Best Time for a Blue Cruise in Turkey, Month by Month

The best time for a blue cruise in Turkey is June or September, when the sea is warm. The season for gulets runs from late spring to early autumn. May and October suit travelers who prefer mild days over hot ones. To follow a week on the water with Cappadocia, see our blue cruise and Cappadocia tour.

When is the best time for a blue cruise?

The best time for a blue cruise is early summer or early autumn. In June, the coast is warm and the long evenings stretch into the night. Read Turkey in June for the weather across the country. In September, the sea is still warm from the summer. July and August are the hottest and busiest weeks, so we book early if your dates fall then. For the routes and the boats themselves, see our blue cruise page.

What is the best time for a blue cruise, month by month?

Month by month, the best time for a blue cruise depends on how much heat you enjoy. These daytime highs are long-term averages for İzmir on the Aegean and Antalya on the Mediterranean:

• May: about 26 °C (79 °F) on both coasts. The sea warms up for swimming as the month goes on.
• June: about 31 °C (88 °F). So you get long days, warm water and a relaxed start to the season.
• July: about 33 °C (91 °F) in İzmir and 34 °C (93 °F) in Antalya, with almost no rain. Peak season, so the popular coves fill up.
• August: about the same heat as July and just as busy. Then plan shade on deck and swims through the hottest hours.
• September: about 29 °C (84 °F) in İzmir and 31 °C (88 °F) in Antalya. The sea is still warm.
• October: about 24 °C (75 °F) in İzmir and 27 °C (81 °F) in Antalya. Mild days and the last swims of the year, especially on the south coast.

Which route suits each season?

From Bodrum, routes head into the Gulf of Gökova. From Marmaris, Göcek and Fethiye, by contrast, they follow the bays of the Turquoise Coast. In peak season, the twelve islands near Göcek offer sheltered anchorages. In the shoulder months, on the other hand, a route toward Kaş and Kekova stays pleasantly warm. Whatever the month, your captain chooses the bays to suit the wind on the day. On our Bodrum Bozburun gulet charter, the week runs from Bozburun to Rhodes and Symi. In the Gulf of Gökova, a Sedir Island boat tour crosses from Akyaka on your own boat.

How busy are the bays in each season?

The bays are busiest in July and August, when the summer holidays bring the most boats. In June and September, by contrast, there is more room at the anchorages. May and October are cooler months, especially in the evenings on deck. Our Bodrum Greek islands blue cruise sails from Bodrum to Kos, Leros, Patmos and Kalymnos.

• We book summer early. The best gulets fill first for July and August.
• Pack light. Bring a soft bag rather than a suitcase, because cabins are small.
• Bring a layer. In May and October, evenings on deck can feel cool.

For beaches to pair with your cruise, read our guide to Turkish beaches. Would you like a gulet chosen for your dates and your group? Tell us when you want to sail. Then we will suggest the boat and the route. Start with our blue cruise charters or a yacht. For a week at sea, see our Bodrum Gökova blue cruise.