into account that there may be a couple of stormy days in the 10th.
At the link above is our detailed text about September Turkey, and below is our vlog on YouTube on the same topic (so to speak, we take into account the interests of both video and text-lovers:)).
October (from the second half) is already considered low season. But thoughtful travelers are not deterred by this.
First of all, up to the 20th of the weather (+23°C…+28°C) allows you to swim and sunbathe, although in the evening you are forced to wear something with long sleeves. Secondly, typical “packers” do not complain about the Turkish coast at the height of fall, which means that there are almost no people! Thirdly, the decrease in the influx is associated with a drop in prices for everything – vouchers, shopping, excursions. The latter are especially pleasant on an October day.
Of course, there are also some disadvantages. In particular, animation and local commerce are gradually phased out, cafes may also close before the summer. As for the weather, it can sometimes rain and blow cold winds from the sea.
November is no longer beach season. Nevertheless, tours are still being sold and bought. People go mainly for a relaxing vacation away from the city and noise, closer to the sea and some kind of warmth (+15°C…+20°C during the day, except for bad weather, water +18°C…+20°C).
I love Turkey at any time of the year, but still in the low season – November, March-April – I would choose a hotel in a big city: Antalya or Alanya. There is something to do there, except for the sea and the beach. And from my trip in November I remember how cold it was to step on the travertines in Pamukkale! You can’t protect your feet, you can only walk on them barefoot.
There are still good three or five hotels that work all year round and offer a heated pool instead of the sea. Economical Germans/Dutch/French and pensioners of all nations know that in November it is 2-3 times cheaper to stay in luxurious all-inclusive conditions than in summer.
Calm pastime at picturesque coastal landscapes, leisurely visits to attractions, long walks and spa treatments in case of bad weather – this is the approximate program of vacations in Turkey in November. And is the sea necessary for a complete “recharge” on a budget?
Turkey in winter (December, January and February)
In the off-season, tourists are welcome:
- Nice
- Spa hotels on the coast
- Istanbul, its sights and SEALs
- Ski spots where snowboarders and skiers spend active vacations
Resorts in Turkey
The number of resort towns in Turkey is so large that it would be a very difficult task to list them all. The most famous ones are:
- Black Sea resorts – Abana, Samsun, Sinop, Amsara, now the infrastructure of these cities is inferior to the famous tourist destinations, but their development is in full swing.
- Mediterranean coastal resorts are the leaders of the country’s tourist industry, including Antalya, Belek, Kemer, Alanya, Side, Fethiye, where you can relax on magnificent sand and pebble beaches from May to October.
- resorts on the Aegean Sea – Marmaris, Bodrum, Kusadasi, Cesme, Didim attract millions of tourists from June to September
- ski resorts – Mount Olympus in Uludag National Park, Palandoken, Sarıkamış, Kartalkaya, Erciyes
- Marmara Sea resorts – Erdek, Mudanya, Prince Islands.
And, of course, it is impossible not to visit Istanbul – the largest city and port of the country, located simultaneously in Europe and Asia. Istanbul is famous for its museums, majestic palaces, mosques and monuments of ancient civilizations. Most of the attractions are located in the city center, and here you can find hotels of different comfort levels.
