Turkey is considered as a year-round destination and the best time depends on the places you wish to visit and the activities you want to indulge in. The weather in Turkey also plays a huge role in determining the right time to visit.
The best time to visit Turkey is between April – May and September – October, as the weather is warm and pleasant, so you will have a great time exploring the numerous ancient sites of Turkey. There are fewer crowds around the country, including Istanbul.
Peak Season in Turkey is between June and August. The weather is typically hot and dry, making it great for island hoppers and beach lovers.
Low Season in Turkey is between November and March. The weather starts to cool off in late October and get extremely cold in November till March. The temperature drops to below 0°C in the interior of Cappadocia areas. Winters can be also the best time to travel, as they are less busy at this time of the year.
Seasonal Overview
Spring – April to May / Good Season
Average Temperature: 10 – 25°C
Rainfall: 28 – 59 mm
Spring is a beautiful season in Turkey. The weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. The temperatures range between 12°C and 25°C and there are a few brief showers occasionally. Tulips and many beautiful flowers are in blossom and runs right through to the end of May just as the temperatures begin to soar. Gardens and parks of Istanbul are filled with vibrant colours. Spring is the best time to visit Turkey to experience beautiful nature, local life, mild temperatures and smaller crowds.
Summer – June to August / High Season
Average Temperature: 25 – 32°C
Rainfall: 8 – 14 mm
Summer is peak season in Turkey as it is a summer holiday for the international travellers as well as Turkish. The temperatures are the highest during the summer months. The hot weather is ideal for unwinding by the delightful Turquoise Coast and enjoying swimming in the Mediterranean, especially with the sea breeze. However, it is stifling towards the inland. The temperature reaches up to the maximum of 40°C in Istanbul, while the temperature in the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts is around 48°C. The high temperatures can make exploring a bit uncomfortable. So, if you want to explore Turkey’s ancient heritage, it may not be the best season to travel. On the other hand, Cappadocia tends to be rather quiet during these months, remains carpeted with beautiful wildflowers blooming throughout, makes it an excellent time to hike.
Autumn – September to October / Good Season
Average Temperature: 08 – 20°C
Rainfall: 2 – 11 mm
Autumn is shoulder season in Turkey with mild weather, but the days are shorter and rain may begin again in October. The summer heat starts to fade away by mid-September and the autumn weather sets in. The days start to get shorter, but you will still have a pleasant tourist experience. A very comfortable temperature with around 15 – 25°C, very limited rain during this period, making it perfect for outdoor explorations. Autumn is a great time to explore the ancient sites, cities and the turquoise coast, as the crowds are fewer too.
Winter – November to March / Low Season
Average Temperature: -5 – 15°C
Rainfall: 4 – 104 mm
Winter is low season in Turkey because of the winter. Different regions of Turkey experience different quality of winter. It can range from mild to snowy or from rainy to dry cold. The weather gets rather chilly, except for the southeast (near Antalya) remains comparatively warm. The temperature in and around the areas of Istanbul is around 10°C with much colder nights, lowest recorded temperature was -15°C, while mountainous Eastern Turkey experiences temperature as low as -43°C. The Central Anatolia also sees extreme lows of -25°C. Winter months in Istanbul can be rainy with some snow, but not that much extreme as some other areas of Turkey. Temperatures in Cappadocia and Konya can be quite cold in November and December, but the snow creates fantastic scenery. Central and eastern areas like Anatolia and Cappadocia remain covered in snow with freezing temperatures in January and February. The temperature starts to warm up a bit by late March. Snowfalls in Istanbul would not last more than 10-12 days in the whole winter period.
This would be a great time to visit the city and explore all the sites that this beautiful country has to offer. The low season means fewer tourists, so you are pretty much on your own.
Average Temperature and Precipitation
| ANKARA | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | -3 | -1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Max Temp °C | 4 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 34 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 24 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 16 | 29 |
| ANTALYA | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 10 |
| Max Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 24 | 19 | 14 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 144 | 56 | 41 | 20 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 38 | 36 | 87 |
| BURSA | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Max Temp °C | 19 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 15 | 11 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 73 | 65 | 60 | 57 | 48 | 31 | 21 | 13 | 39 | 70 | 64 | 83 |
| CAPPADOCIA | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | -8 | -7 | -2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 4 | -2 | -5 |
| Max Temp °C | 4 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 6 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 28 | 31 | 51 | 67 | 56 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 23 | 29 | 35 | 46 |
| EPHESUS | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 9 |
| Max Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 24 | 19 | 15 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 87 | 86 | 81 | 45 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 39 | 126 | 136 |
| ISTANBUL | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| Max Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 11 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 110 | 90 | 70 | 45 | 40 | 35 | 35 | 30 | 60 | 80 | 105 | 120 |
| KONYA | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | -5 | -4 | -1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 0 | -3 |
| Max Temp °C | 4 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 12 | 6 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 33 | 21 | 22 | 31 | 31 | 20 | 18 | 7 | 19 | 30 | 26 | 42 |
| PAMUKKALE | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Temp °C | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 5 |
| Max Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 28 | 34 | 37 | 37 | 26 | 32 | 19 | 13 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 102 | 74 | 51 | 45 | 42 | 35 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 17 | 46 | 75 |
