Didim enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers with almost no rain; and short, mild, but also quite wet, winters. Didim is a popular seaside resort on the Aegean coast of western Turkey, right next to Altinkum. The region is visited in the thousands during the summer months as the hordes come to take advantage of the glorious weather, clear waters and cheap flights.
Summer, from June till September, is baking hot, unimaginably sunny and very dry. The average high temperature rises to 28°C in June, peaks at 31°C in July and August, and gets back down to 27°C in September. It often gets into the high 30s, and while humidity is low, it still feels very hot and you might not be able to stay out in the sun for the entire day. Even at night it stays very warm, cooling to average lows of 20°C in June and September, and 22°C in July and August. Clear, bright weather is guaranteed, though early summer is brighter than late summer. June and July see an average of twelve hours of sunshine per day, while August sees eleven and September ten. The warm Mediterranean might even feel cool in comparison to the air temperature. Gets into the low 20s early in summer and peaks at 23°C in August. There is almost no rain at all though a few showers will fall at the beginning and end of the season.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Autumn, in October and November, is still warm and quite sunny but slightly wetter. The average high temperature drops to 23°C in October and 19°C in November. On most days you will still find it warm enough to do some sunbathing. Nights cool pleasantly but can be quite chilly in November. The sky is usually clear at first but it can be a bit cloudy towards the end of the season. Sunshine levels drop to eight hours per day in October and six in November, but the sea remains warm enough for swimming. It does rain more but storms are still infrequent. October is a very pleasant time to visit as the weather and the crowds are less extreme.
Winter, from December till February, is mild and wet. The daytime high temperature falls to the mid teens and the average low just under 10°C for the entire season. January is the coldest month with an average high of 14°C and an average low of 8°C. Sunshine levels drop but arenât that bad at around four hours per day. The sea does cool down, getting to its annual low of 15°C in February, but the brave might risk a dip. Rainfall increases dramatically and showers, sometimes heavy storms, occur on almost half of the days in each month. Winter is windy and weather conditions are highly unpredictable from day to day and changeable from moment to moment. You might get some t-shirt weather in midwinter, but you might get a fortnight of storms.
Spring, from March till May, quickly heats up again and welcomes back the sun. The average high temperature reaches 16°C in March, then skips up to 20°C in April and 24°C in May. Night times remain quite cool, but as it gets warm in the days quite early on in the season, you might find this quite a nice change. Sunshine levels are great from the middle of the season and reach a fantastic average of ten hours per day in May. The water temperature rises but might still be a bit nippy for some, reaching 18°C in May. Rainfall decreases rapidly as the season progresses and only the odd shower can be expected from mid April. Late spring is another great time of year to visit outside of the packed peak months.
Other Information
Didim boasts spectacular weather and beautiful beaches, so it is no wonder that it has a large expatriate community and attracts many tourists. The downside of this is that beachfronts are now overrun with monstrous mega-hotels which do not add to the beauty of the area. Didim is great for teen groups, looking to celebrate the end of exams, and family groups who just need a break from the grey skies at home, but perhaps not for backpackers or couples looking for romance. However, Didim is close to a number of ancient towns, sites of historic interest and Lake Bafa National Park, so if youâre willing to make the effort... it is what you make of it.