Intro
March is when Antalya wakes up. The almond blossoms of late February give way to wildflowers pushing up between the fallen columns of ancient cities, the days stretch noticeably longer, and by the end of the month café terraces are full again. It sits in a sweet spot: winter prices, spring weather, and none of the crowds that arrive from May onwards. The sea is still too cold for most, and this guide will be honest about that. For everything else, March is one of the smartest months to visit. Here is the local’s view.
Visiting Antalya in March?
Spring shoulder season means low prices and perfect sightseeing weather. Browse tours and day trips:
Check Price & Availability ›✅ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before · ✅ Reserve now, pay later
📝 A Local’s Note
Ramadan and Ramazan Bayramı dates shift each year, so check where they fall for the year you’re actually travelling rather than assuming last year’s dates — during the Bayram holiday itself, some sites and restaurants get genuinely busy with domestic visitors and families, which can catch first-time visitors off guard if they expected March’s usual quiet.
March Weather: The Honest Numbers
March is a month of transition, and the difference between March 1st and March 31st is real.
- Daytime highs: 17–19°C on average. Early March can still feel like winter; late March regularly hits 21–23°C on sunny afternoons.
- Nights: 8–10°C. Evenings still call for a jacket.
- Rain: Around 6–8 rainy days, decreasing through the month. Storms are shorter and less frequent than deep winter.
- Sea temperature: Around 17–18°C. Still cold. A brave dip on a warm late-March afternoon is possible; a swimming holiday is not.
- Sunshine: 7 hours a day on average, and the light turns noticeably golden and spring-like.
Pack for two seasons: t-shirts for sunny afternoons, a jacket for evenings, and one waterproof layer just in case.
What Makes March Special
Wildflower season begins. By mid-March, red anemones and poppies carpet the ruins of Perge and the hillsides of Termessos. The combination of ancient marble and wildflowers is the region’s most photogenic moment, and it lasts only a few weeks.
The hiking window opens. March and April are the best hiking months on this coast. The Lycian Way sections near Antalya, the Göynük Canyon trail, and the mountain paths above Kemer are all at their finest: green, cool and snow still visible on the peaks above.
Snow and spring on the same day. The Olympos cable car up Tahtalı near Kemer still has snow at the 2,365-metre summit through most of March, while the coast below basks in 20°C spring sunshine. It remains one of the best-value spectacular days out on the coast. As a reminder, the separate Tünektepe cable car in Antalya city has been closed since April 2024.
Everything reopens. Through March, seasonal restaurants, boat operators and beach clubs shake off winter. By the end of the month the first boat trips of the year are running from the old harbour.
Ramadan and Ramazan Bayramı in 2026. In 2026, the holy month falls across February into March, ending with the Bayram holiday around March 19–22. Tourist areas function completely normally, but the festive atmosphere around the holiday, with families out in parks and sweets everywhere, is a lovely cultural moment to witness. Some sites and restaurants get busy with domestic visitors during the holiday days themselves.
Things to Do in March
1. Termessos, at its absolute best. The mountain city sits at over 1,000 metres and involves real walking. In March you get cool air, wildflowers between the tombs, and often the entire theatre to yourself.
2. Perge and Aspendos in golden light. Comfortable temperatures, dramatic spring skies and almost no tour buses yet. If you visit these sites once in your life, the March–April window is when to do it.
3. Hike a Lycian Way section. The Göynük Canyon or the Phaselis coastal stretch make superb day hikes. Cool enough to enjoy, warm enough for a picnic.
4. The first boat trips of the year. From late March, harbour cruises from Kaleiçi restart. Bring a light jacket for the breeze on the water.
5. Kaleiçi café season. Spring is when the old town’s courtyard cafés come back to life. An afternoon of Turkish coffee under a blossoming tree in a 300-year-old courtyard costs almost nothing and is worth everything.
6. Waterfalls still at winter strength. Düden and Kurşunlu carry full spring meltwater in March, before the summer flow drops.
March tours run at shoulder-season prices. Compare ancient city tours, Tahtalı trips and more:
Check Price & Availability ›✅ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before · ✅ Reserve now, pay later
Where to Stay in March
March keeps most of winter’s low hotel prices while the weather improves week by week. Kaleiçi boutique hotels are the natural choice for a sightseeing-focused trip. If you want resort comfort, Lara’s five-star hotels remain excellent value before the April price climb begins, and their heated pools cover the still-cold sea. Kemer starts to make sense from mid-March for travelers combining hiking, Tahtalı and coastal scenery.
March = winter prices, spring weather
Compare shoulder-season hotel rates across Antalya:
Check Price & Availability ›✅ Free cancellation on many rooms · ✅ Book now, pay at the hotel
What to Pack
Layers above all: t-shirts, a light sweater, one warm jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes for the ancient cities, sunglasses and sunscreen, because the spring sun is stronger than it feels. Add proper hiking shoes if the trails are on your list.
Antalya in March: FAQ
Is March a good time to visit Antalya?
Yes, for sightseeing, hiking and value. March combines low shoulder-season prices with improving spring weather and wildflowers at the ancient sites. It is not a beach month, as the sea remains around 17 to 18 degrees Celsius.
How warm is Antalya in March?
Daytime highs average 17 to 19 degrees Celsius, rising to 21 to 23 on sunny late-March afternoons. Nights stay cool at 8 to 10 degrees, so bring a jacket for evenings.
Can you swim in Antalya in March?
The sea is around 17 to 18 degrees Celsius, which most visitors find too cold. A quick dip on a warm afternoon is possible, but hotels with heated pools are the practical answer in March.
Is there still snow near Antalya in March?
Yes. The Taurus peaks keep snow through March, and the Tahtalı cable car near Kemer usually has snow at its 2,365-metre summit for most of the month while the coast enjoys spring temperatures.
Is March cheaper than summer in Antalya?
Significantly. Hotels and tours in March cost a fraction of July and August rates, and flights are usually cheaper too. Prices begin climbing from April onwards.
📅 Planning your trip? Month-by-month guides:
Page last updated: August 2026