What is the best time to visit Turkey?
The best time to visit Turkey depends on your preferences and interests. Turkey is a country for all seasons, with diverse landscapes, cultures, and cuisine. Here are some recommendations based on the season:
High Season (June to August): This is the best time to visit Turkey if you’re looking for beaches, Black Sea highlands, and outdoor events. Sun seekers both foreign and domestic flock to Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts in summer, meaning crowds and costs go up with the temperatures. Booking ahead is a must in popular destinations, many of which also host lively outdoor festivals featuring performances by the seaside or in historic amphitheaters. If you’re not on the water, many parts of the country, including Istanbul and Cappadocia, can be unpleasantly hot in summer, but it’s a great time to explore the cooler green highlands of the Black Sea mountains.
Shoulder Season (April to May, September to October): This is the best time to visit Turkey for sightseeing, hiking, and cultural events. Spring and fall are pleasant times of year to be almost anywhere in the country, with temperatures often warm enough for outdoor dining and drinking but not oppressively hot. Istanbul and other big cities usually have a lively calendar of arts and cultural events. In the fall months, it’s still warm enough to swim, especially along the Mediterranean coast, and blissfully relaxed after school holidays end and most tourists return home.
Low Season (November to March): This is the best time to visit Turkey for skiing and for bargains elsewhere. Winter is high season in ski-resort areas, but elsewhere you’ll find good deals and few other visitors. The weather can be dreary, but Turkey’s many museums provide lots to do indoors, and its hamams (Turkish bathhouses) are great for warming up. Dinner in a meyhane (tavern) or ocakbaşı (grill house) is a cozy way to pass a lively evening.
