Nearby Alacati Kite Beach 33 km · straight-line distance
On the clock
08:30
The beach centres open around 08:30 and a pre-breakfast session is a normal thing here. Through June-September the Meltemi can be in from early morning and hold most of the day; it is often described as fading around 3-4 pm, though the peninsula pattern is 10-11 kt late morning building through the afternoon toward sunset. Unconfirmed which of the two Gülbahçe follows on an average day.
The marks are the clock times the record names, laid on a 24-hour day. The bar between the first and the last covers those hours; it is not a promise of wind.
The wind
locals call it Meltemi / Meltem; Poyraz and Gerence on northerly/NE days; Lodos on southerly days
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: The beach centres open around 08:30 and a pre-breakfast session is a normal thing here. Through June-September the Meltemi can be in from early morning and hold most of the day; it is often described as fading around 3-4 pm, though the peninsula pattern is 10-11 kt late morning building through the afternoon toward sunset. Unconfirmed which of the two Gülbahçe follows on an average day.
Typical strength
12-18 kt is the band the schools teach in, and 12-20 kt is the range usually quoted for the spot. Peak-season afternoons run harder than that, and the off-season days that work sit anywhere between 4 and 7 Beaufort.
Also on record
Monthly averages of about 6-9 kt, July highest at 9 kt. That is not the strength of the afternoon thermal you actually ride in.
The quiver, in words
9-12 m covers the mid-June to mid-September Meltemi for a 75-85 kg rider. A 15 m earns its place in the low season, and a 7 m is worth packing if you are light or the afternoon is up. Wingfoilers rig 4-5 m in the peak months.
Direction to shore
Side-shore to cross-onshore on the usual northerly-sector winds, depending on the launch: sideshore from the left at the centers, while the shape of the bay turns northerlies shoreward or cross-shore.
Dominant direction
N, NNE, NE, NW, NNW in the main season
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan31
- Feb37
- Mar35
- Apr43
- May, riders' month21
- Jun, riders' month37
- Jul, riders' month63
- Aug, riders' month40
- Sep, riders' month40
- Oct, riders' month27
- Nov32
- Dec27
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 31%Jan15°
- 37%Feb14°
- 35%Mar15°
- 43%Apr17°
- 21%May20°
- 37%Jun24°
- 63%Jul27°
- 40%Aug27°
- 40%Sep25°
- 27%Oct23°
- 32%Nov19°
- 27%Dec17°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31% | 53% | 47% | 11.2 kt | N | 14:00 | 9.5°C | 14.9°C | 62 |
| Feb | 37% | 53% | 49% | 11.7 kt | N | 16:00 | 9.9°C | 13.8°C | 57 |
| Mar | 35% | 47% | 42% | 11 kt | N | 15:00 | 11°C | 15.4°C | 62 |
| Apr | 43% | 62% | 47% | 12.2 kt | N | 14:00 | 16.3°C | 17.3°C | 60 |
| May | 21% | 52% | 40% | 10.4 kt | N | 15:00 | 19.5°C | 19.8°C | 62 |
| Jun | 37% | 48% | 45% | 11.4 kt | N | 14:00 | 25.2°C | 24.4°C | 60 |
| Jul | 63% | 71% | 69% | 13.2 kt | NNW | 14:00 | 28°C | 26.5°C | 62 |
| Aug | 40% | 53% | 45% | 11.3 kt | N | 12:00 | 27.6°C | 26.7°C | 62 |
| Sep | 40% | 50% | 43% | 10.7 kt | NNW | 14:00 | 24°C | 25.3°C | 60 |
| Oct | 27% | 52% | 35% | 10.6 kt | N | 15:00 | 19.5°C | 22.5°C | 62 |
| Nov | 32% | 50% | 40% | 10.9 kt | N | 14:00 | 15°C | 18.9°C | 60 |
| Dec | 27% | 42% | 37% | 10.1 kt | S | 14:00 | 12.5°C | 16.7°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
mixed
Standing depth
Yes. A wide chest-deep training area sits next to the freeride zone, and the water straight off the front is shallow enough that it is often easier to walk upwind or wade out a little before starting. Tide plays no part in it.
