July is one of the hottest and driest months in Turkey, with warm to hot weather throughout the country. Everywhere is good for traveling, but beaches are especially popular and hiking not so much. Continue reading for more information on travel and weather, including average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and travel tips for the month of July.
Turkey Weather in July: Overview
Averages:
- Temperature range: 20–32°C (69–90°F)
- Rainfall: 1 cm (0 inches)
- Rainy days: 2
- Sunshine hours/day: 10
- Sea temperature: 27°C (81°F)
- Humidity: 52–88% (dry in the south to much more humid on the south coast)
July is one of the hottest months of the year for Turkey's beaches, alongside August, and is the middle of summer. It is a busy travel period in Turkey for beach holidays and with tourists in general as a result.
July sees barely any rain (2 rainy days on average, with rainfall of around 1 cm (or 0.5 inches). Days are very bright, with an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day, making it an ideal holiday destination.
Weather of Turkey's Major Cities in July
| Turkey City | Daily High Temp. | Daily Low Temp. |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (largest city, historical importance) | 27ºC (81ºF) | 20ºC (68ºF) |
| Cappadocia (Rockscape, ballooning) | 31ºC (88ºF) | 13ºC (55ºF) |
| Antalya (Top beach resort city) | 35ºC (95ºF) | 24ºC (75ºF) |
| Izmir (near Kusadasi, once Ephesus) | 34ºC (93ºF) | 24ºC (75ºF) |
| Turkey City | Rain (cm) | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (largest city, historical importance) | 4 | 2 |
| Cappadocia (Rockscape, ballooning) | 1 | 0 |
| Antalya (Top beach resort city) | 1 | 0 |
| Izmir (near Kusadasi, once Ephesus) | 1 | 0 |
The Best Places to Visit in Turkey in July
With July being one of the hottest months of the year, we highly recommend visiting one (or several) of Turkey's many beach destinations in the summer. Both the southern coast and the western coast of the country are hot but not too humid, making them the perfect destinations for either a relaxing or a more active beach holiday.
Istanbul also still comes high up on the list, since temperatures in Istanbul are warm and pleasant for walking around and enjoying the many sights, and because you could not visit Turkey and skip Istanbul!
Read on to find out more about the best places to visit in July.
1. Visit one of the Most Interesting Cities in the World: Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the most interesting cities in the world, with half of it being placed in Europe, and the other half being located in Asia. You'll see and feel this mix of cultures as you wander through its windy, hilly roads, and you'll find evidence of this in Turkish cuisine too.
For more information on what to do during your time in Istanbul, check out the Weather in Turkey in May piece, or Top 10 Things to Do in Istanbul and Top 9 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Istanbul.
For more inspiration, these are some of our more popular Istanbul tours:
- Istanbul Old City Walking Tour — Full-day Guided Immersion of the Old Days
- Istanbul Land & Sea Combo with Food Tasting — 2-Day Istanbul Sightseeing and Food Tasting Tour
2. Take in the Views at Fethiye's Beaches
Fethiye is one of Turkey's most beautiful coastlines, and a must-visit in July. The city itself is not too far from Antalya, and if you'd like to visit, Global Highlights can help arrange a private transfer for you to make your journey as smooth as possible.
There are lots of options for nearby beaches, including Blue Lagoon, the Butterfly Valley ravine, Oludeniz, or Calis Beach. For those traveling with kids, there is the nearby Sultans Aqua City with plenty of slides to keep them entertained, and for those looking to go for a hike, we recommend an early-morning visit to Saklikent National Park.
For more information on where to go on a beach holiday, we have compiled The 10 Best Beaches in Turkey for even more beach options in Turkey.
3. Take a Boat Tour Along Bodrum's Rugged Coastline
Along Turkey's west coast, Bodrum is one of the more popular tourist destinations as a result of its rugged coastlines and beautiful crystal-clear turquoise waters.
From there, boat trips can take you through the Aegean Sea along caves and deserted beaches, as the eastern islands of Greece are also just around the corner. Global Highlights can help you prepare the island-hopping boat trip of a lifetime.
For those with an interest in sightseeing, there is Bodrum Castle along the coast, as well as the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, as there are lots of interesting underwater archaeological spots nearby.
4. Dive along the Bottom of the Ocean Floor in Kalkan
Divers have plenty of destinations in Turkey to choose from, but Kalkan is like no other with its diverse marine life and excellent visibility. You will be able to see barracudas, octopus, sea turtles, bream, and lots of colorful reefs.
Kalkan is just one of the many dive locations along Turkey's coastline, and there are courses available at various different dive centers for both beginners as well as more advanced divers.
Turkey Festivals in July: Eid al-Adha and Democracy and National Unity Day
Depending on the year, Eid al-Adha usually falls between the end of June and early July. For more information on Eid al-Adha and how it will impact your travel to Turkey, check out this piece on traveling to Turkey in June.
Every year on July 15, Turkey also celebrates Democracy and National Unity Day. This is a public holiday, commemorating the national unity against the coup attempt for democracy in 2016. As it is a public holiday, you might find that some national parks or beaches are busier with local visitors, and that domestic flights might be more expensive as people take more internal trips. However, this day shouldn't affect your trip to Turkey much otherwise.
High Season: More Crowding and More Expensive
July is high season in Turkey, with the weather being incredible and it being school holidays internationally, plenty of visitors come to Turkey in July to see the sights and enjoy its beautiful beaches.
If you are planning to visit Turkey in July, we recommend booking ahead as the crowds lead to an increase in accommodation and flight prices. For those visiting the historical sights across Istanbul, we do recommend visiting early in the morning before they get too busy.
What to Wear in July
July is hot in Turkey, and we recommend dressing to keep as cool as possible. This includes wearing natural fabrics and lighter-colored clothing.
Because Turkey is predominantly Muslim, you'll see that most people dress more conservatively. We do recommend covering your shoulders and your knees when you are out and about sightseeing, as these are the societal expectations. Maxi dresses, longer skirts, and cotton trousers with linen shirts are a good idea to pack. These dress expectations are different on the beaches and in the hotels, where it is fine to wear whatever you like.
For active travelers, we recommend good footwear to feel supported during your travels, as well as sunglasses, lots of sunscreen, and a hat or cap. You will also need to bring plenty of sunscreen if you are planning on visiting one of Turkey's many beaches.
Monthly Weather in Turkey
Suggested reading: Best and Worst Times to Visit Turkey>>>
Recommended Tours for Turkey in July
Throughout July, we recommend visiting Turkey's coastal destinations as well as Istanbul. These are some of our itineraries that include those destinations, but we can always tailor-make your trip to Turkey to include more beaches too.
Just reach out to let us know when you're hoping to visit, what your requirements and expectations are, and our experts can make some recommendations for you, taking the burden of planning off you. Contact us to begin a tour inquiry or maybe start from one of these Turkey sample tours:
- Natural Beauty Immersion — 13-Day Natural Highlights of Turkey: Istanbul–Fethiye–Faralya–Blue Cruise–Antalya–Cappadocia
- Great Circle of Turkey — 16-Day Turkey Legends: Istanbul–Canakkale–Kusadasi–Pamukkale–Antalya–Cappadocia
- Romantic Turkish Honeymoon — 10-Day Private Honeymoon Tour: Istanbul–Fethiye–Antalya–Cappadocia
- Turkey Tours
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Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
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