Turkey Weather in October: A Guide to the Autumn Transition

October in Turkey is an atmospheric masterclass in transition. Known by locals as a "second spring," this month sees the aggressive heat of the Mediterranean summer dissolve into a mellow, golden autumn. Because Turkey is a vast, transcontinental country, the weather you experience is less a single climate and more a tapestry of regional shifts.

The Regional Tapestry

• The Aegean & Mediterranean Coasts: These regions (including Antalya, Bodrum, and Fethiye) hold onto summer the longest. The sea retains the heat gathered over three months of baking sun, keeping water temperatures around 25°C (77°F). While the air is warm and suitable for swimming, the humidity that plagues the summer months has largely vanished, making the heat feel crisp and clean rather than heavy.
• Istanbul & The Marmara Region: In the north, the climate is more fickle. You may experience several days of brilliant blue skies followed by a sudden gray afternoon of "Poyraz" winds—cool, northeasterly gusts from the Black Sea. The city often feels fresh and energetic, with morning mists occasionally blanketing the Bosphorus before the sun breaks through.
• Central Anatolia & Cappadocia: Here, the continental climate is on full display. The dry, high-altitude air leads to significant temperature swings. A day that feels like a warm spring afternoon can plummet rapidly after the sun dips behind the fairy chimneys, leaving the air biting and cold by midnight.

Daily Rhythms and Phenomena

In October, the sun loses its "sting." The UV intensity is moderate, and the light takes on a softer, horizontal quality that locals call the "golden hour," which seems to last all afternoon.

One specific phenomenon to watch for is the Meltemi wind. While this northerly wind is strongest in summer, its tail-end often lingers into early October along the Aegean coast, providing a steady breeze that keeps coastal towns from feeling stagnant. In the north, the marine layer over the Black Sea can occasionally push inland, bringing sudden, low-hanging clouds and localized drizzles that dissipate as quickly as they arrive.

Historical Context & Local Adaptation

Historically, October marks the beginning of the "Rainy Season" in the legal sense, but practically, it is a dry month. Significant rainfall typically doesn't begin until November. It is a period of harvest; in the countryside, you will see locals taking advantage of the mild weather to dry peppers, grapes, and eggplants in the sun.

Locals adapt to this season through "layering as a lifestyle." You will notice Turkish tea gardens remaining full, but the move from terrace to window-side seating begins mid-month. There is a palpable shift in energy—city life in Istanbul becomes more vibrant as the heat-induced lethargy of August is replaced by the invigorating autumn air.

What the Weather "Feels Like"

• Coastal South: Balmy and inviting. It feels like the best day of June in Northern Europe—warm enough for the beach but cool enough for a long walk.
• The Interior: Sharp and clear. The lack of humidity means your skin dries quickly, and the sun feels pleasantly warming on your back, though the air itself remains cool.
• The North: Variable. It can feel like a bright autumn day one moment and a damp, moody evening the next, specifically when the wind shifts to the Black Sea.