Country guide

Turkey

Istanbul's mosques and bazaars, Cappadocia's balloon-filled dawns and a turquoise coast of ruins and gulet cruises.

Currency

TRY

Language

Turkish

English

Widely spoken

Payment

Cards & cash mixed

Power

Type C / F

230 V, 50 Hz

Dialing

+90

Destinations

Turkey

Alanya

A Seljuk sultan's fortress on a headland, with a sandy beach on either side and the nightlife to match.

✓ best Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

Turkey

Ankara

The capital built from scratch to found a republic, sitting on four thousand years of Anatolia.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Turkey

Antalya

A Roman harbour town under snow-capped mountains, with a beach at either end and the best-preserved theatre in the Mediterranean an hour up the road.

✓ best Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct

Turkey

Bodrum

A crusader castle full of ancient shipwrecks, at the heart of Turkey's liveliest Aegean peninsula.

✓ best Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov

Turkey

Cappadocia (Goreme)

A carved volcanic landscape of painted cave churches and underground cities, seen at its best from a balloon basket at dawn.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Turkey

Ephesus (Selcuk)

The most complete Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean, with a quiet market town to sleep in beside it.

✓ best Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov

Turkey

Istanbul

The only city standing on two continents, and the capital of two empires that ran the known world.

✓ best Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct

Turkey

Izmir

The Aegean's big city, where the whole of Smyrna turns out on the waterfront every evening.

✓ best Mar-Nov

Turkey

Kars

A Russian-built frontier town on the snowy steppe, and the gateway to the ruined cathedrals of Ani.

✓ best May-Oct

Turkey

Konya

Rumi's city, and the best Seljuk architecture in Turkey

✓ best Apr-Oct

Turkey

Kusadasi

The seaside base for Ephesus, with a castle on an island, a cruise harbour and a Greek island across the strait.

✓ best Feb-Nov

Turkey

Marmaris

A pine-ringed harbour where the gulet coast begins, with a castle above the yachts and Bar Street after dark.

✓ best Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

Turkey

Pamukkale (Denizli)

A white mineral hillside of warm terraced pools, crowned by a whole Roman spa city.

✓ best Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov

Turkey

Safranbolu

The Ottoman town that survived intact: a whole valley of timber mansions, lanes and bazaars.

✓ best Mar-Nov

Turkey

Trabzon

The last Byzantine capital on the Black Sea, and the gateway to Sumela's cliff-face monastery.

✓ best Mar-Sep, Dec

Turkey

Van

An Urartian citadel, an island church carved with Bible stories and the best breakfast in Turkey, all on one huge blue lake.

✓ best Apr-Oct

The sweet-spot windows

Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.

Where	When	Why it works	Watch out for
Cappadocia	Apr-May, Sep-Oct	Best ballooning (calm winds), mild, wildflowers or autumn	Winter often grounds balloons
Istanbul	Apr-May, Sep-Oct	Mild, tulips (Apr) or golden autumn, fewer crowds	Jul-Aug hot + humid
The coast (Antalya, Bodrum)	May, Sep-Oct	Sea warm, hot but not scorching, before/after peak	Resorts shut Nov-Mar

Climate zones, month by month

Turkey has 16 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.

Alanya Turquoise Coast →

Jan

15°

6°

214mm

10d rain

Feb

16°

7°

111mm

7d rain

Mar

19°

8°

105mm

6d rain

Apr

22°

11°

64mm

5d rain

May

26°

16°

40mm

4d rain

Jun

32°

20°

8mm

2d rain

Jul

35°

23°

2mm

1d rain

Aug

35°

24°

2mm

1d rain

Sep

32°

20°

20mm

2d rain

Oct

27°

16°

82mm

4d rain

Nov

22°

11°

148mm

6d rain

Dec

17°

7°

275mm

9d rain

December Wettest month. 275mm · 9 rainy days

✓ Best Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec

Watch for Dec monsoon flooding risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Ankara Central Anatolia →

Jan

5°

-2°

39mm

7d rain

Feb

7°

-1°

37mm

7d rain

Mar

12°

2°

47mm

7d rain

Apr

18°

6°

45mm

7d rain

May

23°

11°

51mm

7d rain

Jun

27°

14°

40mm

6d rain

Jul

31°

17°

14mm

2d rain

Aug

31°

17°

14mm

3d rain

Sep

27°

13°

17mm

3d rain

Oct

20°

8°

33mm

5d rain

Nov

13°

3°

32mm

5d rain

Dec

7°

0°

43mm

8d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Antalya Turquoise Coast →

Jan

15°

6°

214mm

10d rain

Feb

16°

7°

111mm

7d rain

Mar

19°

8°

105mm

6d rain

Apr

22°

11°

64mm

5d rain

May

26°

16°

40mm

4d rain

Jun

32°

20°

8mm

2d rain

Jul

35°

23°

2mm

1d rain

Aug

35°

24°

2mm

1d rain

Sep

32°

20°

20mm

2d rain

Oct

27°

16°

82mm

4d rain

Nov

22°

11°

148mm

6d rain

Dec

17°

7°

275mm

9d rain

December Wettest month: mild & wet. 275mm · 9 rainy days

✓ Best Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct

Conditions Jan-Feb Mild & wet · Mar Warm spring · Apr Pleasant · May Warm, sea warms · Jun Hot, beach · Jul-Aug Scorching · Sep Hot, sea warm · Oct Warm autumn · Nov-Dec Mild & wet

