The Best Time to Charter a Gulet in Turkey
Turkey’s blue-cruise season runs from May to October. The water is warm, the days are long, and the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts offer sheltered bays for almost any wind. The one thing worth understanding before you book is the meltemi — the summer wind that shapes when and where the sailing is easiest.
For most families and first-time charterers, early-to-mid June and September are the sweet spot: warm sea, settled weather, and prices well below the July–August peak.
Month by month
Typical air & sea temperatures, crowds and the feel of each month.
| Month | Air | Sea | Crowds | The feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 24°C | 20°C | Quiet | Bays empty, water just warm enough, prices low — the locals’ month. |
| June | 28°C | 23°C | Moderate | Long warm days, light winds, ideal for a first blue cruise or cabin charter. |
| July | 32°C | 25°C | Peak | Hot and busy; the meltemi builds on the open Aegean but the gulf coast stays sheltered. |
| August | 34°C | 26°C | Peak | Warmest sea, strongest meltemi, fullest bays. Book months ahead. |
| September | 29°C | 25°C | Moderate | The connoisseur’s month — warm water, easing winds and crowds, softer prices. |
| October | 24°C | 22°C | Quiet | Last settled month; warm sea, quiet coves, pack a layer for the evenings. |
The winds, explained
The named winds that shape when and where the sailing is easiest in Turkey.
Meltemi
North / northwest- Character
- Dry, can reach force 5–6 on the open Aegean
- When
- Mid-July to early September, strongest in the afternoons
- On charter
- Felt most on the exposed Bodrum–Datça outer coast; the Gulf of Gökova and the Lycian bays around Fethiye stay far more sheltered, which is why family blue cruises favour them in high summer.
Gökova thermal
Southwest afternoon breeze- Character
- Reliable, moderate sea breeze
- When
- Summer afternoons in the Gulf of Gökova
- On charter
- A dependable, gentle afternoon wind that makes the Gökova gulf one of the most pleasant places in Turkey to actually sail rather than motor.
Best time for…
August (26°C), with September a close, calmer second.
May and October — settled but cooler; June and September for the best balance.
June or September, based in Fethiye or Göcek for the most sheltered bays.
July–August in the Gulf of Gökova or the outer Bodrum coast for real meltemi sailing.
Common questions
When is the best time for a gulet cruise in Turkey?
Early-to-mid June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea (23–25°C), long settled days, lighter crowds and prices 25–40% below the July–August peak. July and August are hottest and busiest; May and October are quieter and cheaper but the sea is cooler.
When does the meltemi blow in Turkey?
The meltemi, a dry north wind, blows mainly from mid-July to early September and is strongest in the afternoons. It’s felt most on the open Aegean off Bodrum and Datça; the Gulf of Gökova and the Lycian coast around Fethiye and Göcek stay much more sheltered.
Is Turkey too windy to sail in August?
Not on the sheltered gulet coast. The meltemi is strongest on the exposed outer Aegean, but the gulfs (Gökova, Hisarönü) and the Twelve Islands around Fethiye offer calm anchorages all summer — which is exactly why crewed blue cruises are based there.
How warm is the sea in Turkey for swimming?
The sea reaches about 20°C in May, 23°C in June, 25–26°C at the July–August peak, and stays around 25°C through September — warm enough for easy swimming from June to early October.