Photo: Esginmurat · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized
Turkey in May: combining beaches and excursions
May can suit a holiday combining the beach, town walks and excursions. The air may already be warm while the water is still cool, so check your options for daily swimming separately. Also confirm which seasonal hotel services will be available on your dates.
Antalya weather in May
According to MGM observations in Antalya from 1930–2025, May’s average daily high is 25.7 °C, the average daily low is 15.3 °C and average monthly rainfall is 33.3 mm. These are long-term air temperature and rainfall figures for Antalya. They do not describe sea temperature or the weather at other resorts.
Average rainfall totals cannot tell you whether it will rain during your week. Check a local forecast before travelling. Compare months in our full guide to the coastal seasons.
May walks in Antalya and Side
For Antalya’s old town, Side’s ancient centre and other excursions, compare May with the height of summer. In the data shown, Antalya’s average high is lower than in July and August. Individual days can still be much hotter than average.
Consider Side for frequent walks around the ancient town, or Antalya for city sights and the beach. In either case, check routes from your hotel to the places you want to visit: an address in the resort does not mean everything is within walking distance.
The sea and heated pools
How comfortable swimming feels in May depends on water temperature and what you are used to. Historical statistics help compare months but do not predict conditions at a particular beach. If the children want to swim daily, ask the hotel about pool heating and access rules.
Some hotels heat pools only in winter. Our pool-heating checklist explains what to ask before booking. Get an answer for your specific May dates: a pool photograph tells you nothing about water temperature.
A sample plan for a week
You could leave two or three days for the beach and hotel, set aside a day for your main excursion and keep the others open for now. That makes it easier to rearrange activities when the forecast changes. For excursions you have already paid for, check rescheduling and cancellation terms in advance.
Compare prices for your chosen week and nearby dates using the same room, meal and transfer requirements. If you could travel in autumn, read our May and October comparison: air temperatures may be similar, but the sea and available services differ.
Choosing between April, May and June
Look at holiday conditions in April and June. Compare prices using the same departure city, holiday length, meal plan and room category. Check how included services differ between dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is May better than October?
That depends on your plans. Compare sea temperature, rainfall and the availability of the hotel services you need for your dates. Air temperature alone is not enough to decide.
Do you need warm clothes for the evening?
Yes, pack for cool evenings and check the forecast before flying. Antalya’s average low is noticeably below its daytime high, so bring more than beach clothes.
Sources and editorial notes
Destination facts and climate figures are linked to the sources below. Booking checklists and comparisons are editorial guidance, not hotel inspections. Confirm changing services directly before booking.
Published by Web Studio Neaptide. About Sunny Turkey.