Watch for Dec monsoon flooding risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Bodrum Aegean Coast →

Jan

16°

9°

138mm

10d rain

Feb

16°

9°

108mm

9d rain

Mar

18°

10°

70mm

7d rain

Apr

22°

13°

44mm

5d rain

May

27°

17°

20mm

3d rain

Jun

32°

22°

2mm

1d rain

Jul

35°

24°

0mm

0d rain

Aug

35°

24°

0mm

0d rain

Sep

31°

21°

20mm

2d rain

Oct

26°

18°

49mm

4d rain

Nov

21°

13°

100mm

6d rain

Dec

17°

10°

150mm

10d rain

✓ Best Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov

Watch for Jul-Aug extreme heat risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Cappadocia (Goreme) Central Anatolia →

Jan

4°

-3°

44mm

8d rain

Feb

6°

-3°

42mm

7d rain

Mar

11°

1°

48mm

8d rain

Apr

16°

5°

46mm

8d rain

May

21°

9°

57mm

9d rain

Jun

26°

12°

38mm

6d rain

Jul

29°

15°

8mm

2d rain

Aug

29°

15°

7mm

3d rain

Sep

25°

11°

12mm

3d rain

Oct

19°

7°

29mm

5d rain

Nov

12°

2°

33mm

5d rain

Dec

6°

-1°

48mm

7d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct

Conditions Jan Cold & snowy · Feb Cold · Mar Cold thaw · Apr Calm balloons · May Warm, flowers · Jun Warm & dry · Jul Best ballooning · Aug Hot & dry · Sep Warm · Oct Mild autumn · Nov Cold · Dec Cold & snowy

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Ephesus (Selcuk) Aegean Coast →

Jan

14°

4°

124mm

9d rain

Feb

15°

5°

103mm

8d rain

Mar

18°

6°

72mm

7d rain

Apr

22°

9°

47mm

5d rain

May

27°

13°

32mm

4d rain

Jun

32°

17°

8mm

2d rain

Jul

35°

20°

1mm

1d rain

Aug

35°

20°

0mm

0d rain

Sep

31°

16°

17mm

2d rain

Oct

26°

12°

43mm

4d rain

Nov

20°

8°

95mm

6d rain

Dec

15°

5°

125mm

10d rain

✓ Best Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Istanbul →

Jan

9°

4°

74mm

10d rain

Feb

10°

4°

77mm

10d rain

Mar

12°

5°

61mm

9d rain

Apr

17°

9°

47mm

7d rain

May

22°

13°

33mm

4d rain

Jun

27°

18°

31mm

4d rain

Jul

30°

21°

19mm

2d rain

Aug

30°

21°

23mm

3d rain

Sep

26°

17°

43mm

5d rain

Oct

21°

14°

75mm

7d rain

Nov

16°

9°

70mm

8d rain

Dec

11°

6°

88mm

11d rain

✓ Best Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct

Conditions Jan Cold & wet · Feb Cold · Mar Mild · Apr Tulips, pleasant · May-Jun Warm · Jul-Aug Hot & humid · Sep Warm · Oct Mild autumn · Nov Cool & wet · Dec Cold & wet

