Turkey Weather

Turkey Seasons - Weather & Travel Tips

Spring: March to May 

Weather: Mild and Sunny
Average temperature: 3-22°C (37.4-71.6°F)
Travel season: Shoulder season

Clothes to wear: long-sleeved t-shirt, hoodie, light sweater, trench coat, outdoor jacket, jeans, long pants, causal shoes…

Best things to do: 
1. Visit historical sites like Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. In addition, tulip blossoms in Emirgan Park, Gülhane Park and Yıldız Park look very lovely in spring.
2. Take a hot air balloon to view amazing sunrise and special karst landform in Cappadocia. 
3. Admire unique cotton-like landscape in Pamukkale and visit the nearby Hierapolis Ancient City.

4. Experience festive atmosphere of National Children’s Day held on every April 23rd and Ramadan Bayram. The date of Ramadan Bayram changes every year.  In 2025, it will be held on March 31st.

Travel tips: 
1. Mask is required if you’re allergic to pollen.
2. The temperature is relatively low in the morning, so a thick coat or a downcoat is essential for the hot air balloon trip to appreciate the sunrise. 
3. During Ramadan, most local restaurants will be closed, but restaurants in tourist areas will be open normally. To respect local customs, avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public.
4. Number of tourists tend to rise during Ramadan Bayram, so book air tickets, hotels and scenic spot tickets in advance. In addition, public transport hours may be shortened the day before Ramadan Bayram, please adjust your travel itinerary accordingly.

Summer: June to August 

Weather: Hot and Dry
Average temperature: 15-31°C (59 -87.8°F)
Travel season: High season, especially for hot air balloon ride 

Clothes to Wear: short-sleeved shirt, dress, sunproof coat, thin overcoat, shorts, light pants, sandals, bathing suit, shawl…

Best things to do: 
1. Discover coastal towns such as Alacati in Izmir, Didim in Aydin and Dalyan in Mugla, and experience exciting water sports there.
2. Have a boat trip to visit Butterfly Valley, Blue Cave, and St. Nicholas Island in Fethiye.  

3. Spend a relatively cool summer in Trabzon and Rize in Black Sea Region.

Travel tips: 

Your travel costs will be higher since summer is the peak season for tourism in Turkey. And local Eid al-Adha holiday also coincides with this period, when many restaurants, shops and attractions have shorter opening hours or are even closed. So please make reservations in advance.

Autumn: September to November

Weather: Cool and Pleasant 
Average temperature: 6-27°C (42.8 -80.6°F)
Travel season: Shoulder season

Clothes to Wear: shirt, hoodie, light sweater, denim coat, trench coat, jeans, hiking shoes…

Best things to do: 
1. Have a city sightseeing in Istanbul.
2. Visit ancient cities like Ephesus, Troy and Pergamon.
3. Take a self-drive trip on one of the most beautiful roads D400 in Turkey.
4. Enjoy natural autumn scenery in Lake Abant Nature Park and Lake Uzungol.

Winter: December to February

Weather: Cold and Rainy
Average temperature: 0-10°C (32°F-50°F)
Travel season: Low season

Clothes to Wear: thermal underwear, thick sweater, wool coat, down jacket, winter pants, boots, gloves, hat…

Best things to do:
1. Soak up the winter sunshine in southern cities like Antalya and Bodrum.
2. Go skiing in the Bursa ski resorts and experience spa there.

Regional Weather of Turkey

Southern and Southwestern Turkey 

Weather review: The southern and southwestern Turkey belong to the Mediterranean climate zone. The region has the highest temperatures throughout the whole Turkey. Summers are hot and dry, with the highest temperature often reaching 40°C (104°F). Winter is wet and rainy, with an average daily temperature of around 10°C (50°F).

Major travel destinations:
Selçuk: Ephesus Ancient City, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hardian, The Basilica of Saint John, The Virgin Mary’s House, Seven Sleepers Cave
Pamukkale: Pamukkale, Hierapolis Ancient City
Antalya: Hadrian’s Gate, Duden Waterfalls, Roman Harbor, Perge Ancient City, Aspendos Ancient Roman theater, Karaoglan Park, Antalya Museum…
Bodrum: Bodrum Castle, Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum, Bitez Beach, Bodrum Amphitheater
Fethiye: Ölüdeniz Beach, Butterfly Valley, Kayaköy Ghost Town, Fethiye Museum
Kas: Kaputas Beach, Akcagerme Beach, Aperlai Ancient City, Antiphellos Ruins, Sunken City Ruins of Simena
Konya: Mevlana Museum, Yerkopru Waterfall, Çatalhüyük Ancient City
Kalkan: Myra Ancient City, Underwater City
Çanakkale: Archaeological Site of Troy, Dardanelles Strait, Gallipoli Peninsula, Eceabat Castle

Central and Eastern Turkey

Weather review: Occupied by temperate continental climate, central and eastern Turkey has a hot summer, with the average temperature being about 25-30°C (77-86°F). And the average temperature of winter is below 0°C (32°F), so it has a cold winter. Especially, regions of high altitudes in eastern Turkey has extreme chilly winter, where are covered with snow for four months in a year.

Major travel destinations:
Cappadocia: Goreme Open Air Museum, Derinkuyu Underground City, Monks Valley, Fairy Chimneys, Uqi Hisar Castle, Devrent Valley, Lhlara Valley, Selime Monastery, Pigeon Valley
Ankara: Anitkabir Mausoleum, Kocatepe Mosque, Haci Bayram Mosque, Aslanhane Mosque, Eymir Lake, Dikmen Vadisi Park
Trabzon: Sumela Monastery, St Anne’s Church, Trabzon Museum, Uzungol Lake

Northern Turkey

Weather review: Northern Turkey along the Black Sea has obvious temperate maritime climate while the rest northern region is in temperate continental climate zone. Compared with other regions, the annual precipitation of Northern Turkey is higher. The summer is cooler, and the lowest temperature in winter is 4-5°C (39.2-41°F).

Major Travel Destinations: 
Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Bosphorus Strait, Hippodrome Square, Grand Bazaar
Erzurum: Yakutiye Madrasa, Twin Minaret Madrasa, Erzurum Castle
Bursa: Green Mosque, Great Mosque of Bursa, Bursa Grand Bazaar, Uludağ
Safranbolu: Old Town of Safranbolu, Kasim Sipahioglu Konagi, Kaymakamla Museum, Bulak Cave, Tarihi Saat Kulesi, Tokatli Canyon
Bolu: Abant Lake and Nature Park, Yedigöller National Park, Gölcük Natural Park, Yıldırım Bayezit Mosque

 

Further Reading: 

• Turkey Travel Guide 
• Top Things to Do
  
• Transportation
• Travel Tips