Sea temperature by month (free tool)

How it works

Where the numbers come from and what they mean

All values are long-term averages, not today's sea temperature. They come from NOAA OISST v2.1, 1991 to 2020 averages (NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, 2026). This is a dataset from the US agency NOAA that combines measurements from satellites, ships and buoys into a grid of 0.25 degree squares, about 28 km from north to south.

On 20 October 2026 we downloaded the average for every month from the sea square nearest to each resort. The nearest square is 2 to 28 km away, and we show the distance for every place. Burgas and Sunny Beach share one square, because Burgas Bay is too small for this grid.

The number describes the surface temperature in the open sea. A 30 year average cannot tell you what the sea will be like on a given day. This year the sea may be warmer or colder.

When is the sea warm enough for swimming?

We set the limits ourselves, based on how most adults feel the water without a wetsuit. They are not official values, but they let the tool answer in one sentence:

• From 26 °C: warm sea, easy swimming, also for children.
• From 23 to 25.9 °C: pleasant for most people.
• From 20 to 22.9 °C: refreshing, adults will swim, children only briefly.
• From 17 to 19.9 °C: cold, a quick dip for hardy swimmers.
• Below 17 °C: too cold for swimming.

Flights

Sea temperature in Egypt

The Red Sea off Egypt is the safest choice from spring to autumn. At Hurghada it averages 22.4 °C in February and March and 28.5 °C in August. Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam are half a degree to a degree warmer. The sea at Hurghada reaches 26 °C in June and stays above that until November.

From January to April the water is on the line between pleasant and refreshing, around 22 to 23 °C.

Hurghada is easy to reach by air. Compare flights to Hurghada, and when you choose a hotel, check whether its beach has a reef or a sandy entry into the water.

Sea temperature in Turkey and Cyprus

In summer the Turkish Riviera has the warmest sea in the Mediterranean of all the places we cover. Antalya, Side and Alanya have around 29 °C in August and almost 28 °C in July. In June it is 25 °C, and in October still 25 °C. Bodrum on the Aegean is cooler, with 24.7 °C in August.

In summer Cyprus is one to two degrees cooler than Antalya, but in October it still has 25 °C at Larnaca and Ayia Napa. For swimming in mid autumn it is one of the best choices in Europe.

For flights to Antalya, June or September are good months. The sea is at least 24.8 °C then, and it is not as hot as in August.

Flights

Sea temperature in Croatia

The Adriatic warms up later. Split averages 21.8 °C in June, 24 °C in July and 24.6 °C in August. In the south near Dubrovnik the sea is a degree warmer. In the north, Poreč has 24.8 °C in July, but only 22.2 °C in June and 22.9 °C in September.

The Adriatic is warmest in August, and in July it is half a degree to a degree cooler. In September Split averages 22.8 °C, in October 20.8 °C. In May it has 17.9 °C, which is water for hardy swimmers.

The easiest way in is with flights to Split. For a stay on the northern Adriatic, we recommend July or August.

Where is the sea warm in winter?

You will not find a warm sea in Europe in winter. The warmest of the places we cover are the Canary Islands: Tenerife has 19.8 °C in January and 19.1 °C in March. Madeira has 18 to 19 °C from January to March. That is refreshing to cold water.

To swim from December to March you need to fly further. The Maldives, Phuket and Bali have at least 26 °C all year. Dubai has 22.3 °C in January, less than you might expect, but as much as 33.5 °C in August.

Flights

Sea temperature by month for every place

The full table in °C, rounded to whole degrees. It uses the same dataset as the tool above.

FAQ

What is the sea temperature in Hurghada?

On average 22.4 °C in February and March, 26 °C in June, 28.5 °C in August and 26.3 °C in November. These are long-term NOAA averages for 1991 to 2020.

When is the sea warmest in Croatia?

In August. Split averages 24.6 °C, Dubrovnik 25.8 °C and Poreč 25.6 °C. In July the sea is half a degree to a degree cooler.

What is the sea temperature in Cyprus?

At Larnaca and Ayia Napa around 27.5 °C in August, 23.6 to 23.8 °C in June and 25 °C in October. It is coldest in February, at 16.6 °C.

When can you swim in Turkey?

At Antalya and Side from June to October. The sea has 25 °C in June, 29 °C in August and 25 °C in October. In May it is around 21 °C.

Is the sea temperature in the table up to date?

No. These are long-term averages for each month, not today's temperature. The real temperature on a given day can be higher or lower.

How we checked this

We downloaded the values on 20 October 2026 straight from the NOAA PSL server (OPeNDAP), without copying them from other websites.

• For every resort we took the 0.25 degree sea square nearest to the place. The distance is 2 to 28 km, and we show it for every place.
• For every place our data holds the exact query to the NOAA server that the number comes from.
• We compared the values for the Maldives and Mauritius with our weather articles, which use the same dataset. They match.
• The table on this page and the tool read the same dataset, so they cannot differ.