Every summer, thousands of travelers arrive in Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum, and other beautiful coastal destinations in Turkey. Then, on their very first night, they face the same dilemma:
Turn the air conditioner off and struggle to sleep in the heat, or leave it on and wake up with a sore throat, stiff neck, or a runny nose?
After many years of living on the Mediterranean coast, we’ve learned that sleeping comfortably with air conditioning isn’t a matter of luck—it’s all about the right settings.
Here are a few simple tips to help you enjoy a good night’s sleep.
🌡️ Don’t Set the Temperature Too Low
The most common mistake is setting the air conditioner to 18–20°C (64–68°F).
A comfortable sleeping temperature is 25–27°C (77–81°F). This is cool enough for restful sleep without forcing your body to cope with excessive cooling.
💨 Don’t Point the Airflow at the Bed
Even at 26°C (79°F), a constant stream of cold air blowing directly onto your body can leave you feeling uncomfortable the next morning.
Instead, adjust the louvers to direct the airflow upward or along the ceiling. This cools the entire room rather than blowing directly on you.
Personally, I sleep with the temperature set to 27–28°C (81–82°F), depending on how hot and humid the night is.
🌙 Use Sleep Mode
Almost every modern air conditioner has a Sleep Mode.
In this setting, the unit operates more quietly, gradually raises the temperature by 1–2 degrees before morning, and maintains a comfortable indoor climate without sudden temperature changes.
🌬️ Don’t Use the Highest Fan Speed
A stronger airflow doesn’t cool the room much faster, but it can easily dry out your throat, nose, and eyes, making your sleep less comfortable.
For nighttime, the low or medium fan speed is usually the best choice.
🛏️ Sleep Under a Lightweight Sheet
Even in the middle of summer, a thin cotton sheet helps protect your body from direct cool airflow while keeping you comfortably covered.
🚪 Keep the Windows Closed
If the air conditioner is running, keep the windows closed.
Otherwise, hot, humid outdoor air constantly enters the room, forcing the air conditioner to work almost continuously while cooling much less efficiently.
💧 Keep a Glass of Water Nearby
Air conditioning slightly reduces indoor humidity.
Keeping a glass of water next to your bed is a simple habit you’ll appreciate when you wake up.
Our Recommendation
If your accommodation has a modern inverter air conditioner, there’s no need to switch it on and off throughout the night.
For the best comfort, simply leave it running in Sleep Mode at around 26°C (79°F).
Take it from those of us who live on the Mediterranean coast year-round: with the right settings, you can sleep soundly—even when the temperature outside doesn’t drop below 30°C (86°F) overnight.
