Best time to go to Turkey for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Turkey?
The best time to visit Turkey extends from April to November, with a preference for late spring and early autumn. However, the choice of your vacation dates will depend on several factors, but mostly on your desires.
- To enjoy the beach, the ideal time is undoubtedly summer, from June to September. However, be aware that temperatures can rise up to 40°C in some regions in July and August, especially in Southeastern Anatolia. In Marmaris, Alanya, and Bodrum, temperatures are more pleasant, but you will have to deal with a high tourist influx during French school holidays and be prepared for a relatively high travel budget, as hotel prices and airfares are at their peak.
- For hiking, prefer spring and autumn: from March to June and from September to November. There are fewer tourists, reasonable prices, and mild temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold. These are perfect times to explore Cappadocia and the Kaçkar Mountains, or walk on the legendary Lycian Way in the south, which connects Fethiye to Antalya via Kemer.
- For a city trip to Istanbul or visiting historical sites, the shoulder seasons are also good options. You will avoid crowds and be able to stroll around without getting too hot.
- For skiing, winter is the best choice. The largest and most popular ski resort is Erciyes-Kayseri, in central Anatolia. However, make sure to pack warm clothes, as the atmosphere is generally very cold. During this period, you can also combine a few days of winter sports with a road trip along the Mediterranean coast where temperatures remain at enjoyable levels, especially in March.
When to visit Turkey? As you may have understood, depending on your desires, it is entirely possible to plan a trip all year round. But if you want to explore multiple regions and enjoy all the country has to offer without breaking the bank, the months of June and September are perfect.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Aegean Region
Bodrum, Izmir, Marmaris...
Black Sea Region
Trabzon, Samsun, Sinop...
Central Anatolia Region
Ankara, Cappadoce, Konya...
Eastern Anatolia Region
Van, Malatya, Erzurum...
Marmara Region
Istanbul, Çanakkale, Tekirdağ...
Mediterranean Region of Turkey
Antalya, Side, Alanya...
Southeastern Anatolia Region
Gaziantep, Siirt, Mardin...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Turkey for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Turkey in january Turkey in february Turkey in march Turkey in april Turkey in may Turkey in june Turkey in july Turkey in august Turkey in september Turkey in october Turkey in november Turkey in december
Best time to travel to Turkey by cities
Climate and Weather in Turkey
At the border between Europe and Asia, Turkey experiences a great variety of climates. Thus, it can be hot, cold, sunny, or humid at the same time, but in different regions. The weather in Turkey is also strongly influenced by its numerous access points to the sea and its high reliefs.
Turkey's climate is therefore diverse, here are the main trends:
- A hot Mediterranean climate is present along the entire western and southern coast: around Istanbul, in the Marmara region, along the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in Southeastern Anatolia. Inland, towards the capital Ankara, this same climate offers milder summers.
- A temperate oceanic climate is found in the Black Sea region.
- Elsewhere, variations range from a humid subtropical climate with no dry season and hot summers around Trabzon, to a dry and temperate Mediterranean continental climate in Van, near the Iranian border, passing through a dry and cold steppe climate in Aksaray, in Cappadocia.
Climate in the Aegean Region and along the Mediterranean Coast
With a typical Mediterranean climate, these two regions experience pleasant weather for much of the year, and only the months of January and February are not recommended. During this time, temperatures struggle to rise above 13°C and rain is often present.
The rest of the time, the weather is similar to what can be found in Greece. In summer, the heat can be intense as temperatures reach around 40°C on the southern coast. To cool off, nothing beats a beach stop in the numerous coves in the area, for example towards Belek or Side, where the water temperature ranges between 25 and 30°C. In the Aegean region, especially around Izmir, it is slightly cooler and windier. In July and August, temperatures can reach around 35°C, with water temperatures around 25°C.
In spring, between March and June, temperatures rise quickly, although it is necessary to wait until the end of the season to swim. In autumn, especially from late September to late October, temperatures range between 26 and 35°C, and it is entirely possible to enjoy the beach. These two periods are also perfect for hiking in the mountains, as rain is rare.
Climate in the Marmara Region
Located at the crossroads of the Bosphorus, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Marmara, this region experiences more distinct seasons than the southern coasts, and the best time to visit is shorter: between April and November.
In summer, from June to September, it is hot with high humidity levels. Thus, fog is often present in the morning, while thunderstorms can occur in Istanbul and its surroundings in the late afternoon. Expect temperatures ranging between 28 and 34°C during this period.
In winter, temperatures rarely rise above 12°C between December and February, with rain or drizzle prevalent throughout the season, enhancing the cool sensation. Although less frequent, snowfall is also possible.
During the shoulder seasons, from April to May and from October to November, temperatures range between 18 and 25°C. The weather remains dry, with plenty of sunshine. All conditions are met to explore the cities and make cultural discoveries.
Climate in Central Anatolia and the Black Sea Region
Although having different types of climates (mostly Mediterranean to temperate in Central Anatolia and oceanic to temperate in the Black Sea region), these two regions experience fairly similar weather:
- In winter, it is cold, even very cold, with minimum temperatures between 1 and 4°C and maximum temperatures between 6 and 12°C from December to February. Snowfall is regular, and when it's not snowing, rain is common, with the presence of the Black Sea causing quite violent storms.
