Our Favorite Lightweight, Turkish Towels for Warm Summer Days (2024)

Our Top Picks

For a luxurious, lightweight, and hybrid towel option, we recommend the Serena & Lily Fouta Bath Towel. It’s both decorative and functional, and when we tested this Turkish towel, we loved the hallmark smooth and tightly woven Turkish cotton on one side and the super absorbent looped terry cotton on the other. It's cozy like a more traditional bath towel, with all of our favorite perks of a traditional Turkish towel. Plus, we found it versatile enough to use post-bath, shower, or swim.

We also like the minimalistic design of this towel, which features a combination of wide and narrow stripes against a bright white background. It’s a timeless look that never goes out of style. Any of the three color options will blend seamlessly with your existing linens while adding a special touch. However, it would also be nice if there were more color choices.

We loved using this as a bath towel for six months and found it easy to wash without special instructions. Plus, the soft Turkish cotton only got softer with more washes. However, because these Turkish towels are more expensive, we recommend keeping them in your bathroom instead of bringing them along for travel or beach days.

_{Dimensions: 30 x 56 inches | Weight: 420 grams | Material: 100 percent long-staple Turkish Aegean cotton}

When it comes to the ideal combination of absorbency, texture, design style, size, and price point, the Cacala Cotton Pestemal Turkish Towel is a great option. We love its soft-to-the-touch lightweight fibers and at 37 x 30 inches, we also like its generous size. It's big enough to work as a sarong or beach towel (or even a beach blanket).

While this towel is a little on the thin side, the 100 percent Turkish cotton material is still highly absorbent, very soft, and decently durable. With more than 20 colors to choose from, you might have trouble deciding which one you like best.

One of the best selling points of this towel is how quickly it dries, and in our testing, we liked how quickly it went from damp to completely dry. Unlike your typical heavier-weight terry cotton towels, which can take an hour or more to dry, the Cacala towel dries in minutes, making it a great choice for either indoor or outdoor use.

However, it's worth noting that some of the very details we love about this towel are also factors that make it less durable than other options on our list. The lightweight and breathable weave, which allows the towel to dry quickly, becomes soaked quickly, so it's not the best towel for completely drying from the ocean or a shower. We loved using it to wrap and dry our hair after a shower and think it'd be great to pack as a beach blanket.

Even after using this towel for six months, we still love how quickly it dries. Its tassels have also remained intact through multiple washes (we recommend washing it in a mesh bag), and we haven't noticed any color fading or major changes to its texture.

_{Dimensions: 37 x 70 inches | Weight: 286 grams | Material: 100 percent Turkish cotton}

The Coyuchi Mediterranean 6 Piece 100% Cotton Towel Set is a splurge, but after testing these Turkish towels, we can confirm they are high-quality. Plus, for the price, you’ll get a complete set of two bath towels, offered in common towel sizes to fit your everyday needs, two hand towels, and two washcloths.

These Coyuchi Turkish towels are made from super soft, 100 percent GOTS-certified, yarn-dyed, organic cotton. They're made in the traditional khadi style in the Aegean region of Turkey, so they're authentic and feature a decorative hand-knotted fringe.

While color choices are somewhat limited, the color options are a tasteful neutral array that will easily blend with most existing decor. We love this set of luxurious towels because of its softness and durability. However, it's important to note that these are true Turkish towels, which means they're quite thin.

Additionally, with long-term testing, we noticed that the fringe can fray, which is a slight drawback in durability. However, we still think their extra-large size, impressive softness, and great absorbency gain that back and make them a worthy investment.

_{Dimensions: Bath Towel: 28 x 54 inches; Hand Towel: 16 x 26 inches; Washcloth: 12 x 12 inches | Weight: 320 grams | Material: 100 percent organic Turkish cotton}

After six months of testing and many cycles in the washing machine and dryer, these towels remained consistent in softness, absorbency, and overall quality. They do seem to have stretched out with frequent use, but after washing and drying they tend to seize back to their normal format.

While the towels aren’t as thick and fluffy as other ones we’ve tested, they’re soft and a great size–larger than a standard towel but not quite as big and bulky as a bath sheet. The dry time does take two hours, which we were surprised about, given their light weight and thinness, but they are super absorbent.

^{Dimensions: 30 x 56 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: 100 percent organic long-staple Turkish cotton}

For the frequent beachgoer, the WetCat Oversized Turkish Beach Towel offers a great combination of affordable price and functionality. Its lightweight and tight weave lets you easily shake off sand and dry it quickly in the sun, making it ideal for those who like to make multiple trips in and out of the water but don’t want to return to a damp towel each time.

This towel comes prewashed, so you’ll avoid unwanted shrinkage on the first and subsequent washes. It’s compact when folded, making it easy to stash in any beach bag. With many fun color choices, these beach towels make great gifts for those who love going to the beach or pool all summer.

At 310 grams, these towels are still thicker than the standard Turkish towel but are somewhat less absorbent than many other options on our list. So, if you’re hoping to use these as a bath towel, you might want to go with a different option. They’re also not quite as soft and luxurious as other options, even after several washes.

_{Dimensions: 38 x 71 inches | Weight: 310 grams | Material: 100 percent Turkish cotton}

If you need a Turkish towel that can go anywhere, we like the Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel with Travel Bag. This compact and ready-to-carry option is a great choice for the beach, travel, yoga, camping, and other outdoor occasions.

It comes ready for adventure with a convenient travel bag included, which is ideal for keeping your towel clean or for stashing it once used until you can toss it in the washing machine. With up to 40 different color combinations to choose from, we also love the variety of options.

Measuring 71 by 39 inches, this towel is generously sized and can easily double as a picnic or beach blanket. It also makes a great gift and is well-priced compared to many other towels on the list. Like all good Turkish towels, it’s also super lightweight, ultra-absorbent, and fast-drying.

This towel doesn’t come with any care instructions included, so you may need to double-check the manufacturer's site before your first wash. We also wanted to note the color you order online may look slightly different than the color you receive on delivery. However, for an affordable option you can truly take anywhere, it’s well worth investing in.

_{Dimensions: 39 x 71 inches | Weight: 400 grams | Material: 100 percent Turkish cotton}

Final Verdict

When it comes to a great combination of quality, durability, and softness, our best overall pick is the Serena & Lily Fouta Bath Collection Bath Towel. When it comes to absorbency and drying time, it’s hard to top this towel. If you’re looking for a well-appointed set of luxurious Turkish towels, check out the Bosphorus Diamond Weave Turkish Towel Set (best set). The low price and solid quality make this set of towels a great gift for yourself or someone special.

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