Bodrum Weather by Month: What to Expect All Year

Bodrum has a textbook Mediterranean climate: a long, hot, almost rainless summer, a short and pleasant spring and fall on either side, and a mild winter that does most of the year's raining in a few months. The numbers below are typical figures rather than records, so expect a few days each month that fall outside them. What they do not show is the wind, which matters more here than the thermometer, so there is a section on that too.

At a glance

Hottest months

July and August, highs around 92°F (33°C)

Coolest month

January, highs around 59°F (15°C), lows in the mid 40s°F (7°C)

Swimming season

Late May to mid October; sea warmest in August at about 79°F (26°C)

Wettest months

December and January; the rainy spell runs November to February

Sunniest months

June, July and August, with rain almost unknown

Windiest spell

The northerly meltem, July and August afternoons

Best months overall

June and September

January to March: the quiet, green months

January is the coolest month, with highs around 59°F (15°C) and nights in the mid 40s°F (7°C). It is also one of the wettest, though rain arrives as a few heavy days rather than weeks of drizzle, and the sun comes back between them. The sea is about 61°F (16°C), which is for the hardy locals who swim all year. Most of the peninsula is closed; the town is itself, only quieter.

February is much the same, highs around 60°F (16°C), with the hills at their greenest and the almond trees in blossom by the end of the month. March warms to around 64°F (18°C) with fewer wet days, and on a sunny afternoon you can sit outside for lunch in a sweater. The sea stays cold, about 60°F (16°C).

April and May: spring, and the first swims

April brings highs around 70°F (21°C), wildflowers everywhere and the occasional shower. It is a good month for walking the peninsula's hills and the ancient sites, which are unbearable in August. The sea is about 63°F (17°C); brave people swim, most do not. Hotels and restaurants reopen through the month.

May is when Bodrum starts to feel like summer. Highs reach the upper 70s°F (26°C), rain all but stops, and by the last week the sea is around 68°F (20°C), which is cool but swimmable on a hot afternoon. Evenings still want a light jacket. The crowds have not arrived, and prices reflect that.

June: arguably the best month

Highs around 86°F (30°C), reliably sunny, the sea up to about 74°F (23°C) and still climbing, and the wind not yet in full force. Everything is open and nothing is yet full. If you can choose your dates, the second half of June is the one to choose, with the first half as the budget version of the same thing.

July and August: hot, bright and windy

July and August are the hottest months, with typical highs around 92°F (33°C) and heat waves that push well past 95°F (35°C). Nights stay warm, around 75°F (24°C). It essentially does not rain. The sea is at its warmest, about 77°F (25°C) in July and 79°F (26°C) in August, and the water is the only sensible place to be between noon and four.

This is also meltem season. The meltem is a dry northerly wind that blows across the Aegean in summer, typically building through the afternoon and dropping at dusk, often for several days in a row. On the peninsula's north coast, Yalıkavak and Türkbükü in particular, it can be strong enough to make the sea choppy and send sunbeds skidding. The south coast, Bitez, Bodrum town and Akyarlar, is more sheltered. The wind is also what makes the heat bearable, and sailors love it.

September and October: the long, warm fall

September is the other best month. Highs ease back to around 86°F (30°C), the wind calms, the sea holds at about 77°F (25°C) after a summer of heating, and the August crowd goes home in the first week. Rain is rare until the very end of the month. Many regulars would not come at any other time.

October is still a swimming month, with highs around 77°F (25°C) and the sea near 73°F (23°C) in the first half, cooling after that. The first proper rain of the fall usually arrives sometime in October, and evenings turn cool enough for a jacket. Some beach clubs and village restaurants close by the end of the month; town stays open.

November and December: the rains come

November has highs around 68°F (20°C), and there are sunny weeks when it feels like a soft English summer, but this is when the rainy season starts in earnest, often with dramatic thunderstorms off the sea. The water is still about 68°F (20°C), warmer than the air some mornings, and a few people keep swimming. The peninsula shuts down for the winter; this is also mandarin harvest, when the groves around Bitez and Ortakent smell of it.

December is among the wettest months, with highs near 61°F (16°C) and real storms some years. It is also green, empty and cheap, and Bodrum town carries on with its markets and cafes. Come for a quiet working week or a long stopover from Istanbul, not for a beach.

What to pack, by season

• June to September: light clothes, a hat, strong sunscreen, water shoes for the pebble beaches, and one layer for windy evenings on the north coast
• May and October: everything above plus a light jacket or sweater for evenings and a compact rain layer for October
• April and November: a real jacket, closed shoes for muddy paths, and a swimsuit on the optimistic assumption
• December to March: a warm jacket and a waterproof; houses here are built for summer and can be colder inside than out
• All year: sunglasses, because the light off the sea is strong even in January

Frequently asked questions

What is the hottest month in Bodrum?

July and August are the hottest, with typical highs around 92°F (33°C) and heat waves pushing past 95°F (35°C). August also has the warmest sea, at about 79°F (26°C).

When can you swim in the sea in Bodrum?

Comfortably from late May to mid October. The sea is around 68°F (20°C) in late May, peaks near 79°F (26°C) in August and is still about 73°F (23°C) in early October. Locals swim year-round, but winter water is around 60°F (16°C).

Is Bodrum good in October?

Yes, especially the first half. Expect highs around 77°F (25°C), a sea warm enough to swim, far fewer people and lower prices. Bring a jacket for evenings and expect the first fall rain at some point in the month.

When does it rain in Bodrum?

Almost all of Bodrum's rain falls between November and February, with December and January the wettest. From June through September rain is rare, and in July and August it is practically unheard of.

What is the meltem wind in Bodrum?

The meltem is a dry northerly summer wind that blows across the Aegean, strongest in July and August and usually building in the afternoon. It hits the peninsula's north coast, including Yalıkavak and Türkbükü, hardest; the south coast around Bitez and Bodrum town is more sheltered.

Is Bodrum warm in winter?

Mild rather than warm. January highs are around 59°F (15°C), with nights in the mid 40s°F (7°C), and it rains on a fair number of days. It is pleasant for walking and the town stays open, but it is not beach weather.