- Spring and autumn are short but very pleasant, with temperatures around 20°C in April, May, and October.
- In summer, it is hot and dry, with daytime temperatures reaching around 30°C.
Climate in Southeastern Anatolia
During the summer season, Southeastern Anatolia is the hottest region in Turkey. While temperatures are around 35°C in June and September, in July and August, the thermometer often exceeds 40°C and only slightly drops at night, with minimum temperatures around 37°C. These extreme temperatures can be uncomfortable, but if you stay on the coast, the presence of the Mediterranean Sea mitigates the heat. The rest of the time, the weather is similar to that of Central Anatolia.
Climate in Eastern Anatolia
Further north, Eastern Anatolia is the region in Turkey that experiences the coldest temperatures. Therefore, the best time to visit is quite short, extending from May to October.
With its continental climate, winters are long and harsh. Average temperatures range between -4 and 7°C from December to February, but it is common for temperatures to drop below -20°C. Snow is often present in the region as early as the beginning of November and only melts with the arrival of spring, in April, or even early May depending on the year.
Between May and October, the weather is very pleasant, although rain is often present. In terms of temperatures, it ranges between 22 and 24°C during the shoulder seasons, and between 29 and 34°C during summer, from June to September.
Temperatures and rainfall in Turkey
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Turkey and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Ankara, Alanya, Antalya, Bodrum and Cappadoce, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Turkey
Find out when Turkey has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Turkey
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, June, November and December. The number of visitors to Turkey is high in: May, July, August, September and October.
- Very low season in Turkey: January, February and March.
- Low season in Turkey: April, June, November and December.
- High season in Turkey: May, September and October.
- Peak season in Turkey: July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Turkey month by month
Average price for flights to Turkey
A return flight between Melbourne and Istanbul is generally cheaper if you go in november ($ 1026 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 389 more for your airline ticket to Istanbul if you go in december.
Where to go in Turkey?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Ankara | 5°C | 9°C | 12°C | 18°C | 24°C | 28°C | 32°C | 32°C | 28°C | 21°C | 15°C | 8°C |
| Alanya | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 27°C | 30°C | 31°C | 29°C | 25°C | 21°C | 17°C |
| Antalya | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 20°C | 25°C | 29°C | 33°C | 34°C | 30°C | 25°C | 21°C | 16°C |
| Bodrum | 14°C | 15°C | 16°C | 19°C | 23°C | 27°C | 30°C | 30°C | 28°C | 24°C | 20°C | 16°C |
| Cappadoce | 3°C | 6°C | 10°C | 16°C | 21°C | 25°C | 28°C | 29°C | 25°C | 19°C | 12°C | 6°C |
| Istanbul | 10°C | 11°C | 13°C | 16°C | 22°C | 27°C | 29°C | 29°C | 26°C | 21°C | 17°C | 12°C |
| Izmir | 12°C | 14°C | 16°C | 20°C | 25°C | 30°C | 34°C | 35°C | 30°C | 24°C | 19°C | 14°C |
| Marmaris | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 21°C | 25°C | 29°C | 33°C | 33°C | 30°C | 25°C | 21°C | 16°C |
| Side | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 21°C | 25°C | 29°C | 33°C | 34°C | 31°C | 26°C | 21°C | 16°C |
| Belek | 14°C | 16°C | 18°C | 22°C | 26°C | 31°C | 35°C | 36°C | 32°C | 27°C | 22°C | 17°C |
| Çanakkale | 10°C | 12°C | 14°C | 18°C | 23°C | 28°C | 31°C | 32°C | 27°C | 21°C | 17°C | 12°C |
| Dalaman | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 21°C | 25°C | 29°C | 33°C | 33°C | 30°C | 25°C | 21°C | 16°C |
| Didim | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 20°C | 24°C | 28°C | 31°C | 32°C | 28°C | 24°C | 20°C | 16°C |
| Erzurum | -4°C | -1°C | 2°C | 10°C | 17°C | 22°C | 26°C | 27°C | 22°C | 15°C | 6°C | -1°C |
| Gaziantep | 8°C | 11°C | 15°C | 21°C | 27°C | 32°C | 37°C | 37°C | 33°C | 25°C | 17°C | 11°C |
| Kemer | 13°C | 14°C | 16°C | 20°C | 25°C | 29°C | 33°C | 33°C | 29°C | 24°C | 19°C | 15°C |
| Konya | 4°C | 7°C | 11°C | 17°C | 22°C | 25°C | 29°C | 29°C | 25°C | 19°C | 12°C | 7°C |
| Malatya | 1°C | 4°C | 9°C | 16°C | 23°C | 29°C | 32°C | 32°C | 27°C | 19°C | 11°C | 4°C |
| Mardin | 9°C | 11°C | 16°C | 21°C | 28°C | 35°C | 39°C | 39°C | 34°C | 26°C | 17°C | 11°C |
| Samsun | 8°C | 9°C | 12°C | 16°C | 21°C | 25°C | 27°C | 28°C | 25°C | 20°C | 15°C | 10°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Turkey
What can I do in Turkey?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Turkey reliable?
Climate data for Turkey has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Turkey allows us to determine the average for each month in Ankara, Alanya, Antalya, Bodrum, Cappadoce, Istanbul, Izmir, Marmaris, and 112 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.