Water temperature in Turkey

Turkey's coasts on three seas

Turkey borders the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea. The southern Mediterranean coast has the longest season: the sea warms from May, peaks in August and often stays pleasant well into autumn. Along the Aegean, a strong northerly summer wind keeps the water a little fresher. The Black Sea in the north warms later and is more changeable, and sheltered bays everywhere warm faster than open stretches of coast.

All 42 sites rely on modelled values. Temperatures come from the Open-Meteo marine model, which calculates sea surface temperature just offshore, and the app labels them as model values. They describe conditions along a stretch of coast reliably but may differ in shallow bays or near river mouths. Measured readings from Turkish stations are not yet part of this dataset. Bathing beaches are checked by the authorities independently of these figures.

Health authorities monitor water quality at bathing beaches during the season. On the Black Sea coast, surf and rip currents are a serious danger, and many beaches use flags and signs to show where swimming is allowed. On the Aegean, the northerly wind can build waves and push inflatables out to sea. Rocky Mediterranean shores are home to sea urchins, so water shoes help, and shade around midday is wise when the sun is strong.