Located on Turkey's southwest coast, the city of Dalyan is a popular spot for all-inclusive resorts as well as a place for cruise ships to spend some time. With year-round mild conditions and plenty of history and activities to keep visitors busy, it remains a popular tourist destination.
Winter
Thanks to the moderating effects of the nearby Mediterranean Sea, Dalyan is a nice place to visit any time of the year. Even in the dead of winter, temperatures throughout the day stay well above freezing allowing visitors to enjoy the myriad of outdoor activities that the region offers. In December, January and February the average afternoon temperature hovers between 13°C and 15°C (55-59°F). The coldest of these months is January and requires visitors to bring a jacket in order to enjoy the outdoors. Average overnight lows will bottom out between 4-6°C (39-43°F).
While January might be the coldest month, December is by far the wettest with an average precipitation of 147mm over a period of 14 days. With almost half of the days of the month experiencing some measurable rainfall, visitors will want to consult an extended forecast before leaving home and be sure to pack some raingear. However, the region will still experience between 7 and 8 hours of sunshine each day in the wetter winter months allowing for at least some dry time.
Despite the city's proximity to water, winter is not the time to go for a swim. The average sea temperature for this time of the year hovers between 16-18°C (61-64°F) making the water too chilly for a swim.
Spring
Spring consists of March, April and May and signifies a large warming trend. With warm temperatures and fairly dry conditions, this can be a great time to visit this region and avoid the huge crush of tourists during the summer months.
While not as dry as summer, rain chances are much lower in spring than they are in the winter months. March is by far the wettest month with an average of 61mm of precipitation spread over a period of 10 days. April is drier with only 46mm of precipitation over 8 days and May is even drier still with only 17mm of rain over a period of just 5 days.
Temperatures are on a warming trend with average afternoon highs climbing from 17°C (63°F) in March to 26°C (79°F) by May. In the beginning of the season visitors will need to bring a light jacket for the afternoon, but shorts can be worn during the later part of spring. The average overnight low temperatures will also climb from 6°C (43°F) in March to 13°C (55°F) in May.
Sea surface temperatures are also a little too chilly to enjoy early in the season, but climb nicely by the time May rolls around. Water temperatures average 16°C (61°F) in March, but will climb to 20°C (68°F) by the last month in spring. Despite the fact that water temperatures are chilly, visitors can still enjoy the local beaches and soak up some sun thanks to an average of 9 to 13 hours of sunshine per day. This also allows guests plenty of sunshine to explore the region.
Summer
Summer is the prime time to visit the region thanks to warm temperatures both on land and in sea and nearly dry conditions. However, because this season is so popular, the summer can mean higher airfares as well as hotel rates and large crowds at some of the more popular local attractions.
Average daily temperatures throughout the summer months of June, July and August are between 24°C (75°F) and 27°C (81°F). As a result, visitors can leave their jackets at home and enjoy bringing shorts and short-sleeved shirts. The average daily high temperature over the three month period is between 31°C (88°F) to 34° (93°F). Low temperatures are also warm with lows bottoming out between 17°C (63°F) and 20°C (68°F).
Temperatures also climb in the sea as well as the land over the summer period. Average water temperatures over the three months hover between 23°C (73°F) and 26°C (79°F). Temperatures such as these allow visitors to enjoy all the region has to offer such as snorkeling, scuba diving and various other water sports.
Rainfall over June, July and August is virtually nonexistent over the summer months. June and August are the two driest months of the year with only 3mm of precipitation expected in both months. June will see rainfall over a period of 4 days while August will experience an average of 7 days of precipitation. July is the wettest month of the season with a total of 9mm over a period of 7 days.
The summer also sees plenty of sun with an average of 13 to 14 hours of sunshine each day. This allows tourists plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoor activities throughout the region.
Autumn
Autumn is also a great time to visit the region as many of the crowds are gone and prices can be a little cheaper. Additionally, tourists will encounter shorter lines and a less overworked staff with more time for personal attention.
Rainfall is a little higher in autumn with precipitation amounts climbing throughout the season. September will experience an average of 11mm of precipitation over a period of only 4 days. October receives an average of 44mm of rain and November is the wettest month of the three with 93mm of precipitation over a period of 9 days. Despite more rain, the region still experiences plenty of sun. The area will experience on average between 8 to 11 hours of sunshine per day.
Temperatures during the autumn will fall and result in visitors needing to bring a light jacket or sweater by the time November rolls around Average afternoon temperatures will fall from a high of 31°C (88°F) in September to 19°C (66°F) in November. Average overnight low temperatures will fall from 16°C (61°F) in September to 8°C (46°F) by November.
Water temperatures over the same time period will also begin to cool meaning that visitors will need to keep to land. Average water temperatures will fall from 25°C (77°F) in September to 21°C (70°F) in November.