Are you considering a winter holiday somewhere, but you’re not sure where? We’ll go over why Turkey may be a great candidate for your spot. Today’s post will examine the weather in Turkey in winter and what parts of Turkey you can still enjoy in December and January.
What is the weather like in Turkey in winter?
Temperatures in winter
Turkey is a really massive country, and, as such, its temperatures can be quite varied at any point in time. The further east you go, the lower the temperatures are. As such, winter in the east can get very cold and snowy. On the west coast and parts of the south coast, it’s significantly warmer. To provide examples of both, Kars, north-east of Turkey, you’ll find temperatures in January dropping to a very wide range of 0 to -23°C. In Izmir, on the west coast of Turkey, temperatures in the same month can range from 15-18 °C on average.
The differences are, as such, massive, so you can choose your own desired flavour of winter when picking a location in Turkey. You can certainly find plenty of very warm places in winter, given that that’s more likely what you’re seeking than -23°C.
What interesting things can you do in Turkey in winter?
A train ride to the East
The Turkish Orient Express
Dogu Express is a train ride that we’d compare to a mixture of the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Its route, from Ankara to Kars, is more than 800 miles long and the whole journey takes over 24 hours. A ticket on the Dogu Express costs only 400 TRY, so about 12 pounds per person. You can either choose traditional seats or a couchette (with 4 beds each. In winter, it’s a chance to see the whole array of winter sights, from the tame west to the aforementioned Kars, with snow-covered hills and mountains. It’s a very unique experience, we’d highly recommend you try to incorporate it into your plans.
Balloon rides over Cappadocia in winter
Winter in Cappadocia
If you’ve heard of Cappadocia, then it’s likely you’ve heard of it because of its balloon tours. If that sounds like something up your alley, then you should certainly consider balloon rides over Cappadocia in winter. The incredible landscapes of Cappadocia are more than enough to warrant the low winter temperatures. One thing you have to watch out for though is that the chances of a ride being cancelled in winter are a little higher due to winds or heavier rainfalls.
Read more about balloon tours in Cappadocia.
Less tourists, lower prices
Smaller crowds in Turkey
The low season also means significantly fewer tourists in Turkey. You certainly won’t have to push your way through crowds to get to a site. Additionally, holidays in Turkey are much cheaper in winter than in July or AUgust. For instance, in 2018, 6 million tourists came to Turkey. In December, there were three times less. In January, five times less.
Skiing in Turkey
Where to ski in Turkey
Yes, you can totally ski in Turkey, and on some pretty good trails too. Where should you go skiing in Turkey? You can’t go wrong with Uludağ (Ulu), Palandöken (Ejder 3200) or Sarıkamıs. Turkey is a mountainous country, so you’ll find quite a few ski resorts here too. They are mainly concentrated in the east of the country due to the lower temperatures we mentioned.
Amazing views
Beautiful places in Turkey in winter
One additional aspect that many people may not consider is how much the aesthetics of a place change with a change of season. Even if the west of Turkey doesn’t change drastically temperature-wise, the colour-palette and lighting of winter makes every place, no matter how familiar, feel so different and fresh. And this is especially important for Turkey, as it’s a country full of stunning sights and landscapes, so there’s lots to rediscover under the veil of winter.
Weather in December in Turkey
Temperatures in December
You can expect between 11 to 18 degrees Celsius on the west coast of Turkey, though you can also find warmer days, with temperatures going well over 20 degrees. It may rain a little, so take an umbrella just in case. In Kars, ergo the east of Turkey, temperatures range from -6 to 4 on average, so it is comparatively quite cold.
Weather in January in Turkey
Temperatures in January
West coast temperatures will not change much – there are still days in January where thermometers go over 20 degrees. In Kars, however, the temperatures take a dip straight into Siberia, with temperatures as low as -23 degrees Celsius at night. That’s actually dangerous, so please do keep that in mind if east of Turkey is of interest to you.
Thus yes, we’d certainly say that you should visit Turkey in winter, as you can choose a suitable location to tailor the temperatures to your liking. Wherever you’ll end up, you’ll find lower prices, fewer tourists and the same beauty that Turkey offers all year long.
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