Discover Turkey and enjoy four seasons
SEASONS AND TEMPERATURES
Turkey is such a large country with diverse terrain that the climate varies greatly from one region to another. Here you can check the average temperatures and hours of sunshine in some of the main destinations.
climatic conditions
Coastal Regions: Aegean, Mediterranean and Marmara coasts of Turkey display a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters, though Istanbul can have some very cold snaps with snow in the winter. July and August are the hottest months with very high humidity in summer and temperatures around 35°C. As you go south, temperatures increase by a few degrees and the water temperatures get warmer. The swimming season is from June to September along the Marmara and North Aegean coasts, and from April to October along the South Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Black Sea region has a comparatively moderate climate. The summer months are warm and the winter months are mild. Rainfall is heavy here than in any other regions. The swimming season is from June to early September, although the weather is not very reliable.
Inland Areas: There is quite a difference between the climate of the coastal regions and the inland regions which tend to be at higher altitudes. The weather reaches its extremes in Central and Eastern Anatolia regions of Turkey, with hot, dry summers when the temperatures may reach 42°C, and freezing, snowy winters. Therefore, spring and autumn are the best seasons for travel in this part of the country. In mountainous regions, the summer months are milder and the winter months are harsher. Temperatures can drop as low as -30°C to -38°C and snow can stay on the ground for about 4 months, making the regions ideal for winter sports.
Spring (March, April, May)
Spring is a prime season because the weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. Many people would agree that this is the best season for visiting Turkey. Maybe April can be rainy, but spring is the great season for enjoying the outdoors during strolls, evenings on the terraces and nature getaways.
Summer (June, July, August)
Summer season is quite hot and dry in five of Turkey's seven distinct climatic regions, but it is generally rainless and the evenings are cool in inland areas. Visitors would agree that this is the highest season to travel to Turkey.
Please note that the seaside resorts are crowded and prices are at their peak during the summer season.
Autumn (September, October, November)
Autumn is the second best season for visiting Turkey. The temperature starts to drop and it is colder first thing in the morning and late afternoon. Warm clothing, a light scarf and jackets or blazers start to become necessary. There are occasional storms and flurries of cold weather in autumn.
Winter (December, January, February)
Winter is the best season to experience skiing and other winter sports in Turkey. You can travel to Turkey in December and February to benefit from the lower prices, better availability of hotel rooms, and lack of crowds. It can be cold, rainy and snowy, with occasional cold but sunny days everywhere, except the southwest corner of Turkey.
We recommend that you pack warm clothing and accessories, such as a scarf and gloves. Please note that the ski resorts are high priced in winter season.