When is the best time to visit Turkey?

The best time to visit depends on where you go. Alanya: June & July; Ankara: July & September; Antalya: June & July; Blue Mosque: May & June; Bodrum: June & July; Cappadocia: June & September.

Which month is best overall in Turkey?

Averaged across our 12 destinations in Turkey, the strongest months are May, October, April. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.

How are the Turkey travel scores calculated?

Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Best Time to Visit Turkey: Weather by Month

01 · Turkey

About Turkey

Turkey bridges Europe and Asia, with Aegean and Mediterranean coasts in the west and south, and a high dry plateau in the middle. Istanbul guards the Bosphorus, Cappadocia holds its rock-cut valleys and balloon flights, the Aegean coast is packed with Greek and Roman ruins, and the eastern mountains near Ararat and Lake Van feel like another country. Spring and autumn are most comfortable, summer is hot inland, and winter brings snow to the east.

Did you know?

Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, and the city has been the capital of three empires.
Turkey is one of the world's largest producers of hazelnuts, apricots, figs and cherries, and grows much of Europe's produce.
Cappadocia's fairy chimneys were carved from volcanic tuff, and its underground cities, such as Derinkuyu, sheltered thousands of people.

Weather

Turkey: weather by month

Warmest month: August (28°C). Wettest: December (99 mm). Best overall score: May (9.7/10).

Month	Avg temp	Rain	Sunny days	Score
January	7°C	97 mm	14	5.9/10
February	8°C	56 mm	15	7.1/10
March	9°C	70 mm	20	7.6/10
April	15°C	50 mm	25	9.5/10
May	18°C	44 mm	29	9.7/10
June	24°C	32 mm	30	9.0/10
July	27°C	17 mm	31	7.6/10
August	28°C	11 mm	30	7.6/10
September	24°C	27 mm	26	9.3/10
October	18°C	30 mm	21	9.7/10
November	14°C	91 mm	15	7.4/10
December	10°C	99 mm	14	6.2/10

Travel Tips

01Best time & timing: May leads the year at 9.7/10, with October and April close behind — January (5.9/10) is the one to avoid without a specific reason.
02Weather & what to pack: In May plan for about 18°C; the month brings 44 mm of rain. Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
03Crowds & value: Crowds build in April and rates follow; September usually pairs good conditions (9.3/10) with the lowest prices of the strong months.

Things to do in Turkey

Turkey. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Turkey?: The best time to visit depends on where you go. Alanya: June & July; Ankara: July & September; Antalya: June & July; Blue Mosque: May & June; Bodrum: June & July; Cappadocia: June & September.
Which month is best overall in Turkey?: Averaged across our 12 destinations in Turkey, the strongest months are May, October, April. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.
Which cities in Turkey does bestime.to cover?: We currently score 12 destinations in Turkey: Alanya, Ankara, Antalya, Blue Mosque, Bodrum, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Izmir, +2 more.
How are the Turkey travel scores calculated?: Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

Curated in Turkey