When to visit
Samsun?

Discover the best time of year, based on historical climate, temperature, and precipitation.

Samsun
Samsun Province · Republic of Türkiye

The best weather in Samsun is from July, August, September.consistent weather climate

Climate score
September
81

Excellent climate

☀️Pleasant

Temperature
18–25°C
Pleasant nights
Feels like
18–26°C
Slightly humid
Precipitation
64mm
Light rain · 11 days
Sunshine
10.2h
Partly cloudy
Humidity (%)
75%
Slightly humid
Annual Climate Analysis
Temperature, Rain & Feels Like
Rain
Actual Temp
Feels Like
-10°10°20°30°40°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
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Monthly Overview
Score223441717980878581796738
ClimateColdColdColdMildMildPleasantPleasantPleasantPleasantMildMildCold
Temperature4–10°C5–12°C5–12°C8–16°C12–19°C18–24°C20–27°C21–28°C18–25°C14–20°C9–16°C6–13°C
Feels like0–7°C1–9°C3–11°C6–16°C12–20°C19–27°C22–29°C23–30°C18–26°C13–20°C7–15°C3–10°C
Precipitation89mm
15 days
61mm
13 days
97mm
16 days
66mm
10 days
86mm
11 days
80mm
11 days
34mm
8 days
42mm
8 days
64mm
11 days
82mm
13 days
68mm
9 days
79mm
13 days
Sunshine5.1h
☀︎ 53%
6.0h
☀︎ 57%
6.6h
☀︎ 55%
9.5h
☀︎ 71%
10.4h
☀︎ 72%
12.6h
☀︎ 83%
13.3h
☀︎ 90%
11.9h
☀︎ 86%
10.2h
☀︎ 81%
7.7h
☀︎ 70%
7.1h
☀︎ 72%
5.8h
☀︎ 63%
WindSW · 21 km/hSW · 20 km/hW · 16 km/hW · 15 km/hNE · 14 km/hN · 14 km/hN · 16 km/hN · 16 km/hN · 15 km/hW · 15 km/hSW · 17 km/hSW · 20 km/h
Humidity (%)70%72%78%78%81%79%73%74%75%78%73%71%
Day length9.6h10.6h12.0h13.3h14.5h15.1h14.8h13.8h12.5h11.1h9.9h9.3h
Events & Festivals
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Atatürk Commemoration & Youth Day
Events & Festivals
  • Atatürk Commemoration & Youth DayholidaySignature event
    May· 50k+ visitors

    Every May 19, Samsun marks the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's 1919 landing in the city, an event that sparked th…

The story of the seasons in Samsun

Conventional Black Sea travel guides will point you straight to the sun-drenched days of July, but they ignore the stifling coastal humidity and swelling throngs; real connoisseurs wait for September, when the water remains blissfully warm, the sea breeze softens, and the city exhales.

Samsun is defined by its sweeping arc along northern Türkiye’s coastline, a proud and sprawling maritime hub where the modern Turkish Republic found its footing when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stepped ashore in May 1919. It is a working port city anchored between rich agricultural deltas and the undulating dark waters of the Black Sea, flanked by the lively promenades of Atakum and the historic core of İlkadım. Most travellers arrive expecting standard Mediterranean warmth, only to discover that the Black Sea operates by entirely different seasonal laws. The air here holds moisture, the sea currents govern the temperature of everyday life, and understanding the rhythm of the weather is the only way to catch Samsun at its magnificent best.

The Golden Margin: Why September Wins

If you look purely at cloudless sky tallies, July appears to be the undisputed champion. But pure weather charts tell dangerous half-truths. By September, Samsun undergoes a quiet metamorphosis. The oppressive, sticky air that blankets the coastline through midsummer dissipates into a gentle, honeyed warmth where daytime temperatures hover in the comfortable mid-twenties, and the sea feels like a welcoming bath after months of absorbing summer heat.

