Best time to visit Turkey
The best time to visit Turkey is during the summer months between June and August when the weather is warm to hot.
For slightly cooler but still pleasant weather visit during spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) when temperatures range between 16°C (61°F) and 25°C (77°F).
Turkey is a huge country with varying regional climates. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, wet winters.
The Anatolian plateau is very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Ankara's average temperatures range from -4°C (24°F) in winter to 30°C (86°F) in summer.
The Black Sea coast is wet year-round, mild in summer and cold in winter, and best between April and September.
The east of the country is mountainous with warm summers and very cold, snowy winters, and best from late June to September.
Holiday seasons
High season: Lasts from July to mid-September when prices are at their highest, and during Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Low season: The ‘shoulder season’ months of April, May, mid- to late September and October.
Out of season: Winter – accommodation on the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts is often closed from mid-October until late-April – with the exception of Christmas and New Year.
South Coast of Turkey
The weather along the southern coast of Turkey – home to many of the countries top resorts – is distinctly Mediterranean: summers are hot ranging, from 30°C (86°F) to 35°C (95°F), while winters are usually mild, with average highs around 15°C (59°F).
Kusadasi
Kusadasi – located midway along Turkey's western Aegean coast – enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and mild winters.
Average highs in May reach 24°C (75°F) rising to 29°C (84°F) in June; July and August average 30°C (86°F) with a low around 18°C (64°F) at night; September sees an average high of 28°C (82°F); and October is still warm averaging 23°C (73°F).
Winter from December through January averages 13°C (55°F). December is often the wettest month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 14 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 65 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 70 | 70 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 145 | 105 | 82 | 47 | 26 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 42 | 92 | 152 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 |
| Kusadasi, Aydin, Turkey | |||||||||||
Antalya
Antalya – located on the southern coast – enjoys average summer temperatures of 30°C (86°F) in July and August. This is also the peak holiday season when most Turks take their holidays.
For hot weather, visit in summer from July to mid-September when temperatures often exceed 35°C (95°F) in July and August.
Spring (April to May), early summer (June) and autumn (September to October) offer very pleasant weather conditions in Antalya, with temperatures ranging between 16°C (61°F) and 26°C (79°F).
Average temperatures increase from 21°C (70°F) in April to 34°C (93°F) in July and 27°C (81°F) in October before returning to around 21°C (70°F) in November.
This region has two distinct seasons: summer from May to October and winter from November through March, which has an average temperature of 12°C (53°F) and a low of 6°C (43°F). December and January are the wettest months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 16 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 65 | 65 | 65 | 70 | 65 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 65 | 70 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 210 | 115 | 95 | 65 | 35 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 75 | 150 | 270 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
| Antalya, Turkey | |||||||||||
Istanbul
In Istanbul, summer temperatures, from mid-June to mid-September, average 28°C (82°F).
However, during July and August mid-day temperatures often soar beyond 35°C (95°F).
Winter, from December to February, is chilly and wet averaging 10°C (50°F), while during spring (April to May) and autumn (October and November), temperatures range from 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F).
More information about weather in Turkey, including: Antalya – Bodrum – Cesme – Kusadasi – Marmaris – Oludeniz & Fethiye – Side
Climate source: Meteorological data for destinations in Turkey is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the Turkish State Meteorological Service from the closest weather stations.
Advice on the best time to visit Turkey is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Turkey: 27 April, 2025
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