Izmir Weather And Best Time To Visit Izmir

Izmir, a west-Turkish city is famous for its perfect weather conditions along with its beautiful architecture and rich history. Typical of the Mediterranean climate, the weather in Izmir is hot during summer months, while the winters are cold with temperatures going below 0°C. Being a coastal city, there is plenty of sea breeze throughout the year. The best time to visit Izmir, however, is slightly off-season during autumn or spring, when the harsh heat is not at its peak.

The cool winter breeze continues to blow during the early months of the year, but it is still very pleasant and the climate is favourable for tourists. The average day-temperature is around 18°C, while the night can drop to 10°C. Spring is a time when a lot of flowers bloom in Izmir and makes the entire city look really pretty and colourful. Like in Europe, you will get to see a lot of balconies adorned with beautiful flowers.

The Izmir European Jazz Festival is held in March every year and is a beautiful event organised by Izmir Foundation of Culture, Arts and Education. High profile performers from Europe as well as local musicians perform at the event and make it a memorable one. Other events include the Strawberry Festival, Bird Paradise Festival, Festivities of Kite & Spring, Golden Cherry Festival and the International Youth Festival of Bornova.

Fun & Frolic sets the tone and is the mood for the summers of Izmir. The beaches are packed with tourists, especially in July and August and there are plenty of events to keep you busy and enjoy sunny days. The temperature can go up to 33°C in July, while the average daily temperature is around 28-30°C. Since it is a coastal city, it can get humid and sweaty, but the upside is that there is hardly any chance of rain during summer.

The International Izmir Festival is held during this time every year and is the most popular festival of Izmir. This event has been going strong for the last 30 years with a wide range of performances by local and international artists in music, ballet, theatre and opera, in venues of historical importance. Some of the other festivals that occur during the summertime are the Cherry Festival, Festival of Bergama, Peninsular Games, International Child & Youth Theatre Festival, International Cesme Sea Festival, International Music Festival and many Arts & Culture festivals.

Just after the summer people have gone, September is a lovely time to visit the city whilst it is still in season. The days are not too hot and the water is not yet cold, so you can enjoy a good swim. The average temperature is around 25°C. It is also the perfect time to explore the more rustic side of Izmir and not the hustle bustle of the city. The countryside is ripe with nature trails, hikes and fishing expeditions.

There are a few cultural festivals that take place in September and also the Grape Harvest Festival. But overall, it's a much quieter time and is a good time to visit if you want to get away from the crowds.

Winter in Izmir can get quite harsh with the temperature going into negative. A lot of the seaside activities are not pleasant during this time and it is a slow tourist season. There is a higher chance of rain and snow during these months as well, but it is still overall only about 2-3 days per month on an average. The day-temperature is usually around 11°C. But, it's still a beautiful city to visit and there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you occupied on a snowy day. Not many events take place during this time. One that could be of interest is Camel Wrestling which happens every January in Selçuk.