Tides
Tide independent.
Temperature
Summer about 24-28°C: an August average near Urla of 74°F/23°C, an İzmir summer average of 24.7°C, and 27.6-27.9°C measured at Urla harbor on 26-27 August 2026.
Winter about 15-16°C across the wider İzmir winter; the coolest-water month at Urla is March at 60°F/16°C.
Wetsuit
No wetsuit in June-August; shorty or light full suit in shoulder season; full suit in winter inferred from 15-16°C winter water.
Currents
Weak currents through the Urla and Gülbahçe beginner area. Nobody has measured what the current does at each individual launch.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
8 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium
Somewhere else
Alacati Kite Beach, 33 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Firm sand and plenty of rigging room along the Gülbahçe beach, nothing rocky underfoot and no reef. Three zones get used off Urla Surf House: a wide, consistent shallow teaching area, a freestyle lagoon with a muddy bottom that makes for soft landings, and a slider park with movable features.Urla Kite Center, Urla Kite Camp/Kite Club Urla and BB Kite Surfing sit around the same Gülbahçe street grid, with the freeride area in front of the centres.
Space
medium
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Use the Gülbahçe kite-center or BB Kite Surfing wind station, not a generic Urla forecast pin; the bay reads differently from the town.
- Ask on the beach where the launch corridor runs that day, especially in July and August.
- If the front section is too shallow to start, walk upwind or wade out to slightly deeper water.
- Bring 9-12 m for the normal summer band, plus a 15 m for light shoulder-season days if you own one.
- Treat a strong NE Gerence day carefully; the locals respect that wind.
- Book lessons and a bed early for peak summer, because the beach schools and the kite-stay packages fill up.
- Know which of the three zones you want before you rig: shallow teaching water, the muddy freestyle lagoon, or the slider park.
- An early session is normal here; the beach is open from about 08:30 and the wind is often already there.
Getting there
Airport
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
Route
Fly to İzmir, then drive or take a transfer toward Urla/Gülbahçe on the Çeşme motorway. Gülbahçe is about 11 km from Urla town and around 45-60 km from İzmir/ADB depending on start point and exact beach address; public buses/taxis connect Urla and Gülbahçe but carrying kite gear is easier by car or transfer.
Transfer
About 35-45 minutes by car/transfer from İzmir Airport to the Gülbahçe kite area; Urla to Gülbahçe is about 11 minutes by taxi.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Beach/spot lodging is available at Urla Surf House and Urla Kite Camp, with additional hotels, pensions and boutique accommodation in Gülbahçe, Urla center and the wider Urla/Çeşme area.
No-wind days
SUP, skate mini-ramp, pool/garden activities, yoga and events at Urla Surf House; Gülbahçe Thermal Spring, Urla Art Street, Arasta/Malgaca bazaars, Klazomenai/Liman Tepe, Quarantine Island, wineries/olive-oil sites, Urla restaurants and nearby Çeşme/Seferihisar/Karaburun trips.
Photos
FAQ
Is Urla suitable for beginners?
Yes, shallow flat training water and several local schools make Gulbahce well suited to beginners, though unsupervised first-timers should still use a school.
What is the wind like?
Thermal Meltemi wind typically comes from the northerly sector at around 12-20 knots, most reliable from June to September.
When is the best time to kite?
May through October is the usable season, with June to September the most consistent Meltemi window.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Yes, Urla Surf House, Urla Kite Center, Urla Kite Camp and BB Kite Surfing all operate around Gulbahce beach.
What hazards should riders know about?
Very shallow water in parts of the front area, nearby harbor infrastructure, and concrete or power lines are reported as beach risks.
Last updated: August 2026