The sweeping beachfront along Atakum empties of vacationing regional families, leaving miles of wide seaside promenade open for unhurried walking. You can take the cable car up to Amisos Hill without standing in line, sitting among pine trees to gaze out over the bay as fishing boats carve white trails into the deep blue water below. October stretches this mellow mood even further; while sea mists gather on certain mornings and light showers return to rinse the boulevards of İlkadım, the city remains remarkably welcoming, free from tourist pressure and humming with an unpretentious, local rhythm.

High Summer Heat and the Coastal Crush

July and August deliver the most unbroken sunshine Samsun ever sees, but it comes at an undeniable sensory cost. The apparent temperature consistently pushes above thirty degrees, compounded by heavy marine humidity that can make walking between sights feel like wading through warm silk. July represents the absolute summit of local tourism, drawing crowds from across Anatolia to the beaches of Atakum and the green waterfront expanses of Batı Park.

Evenings bring relief as cool currents roll off the water, drawing thousands out to sip tea along Doğu Park and gather around Cumhuriyet Meydanı. August begins to see an easing of the crush, yet the muggy weight remains pinned to the coastline until the first autumn fronts arrive. If you must travel in midsummer, design your days around the water: stay near the coast, keep mid-afternoons reserved for shaded parks or maritime museums, and do your strolling after dusk.

Spring Pageantry and the Summer Surge

May in Samsun is an electrifying, sensory whirlwind. May 19 marks Atatürk Commemoration & Youth Day, the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's fateful 1919 landing aboard the Bandırma. As the cradle of the War of Independence, Samsun takes this day with immense civic pride. Airshows, parades, athletic events, and public concerts pack the waterfront around İlkadım and Batı Park. Hotels book out months ahead, and the city pulses with red flags and national pride.

The weather in May matches the celebratory mood—crisp mornings giving way to pleasant afternoon warmth, accompanied by the lush green blossoming of the coastal hills. June then carries the baton into genuine summer. Daylight stretches far into the evening, café terraces spill across the pavements, and water-lovers make their first cautious dips along the shore, though early June can still surprise you with sudden downpours that send pedestrians scattering under shop awnings.

The Surprising Winter Gathering

Late autumn into early winter in Samsun presents a curious paradox: the weather turns undeniably raw, yet the city stays remarkably busy. Cold sea winds push inland, and the apparent temperature drops sharply into single digits by December, bringing steady gray drizzles that soak the streets of İlkadım. It is not lounging weather, but urban energy runs high. The university population settles in, the Samsun Opera House stages its winter productions, and Samsunspor home matches pull impassioned crowds into the brisk evening chill.

Visiting during November and December requires a mindset tailored to city life rather than seaside leisure. It is the season of warm teahouses, bustling central covered markets, and lingering over bowls of rich northern soups while rain spatters against glass facades. It offers genuine local flavour, but you must pack heavy coats, windbreakers, and waterproof boots to navigate the biting northern draft.

The Raw Black Sea Low

January through March is Samsun at its starkest and most introverted. Winter on the Black Sea is characterized by persistent dampness and biting northerly winds blowing straight from the Eurasian steppes, making even mild daytime readings feel piercingly cold. Heavy gray cloud decks sit low over the harbour, and the waves crash violently against the sea walls of Batı Park.

This is the undisputed low season for visitors, and for good reason: hours of daylight are brief, and prolonged outdoor exploration requires stubborn endurance. Yet if you appreciate quiet, melancholic coastal landscapes, there is a certain austere beauty in wandering along the misty shores of Atakum, accompanied only by the cry of gulls and the dull thrum of cargo vessels waiting at anchor out in the mist.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Samsun?

The best time to visit Samsun is September, October, April, August, July, June, May, with temperatures between 8 °C and 28 °C. The best month is September. September is low season.

What is the weather like in Samsun?

Samsun has a climate with an overall score of 6.4/10. Annual temperatures range from 4 °C to 28 °C.

What is the hottest month in Samsun?

The hottest month in Samsun is August, with average highs of 28 °C and lows of 21 °C.

What is the rainiest month in Samsun?

The rainiest month in Samsun is March, with an average of 97 mm of precipitation.