The season at a glance
Our season runs from early May to the end of October. The sea temperatures below are typical averages for the coast; it is warmer ashore, especially in July and August.
- May: the hills are still green and the bays almost empty. The sea is fresh, around 20°C, and evenings can be cool.
- June: long days and a warming sea, around 23°C, with the bays still quiet. The meltem starts to build in the afternoons.
- July: hot, dry days and a sea around 26°C. School holidays begin, and from mid-July the meltem is at its strongest.
- August: the warmest sea of the year, around 27–28°C, and the busiest weeks. The meltem blows on most afternoons until late in the month.
- September: the sea is still around 26–27°C, the wind eases and the crowds thin out — for many, the best month of all.
- October: quiet bays, warm days and a sea around 23–24°C. Evenings draw in and a shower becomes more likely; the season ends with the month.
The meltem: the summer wind
The meltem — meltemi in Greek — is the steady wind that blows across the Aegean in summer, from the northwest on the Turkish coast. It builds in late May and June, is strongest from mid-July to late August and eases in September.
It usually rises around midday and drops in the evening, so captains move in the morning and are at anchor in a sheltered bay by the afternoon. On hot days it is also what keeps life on deck pleasant.
The open stretches of the coast, such as the tip of the Datça peninsula, feel it most; the islands of Göcek are the most sheltered. If you worry about choppy water, choose a route there — our route guide compares them all.
Busy weeks and quiet weeks
July and August, with school holidays across Europe and in Turkey, are the most popular weeks and the first to fill. Weekly prices are highest then, and lower in May, June, September and October.
If you can travel outside the school holidays, late May, June and September give you warm water, quieter bays and a lower price.
Which month for whom?
There is no bad month in the season, only different ones. Some suggestions:
- Families with school-age children: late June, July or August. For the calmest water, choose the Göcek islands.
- Couples and friends: June or September — warm water and fewer boats.
- Walkers and history lovers: May or October, when it is cooler ashore for Knidos, Kaunos and the village paths.
- Keen swimmers: August and September, when the sea is at its warmest.
