Izmir, on Turkey’s Aegean coast, enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The city boasts abundant sunshine, refreshing sea breezes, and pronounced seasonal contrasts. Izmir’s inviting weather makes it popular for beach holidays in summer and comfortable for sightseeing and festivals during the milder spring and autumn months.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Izmir’s Mediterranean climate is shaped by its coastal setting and the influence of the Aegean Sea. Summers (June–September) are hot, dry, and sunny, with average highs of 30–34°C and lows of 19–22°C. July and August are the hottest and driest months, often seeing only 1–2 rainy days and as little as 3–8 mm of rain. Humidity drops to its lowest in August (around 48%), and sea breezes, including the local Imbat and the Meltemi wind, help temper the heat. The sea temperature peaks at 25–26°C in August, making swimming and water sports popular. Sunshine is abundant, with up to 14 hours of daylight and over 420 hours of sun in July.
Winters (December–February) are mild but wetter, with average highs of 12–15°C and lows of 4–7°C. January is the coldest month, and while snow is rare, night frosts can occur. Rainfall is most frequent in winter, with December and January each seeing 7–13 rainy days and up to 137 mm of precipitation. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional and especially pleasant, with mild temperatures (16–27°C), blooming gardens in spring, and harvest festivals in autumn. Rain increases again in late autumn, but October is often still sunny and warm. Winds are generally moderate, with July being the windiest month (up to 29 km/h). Izmir receives about 730–900 mm of rain annually and enjoys 2,800–3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Daylight ranges from 9.5 hours in winter to nearly 15 hours in midsummer.
| Average climate data for Izmir, Turkey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 12 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 33 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 126 | 102 | 74 | 47 | 31 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 45 | 95 | 145 | 692 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 77 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68 | 63 | 61 | 58 | 54 | 47 | 43 | 48 | 54 | 60 | 67 | 71 | 58 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 19 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
The best time to visit Izmir is from April to June and September to October, when temperatures are mild (18–29°C), rainfall is low, and the city is lively but less crowded than in peak summer. These months offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, outdoor events, and enjoying the Aegean coast.
The least favourable time is from December to February, when Izmir is at its coolest and wettest. Rain is frequent, days are shorter, and occasional cold snaps or rare snow can occur, though the city’s cultural sites and cafés remain inviting for off-season travellers.
Izmir has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (30–34°C), mild, wetter winters (12–15°C), and abundant sunshine. Rain falls mainly from November to March, while summers are very dry and sunny.
The best time to visit is April to June and September to October, when the weather is warm, rainfall is low, and the city is less crowded than in July and August. These months are ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Rain is most frequent from November to March, with December and January being the wettest months. Summer months are very dry, with July and August often seeing only 1–2 rainy days.
The sea is warmest and best for swimming from June to September, with temperatures of 23–26°C. Outside these months, the water is cooler but still swimmable for some visitors.
Winters are mild by European standards, with highs of 12–15°C and lows of 4–7°C. Snow is rare, but rain and wind are common, especially in December and January. Night frosts can occur.
Pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, bring layers and a rain jacket. For winter, warm, waterproof clothing is essential due to frequent rain.
Izmir occasionally experiences the Meltemi and Imbat winds, especially in summer. These sea breezes help cool the city during hot days and can bring refreshing relief from the heat.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (33.3 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (12.5 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 22.6 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (22.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (5.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 13.6 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (25 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (14.8 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 19.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (144.8 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (1.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 692.4 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is December (12.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (0.4 days). Over the whole year there are 77.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (70.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (42.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 57.8 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 12.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 4.1 h). Over the whole year there are 7.6 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 10). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.8.