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Izmir Aegean Coast →

Jan

13°

6°

128mm

9d rain

Feb

14°

7°

107mm

8d rain

Mar

17°

9°

78mm

7d rain

Apr

21°

12°

50mm

5d rain

May

27°

16°

33mm

4d rain

Jun

31°

21°

13mm

2d rain

Jul

34°

24°

1mm

1d rain

Aug

34°

24°

4mm

1d rain

Sep

30°

20°

21mm

3d rain

Oct

25°

15°

55mm

4d rain

Nov

19°

11°

96mm

7d rain

Dec

14°

8°

126mm

10d rain

✓ Best Mar-Nov

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Kars Eastern Anatolia →

Jan

-3°

-15°

23mm

5d rain

Feb

-1°

-13°

21mm

5d rain

Mar

5°

-6°

33mm

7d rain

Apr

12°

0°

57mm

10d rain

May

17°

4°

84mm

13d rain

Jun

22°

7°

76mm

10d rain

Jul

26°

11°

65mm

8d rain

Aug

27°

11°

46mm

6d rain

Sep

23°

6°

31mm

5d rain

Oct

16°

2°

45mm

7d rain

Nov

8°

-5°

27mm

5d rain

Dec

0°

-11°

24mm

6d rain

✓ Best May-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Mar

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Konya Central Anatolia →

Jan

5°

-4°

37mm

6d rain

Feb

7°

-3°

23mm

4d rain

Mar

13°

0°

28mm

5d rain

Apr

18°

4°

35mm

6d rain

May

23°

9°

39mm

7d rain

Jun

28°

14°

28mm

4d rain

Jul

31°

17°

6mm

2d rain

Aug

31°

17°

6mm

2d rain

Sep

27°

12°

15mm

3d rain

Oct

21°

7°

30mm

4d rain

Nov

13°

1°

34mm

4d rain

Dec

6°

-2°

46mm

6d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Kusadasi Aegean Coast →

Jan

14°

6°

118mm

9d rain

Feb

15°

7°

97mm

8d rain

Mar

17°

9°

73mm

7d rain

Apr

21°

12°

44mm

5d rain

May

25°

16°

28mm

4d rain

Jun

29°

20°

5mm

1d rain

Jul

32°

22°

1mm

0d rain

Aug

32°

22°

0mm

0d rain

Sep

28°

19°

22mm

2d rain

Oct

24°

15°

43mm

4d rain

Nov

19°

11°

96mm

6d rain

Dec

15°

8°

116mm

10d rain

✓ Best Feb-Nov

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Marmaris Turquoise Coast →

Jan

15°

7°

256mm

11d rain

Feb

16°

7°

179mm

10d rain

Mar

18°

9°

126mm

7d rain

Apr

22°

12°

73mm

6d rain

May

26°

16°

29mm

4d rain

Jun

32°

21°

6mm

2d rain

Jul

35°

24°

6mm

2d rain

Aug

35°

24°

1mm

0d rain

Sep

31°

21°

22mm

2d rain

Oct

27°

17°

88mm

5d rain

Nov

21°

12°

182mm

7d rain

Dec

17°

9°

289mm

11d rain

December Wettest month. 289mm · 11 rainy days

✓ Best Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Watch for Dec-Jan monsoon flooding risk · Aug extreme heat risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Pamukkale (Denizli) →

Jan

11°

3°

86mm

8d rain

Feb

13°

4°

70mm

7d rain

Mar

17°

6°

64mm

8d rain

Apr

21°

10°

55mm

7d rain

May

27°

14°

48mm

6d rain

Jun

32°

19°

32mm

4d rain

Jul

36°

22°

15mm

2d rain

Aug

36°

22°

11mm

2d rain

Sep

31°

17°

14mm

3d rain

Oct

25°

13°

37mm

4d rain

Nov

18°

8°

58mm

5d rain

Dec

12°

4°

81mm

8d rain

✓ Best Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov

Watch for Jul-Aug extreme heat risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Safranbolu Black Sea →

Jan

8°

0°

42mm

8d rain

Feb

10°

0°

40mm

7d rain

Mar

14°

2°

45mm

8d rain

Apr

20°

5°

48mm

8d rain

May

25°

10°

57mm

7d rain

Jun

28°

13°

58mm

7d rain

Jul

31°

16°

23mm

3d rain

Aug

32°

16°

24mm

4d rain

Sep

28°

12°

32mm

4d rain

Oct

22°

9°

43mm

6d rain

Nov

14°

3°

31mm

7d rain

Dec

8°

1°

46mm

8d rain

✓ Best Mar-Nov

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Trabzon Black Sea Coast →

Jan

10°

5°

85mm

9d rain

Feb

12°

5°

60mm

7d rain

Mar

13°

6°

66mm

9d rain

Apr

16°

9°

62mm

9d rain

May

20°

13°

54mm

7d rain

Jun

24°

18°

50mm

6d rain

Jul

27°

20°

36mm

4d rain

Aug

28°

21°

49mm

5d rain

Sep

25°

18°

85mm

8d rain

Oct

21°

14°

131mm

10d rain

Nov

17°

10°

101mm

8d rain

Dec

13°

7°

86mm

8d rain

✓ Best Mar-Sep, Dec

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Van Eastern Anatolia →

Jan

3°

-6°

36mm

5d rain

Feb

4°

-5°

32mm

6d rain

Mar

7°

-1°

49mm

8d rain

Apr

13°

4°

57mm

8d rain

May

19°

8°

46mm

8d rain

Jun

24°

12°

16mm

3d rain

Jul

28°

16°

7mm

2d rain

Aug

29°

16°

3mm

2d rain

Sep

24°

12°

17mm

2d rain

Oct

18°

7°

46mm

6d rain

Nov

10°

1°

48mm

6d rain

Dec

5°

-4°

46mm

7d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions