Sailing in Turkey: cruising areas, transit log and winds
as of 07/10/2026 · 6 min read
In short: Turkey offers the Aegean coast around Bodrum, the sheltered Lycian coast around Göcek and the Sea of Marmara; you may only enter through a port of entry, with a transit log.
Sailing in Turkey mostly means the Aegean and Lycian coasts: from Ayvalık via Çeşme to Bodrum the Meltemi blows in summer, from Marmaris via Göcek to Kemer rather a sea breeze with downdraughts at the headlands. You may only enter via a port of entry, which issues the transit log. From Greece, clear out first.
Which cruising areas are there in Turkey?
Sailseer lists around 130 harbours in Turkey, from the Dardanelles via the Aegean and the Lycian coast to Iskenderun, plus the Sea of Marmara with Istanbul and the Black Sea coast. Most charter boats are based between Bodrum and Fethiye.
| Area | Character | Harbours, for example |
|---|---|---|
| North Aegean and Dardanelles (Çanakkale, Gökçeada, Ayvalık) | Meltemi mostly from the northeast, current in the Dardanelles | Ayvalık Marina |
| Central Aegean (Izmir, Çeşme, Sığacık, Kuşadası) | Meltemi, opposite Chios and Samos | Çeşme Marina, Setur Kuşadası Marina |
| South Aegean (Didim, Bodrum, Datça) | strong Meltemi, Gulfs of Gökova and Hisarönü | D-Marin Didim, Milta Bodrum Marina, D-Marin Turgutreis, Bozburun Marina |
| Lycian coast (Marmaris, Göcek, Fethiye, Kaş, Kemer) | sea breeze, many sheltered bays | Netsel Marina Marmaris, D-Marin Göcek, Fethiye, Setur Kaş Marina, Kemer Marina |
| Turkish Riviera and eastern Mediterranean (Antalya, Alanya, Mersin) | long coast with few bays | Alanya Marina |
| Sea of Marmara and Istanbul (Bosphorus, Princes' Islands, Erdek) | strong current, lots of commercial shipping | Ataköy Marina |
The most sheltered area is the Gulf of Göcek with its islands: short distances, little sea and many anchoring bays, good for a first trip. Around Bodrum and Datça the Meltemi blows harder, but the Gulfs of Gökova and Hisarönü offer plenty of bays. In some bays you moor at restaurant jetties, usually in return for eating there rather than paying harbour dues.
When is the best time to sail in Turkey?
The season runs from May to October. May, June and September to October are pleasantly warm and less crowded. In July and August the Meltemi is at its strongest in the Aegean; on the Lycian coast it stays a sea breeze, but it gets very hot there.
Which winds blow on the Turkish coast?
In summer two patterns shape sailing: the Meltemi in the northern and central Aegean and the sea breeze on the south coast.
- Meltemi: from June to September, strongest in July and August and in the afternoon; in the north more from the northeast, further south from north to northwest. Gusts fall behind high islands and peninsulas, and between the islands there is a short, steep sea.
- Sea breeze on the Lycian coast and the Riviera: it sets in late in the morning, freshens in the afternoon and dies away in the evening; downdraughts come off the headlands.
- Dardanelles and Bosphorus: strong southgoing surface current, in places over 4 knots, plus traffic separation and the vessel traffic services Çanakkale Traffic and İstanbul Traffic. Small craft keep to the edge.
More on the winds in the guide Local winds of the Mediterranean.
How does the transit log work in Turkey?
The transit log (Yat Kayıt Belgesi) is the cruising permit for foreign-flagged yachts. You get it at the first port of entry, nowadays electronically, going in turn to the health office, passport police, harbour master and customs. An agent is not compulsory but saves you legwork.
- It is valid for one year, as long as you do not call at a foreign port.
- Have crew changes entered by the harbour master; hand it in when you finally leave the country.
- A private foreign-flagged yacht may only be sailed with the owner on board.
- Issuing it costs a fee: the last official figure is 50 euros for 2022, and in 2026 agencies quote around 70 euros. On top come harbour master's fees by length and a sector contribution each time you leave harbours and marinas in the area of the Chamber of Shipping.
| Coast | Ports of entry, among others |
|---|---|
| North Aegean | Çanakkale, Ayvalık, Dikili |
| Central Aegean | İzmir, Çeşme, Kuşadası |
| South Aegean | Didim, Güllük, Bodrum, Datça |
| Lycian coast | Marmaris, Fethiye, Kaş, Finike, Kemer |
| Riviera and east | Antalya, Alanya, Mersin |
| Marmara and Black Sea | İstanbul, Samsun, Sinop, Trabzon |
On board you need a passport or identity card, boat papers with proof of ownership, a certificate of competence (ICC recommended), the SRC, insurance valid in Turkish waters and the Blue Card. German citizens do not need a visa for up to 90 days in 180 days; other nationalities should check the current rules. On a charter boat, ask the charter company which papers are on board.
What is the Blue Card and what applies when anchoring?
In Muğla province, from Bodrum to Fethiye, you must be able to prove that you pump out your black water at pump-out stations. The Blue Card (Mavi Kart) records the pump-outs digitally, the coastguard checks it, and without proof you face fines. Anchoring restrictions apply in the Special Environmental Protection Areas of Fethiye-Göcek, Datça-Bozburun, Köyceğiz-Dalyan, Gökova and Foça. Antiquities, including potsherds, worked stones and fossils, stay where they are: the German Federal Foreign Office warns of prison sentences of up to ten years.
How do I sail from Greece to Turkey?
The border is an external Schengen border. You clear out in a Greek harbour with a border crossing, for example on Kos, Rhodes, Samos, Chios or Lesbos, and sail directly to a Turkish port of entry such as Bodrum, Çeşme, Marmaris or Datça. There you hoist the yellow Q flag and have the transit log issued. The Greek islands are often only a few kilometres off the coast: never cross the border without clearing out, not even on the way back. If you are coming from the Republic of Cyprus, sailors report that Turkey does not let yachts clear in; sort out the route with an agent beforehand. More in the guides Clearing in and Sailing in Greece.
Where do official forecasts and warnings for Turkey come from?
The official source for Turkish waters is the weather service MGM with forecasts and warnings, plus NAVTEX and the weather reports of the Turkish coast radio stations. The high-seas forecast for the Aegean, the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea is issued by the Greek weather service HNMS for the eastern Mediterranean (METAREA III). Read these forecasts before every departure, especially before crossings in the Aegean in high summer.
How does Sailseer help with sailing in Turkey?
On the map you plan a route or a multi-day trip, free and without an account. Sailseer calculates the forecast of several weather models as a consensus, names the Meltemi on the Aegean coast and shows the HNMS high-seas forecast in English, which covers Turkish waters as far as the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Off the Greek islands, for example near Bodrum opposite the Dodecanese, the official HNMS warnings for those sea areas are added. Measured wind comes from airports and coastal stations (METAR and SYNOP). In the Sea of Marmara, the current map shows the Copernicus Marine model at 500 m resolution. The country page Turkey sums up clearance, papers and fees and links to the travel and safety advice of the German Federal Foreign Office; when crossing from Greece, the route reminds you to clear out.
Sailseer is a planning aid and not for navigation: official charts, marine forecasts and warnings take precedence.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the transit log cost in Turkey?
The last official figure is 50 euros for 2022; in 2026 agencies quote around 70 euros for private foreign-flagged yachts. On top come harbour master's fees by length and a sector contribution each time you leave harbours and marinas in the area of the Chamber of Shipping.
Can I sail directly from a Greek island to Turkey?
Only after clearing out: you are leaving the Schengen area, so you clear out in a Greek harbour with a border crossing, such as Kos, Rhodes or Samos. Then you sail directly to a Turkish port of entry such as Bodrum, Çeşme or Marmaris and have the transit log issued there.
What is the Blue Card (Mavi Kart)?
In Muğla province, from Bodrum to Fethiye, you must be able to prove that you pump out your black water at pump-out stations. The Blue Card records these pump-outs digitally, the coastguard checks it, and without proof you face fines.
Do German citizens need a visa for a sailing trip in Turkey?
Not for up to 90 days in 180 days. You do need a passport or identity card, and with your own foreign-flagged yacht the transit log from the first port of entry. If you hold another passport, check the current rules for your nationality.
When is the best time to sail in Turkey?
May, June and September to October: warm, less crowded and usually less Meltemi than in high summer. In July and August the Meltemi blows hardest in the Aegean, while the Lycian coast keeps its sea breeze.
Which area of Turkey is best for a first trip?
The Gulf of Göcek with Fethiye: many sheltered bays, short distances and, in summer, a sea breeze instead of the Meltemi. Around Bodrum and Datça it blows considerably harder in high summer.