Our verdict
The best time to visit Turkey is March-April
In summer, the average maximum temperature in Istanbul climbs to around 28℃ (82℉), but temperatures can sometimes reach as high as 30℃ (86℉) on the hottest days of the year. The weather at night in the winter, which is around January-time, can get down to a minimum of 2℃ (36℉) in Istanbul. Other destinations in Turkey can sometimes get even colder than this, so if you’re planning on visiting a few different places, make sure you check out the climate comparison table below.
If you’re keen to work on your tan in Turkey, you’re most likely to get the longest days between sun-up and sun-down around July. The wet season in Turkey falls around December, so if you prefer the dryer weather, you should look to visit in August instead.
Learn everything you need to know (and none of the stuff you don’t) about when to go to Turkey below. Be sure to check out the handy tools we’ve included to help you search for flights and transport, accommodation, and everything else you need to plan and book your trip.Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / FAQs / Map
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Turkey seasons
Before you plan your trip, it’s important to know when the seasons are as they may be different to yours depending on where you’re travelling from. Turkey is in the Northern hemisphere, so the seasons fall on:
Season | Months |
---|---|
Summer | June to August |
Autumn/fall | September to November |
Winter | December to February |
Spring | March to May |
Best time to visit the top destinations in Turkey
We’ve put together a breakdown of the average minimum and maximum temperatures by month, as well as the best times to visit for each. To learn more about these destinations including detailed climate breakdowns and much more, click or tap the city/destination name below.
City | Best time to visit | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ankara | March-April | ↑↓ | 4℃-3℃ | 7℃-1℃ | 11℃1℃ | 17℃5℃ | 22℃10℃ | 26℃14℃ | 30℃17℃ | 30℃18℃ | 25℃14℃ | 19℃10℃ | 13℃4℃ | 7℃-0℃ |
Antalya | April-May | ↑↓ | 12℃8℃ | 13℃9℃ | 16℃10℃ | 19℃13℃ | 23℃17℃ | 28℃21℃ | 31℃24℃ | 32℃25℃ | 28℃21℃ | 24℃18℃ | 19℃14℃ | 14℃10℃ |
Bodrum | April | ↑↓ | 14℃11℃ | 14℃12℃ | 16℃13℃ | 18℃15℃ | 22℃18℃ | 26℃22℃ | 29℃24℃ | 29℃25℃ | 26℃23℃ | 23℃20℃ | 19℃16℃ | 15℃13℃ |
Fethiye | September-November | ↑↓ | 11℃7℃ | 13℃7℃ | 15℃9℃ | 18℃12℃ | 22℃15℃ | 26℃20℃ | 30℃23℃ | 30℃23℃ | 27℃20℃ | 23℃17℃ | 18℃13℃ | 14℃9℃ |
Istanbul | April | ↑↓ | 9℃5℃ | 10℃6℃ | 12℃7℃ | 15℃10℃ | 21℃15℃ | 26℃20℃ | 28℃22℃ | 28℃23℃ | 24℃20℃ | 19℃16℃ | 16℃13℃ | 11℃8℃ |
Izmir | September | ↑↓ | 11℃6℃ | 13℃7℃ | 16℃8℃ | 20℃11℃ | 24℃16℃ | 29℃20℃ | 32℃22℃ | 33℃22℃ | 28℃19℃ | 23℃15℃ | 18℃12℃ | 13℃8℃ |
Oludeniz | September | ↑↓ | 10℃2℃ | 13℃3℃ | 16℃6℃ | 22℃12℃ | 26℃16℃ | 30℃20℃ | 31℃22℃ | 31℃21℃ | 28℃19℃ | 22℃13℃ | 16℃7℃ | 13℃4℃ |
Pamukkale | May | ↑↓ | 8℃0℃ | 10℃2℃ | 14℃4℃ | 18℃7℃ | 23℃11℃ | 27℃15℃ | 32℃18℃ | 32℃18℃ | 27℃15℃ | 21℃11℃ | 16℃6℃ | 10℃2℃ |
Trabzon | October-November | ↑↓ | 9℃5℃ | 10℃5℃ | 11℃6℃ | 14℃8℃ | 18℃12℃ | 22℃16℃ | 24℃19℃ | 24℃19℃ | 22℃17℃ | 19℃14℃ | 15℃10℃ | 11℃7℃ |
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Top FAQs
Check out these guides for the top must-see destinations in Turkey: