When to Visit Turkey

Vikas Mishra of San Ramon, California, leverages more than two decades of IT experience to design, deploy, and monitor various computer applications using AWS (Amazon Web Services). In his time away from work, Vikas Mishra enjoys travel to foreign countries, including Turkey.

Turkey’s high season for tourists is roughly April through September, which spans the country’s spring, summer, and fall seasons. Spring in Turkey, from March to May, is characterized by long days and temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

While there is some rainfall in April, the skies stay mostly clear throughout the spring season, leaving plenty of activities open to tourists. Hotels in much of the country are fully booked in these months, and prices are generally high. However, spring is an off-season for beach resorts along the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.

In the summer months, temperatures get very hot in most regions of Turkey. In June through August, the average daytime temperature stays between 80 and 90 degrees in areas such as Cappadocia, Fethiye, and Istanbul. Rainfall is at a minimum during these months, and beach resorts are crowded and expensive. Fortunately, this is when tourists can find plenty of deals inland.

In the autumn months of September and October, temperatures are mild, but the days are noticeably shorter. Rainfall also picks up in October. Many hotels again fill up, particularly in Istanbul and Cappadocia, which leads to higher prices. Beach resort prices drop in autumn, however.

Winter is the least popular time to visit Turkey because of the low temperatures and high rainfall from November through February. However, the weather is offset by smaller crowds and lower prices, which makes winter a good option for visitors looking for an affordable vacation.