Weather by month for central Turkey, the best months to go and how Turkey's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 19°C to 29°C · 1–8 rain days
Apr, May, Aug, Nov
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 13°C to 30°C · 2–11 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs 4°C to 11°C · 7–12 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C / -5°C | 10 days (54 mm) | 7.0 h/day | 2.7/10 |
| February | 7°C / -3°C | 7 days (31 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 3.5/10 |
| March | 11°C / -1°C | 12 days (63 mm) | 8.8 h/day | 3.9/10 |
| April | 17°C / 4°C | 8 days (38 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| May | 21°C / 9°C | 11 days (58 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| Best month: June | 25°C / 13°C | 8 days (41 mm) | 13.3 h/day | 8.4/10 |
| Best month: July | 29°C / 15°C | 1 day (4 mm) | 13.6 h/day | 8.3/10 |
| August | 30°C / 16°C | 2 days (7 mm) | 12.9 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| Best month: September | 26°C / 12°C | 2 days (13 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 9.5/10 |
| Best month: October | 19°C / 7°C | 4 days (16 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 9.3/10 |
| November | 13°C / 1°C | 5 days (25 mm) | 8.0 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| December | 7°C / -2°C | 9 days (43 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 3.0/10 |
Figures for central Turkey; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
4°C / -5°C · 10 rain days · 7.0 h sun
Expect a cold start to the year, with highs around 4°C and lows down to -5°C. Rain falls on about 10 days, so pack for wet and chilly conditions. The low score here reflects the cold and damp weather rather than any single event, but January 1 is New Year's Day if you're around for it.
7°C / -3°C · 7 rain days · 8.4 h sun
Still cold, with highs near 7°C and lows around -3°C. Rain is lighter than January, about 7 days, and sun hours creep up to 8.4. Scores stay low this month mainly because of the lingering winter chill.
11°C / -1°C · 12 rain days · 8.8 h sun
Highs reach 10.6°C but nights still dip below freezing at -0.5°C. This is actually the wettest month on average, with 12 rain days and 63mm of rainfall. Eid al-Fitr falls late in the month (March 20-22), which is worth knowing if you're planning travel around it.
17°C / 4°C · 8 rain days · 10.5 h sun
Spring brings a real jump in temperature, with highs of 16.7°C and lows above freezing for the first time since autumn. Rain drops to 7.7 days, and sun hours rise to 10.5. This is where the best-time scores start, helped by National Independence & Children's Day on April 23.
21°C / 9°C · 11 rain days · 11.6 h sun
Highs climb to 20.7°C with lows around 8.6°C, giving comfortable days and mild nights. Rain is moderate at 11 days and 58mm, so some showers are still likely. May scores well, and the month carries two holidays: Labour Day on the 1st and Atatürk Commemoration & Youth Day on the 19th.
25°C / 13°C · 8 rain days · 13.3 h sun
Summer heat arrives, with highs of 25.2°C and lows near 12.8°C. Rain becomes rare, just 8 days, and sunshine hours jump to 13.3. This month scores among the highest of the year, making it a solid choice for warm, mostly dry travel.
29°C / 15°C · 1 rain days · 13.6 h sun
July is hot and almost completely dry, with highs near 29°C and only 1.1 rain days all month. Sun hours peak at 13.6, so expect long, bright days. The heat is intense, but the dry weather keeps scores high. Democracy and National Unity Day falls on the 15th.
30°C / 16°C · 2 rain days · 12.9 h sun
The hottest month, with highs of 29.7°C and lows of 15.8°C. Rain stays minimal at 1.6 days, so dry conditions continue. The heat can be tough for some travellers, but scores remain high thanks to the reliable sunshine. Victory Day is marked on August 30.
26°C / 12°C · 2 rain days · 11.4 h sun
Temperatures ease slightly to a high of 25.6°C, while rain stays low at 2.3 days. This combination of warmth and dryness gives September the highest score of the year at 9.5, making it a strong pick for comfortable weather without the peak summer heat.
19°C / 7°C · 4 rain days · 10.0 h sun
Highs drop to 19.3°C and lows to 7.1°C, with rain picking up slightly to 3.5 days. The mild, mostly dry conditions keep October's score nearly as high as September's. Republic Day falls on the 29th, adding a national holiday to the mix.
13°C / 1°C · 5 rain days · 8.0 h sun
Autumn cooling continues, with highs of 12.5°C and lows just above freezing at 1.3°C. Rain increases to 5.1 days. The cooler, wetter weather pulls the score down to 'good' rather than 'best', but it's still milder than the depths of winter.
7°C / -2°C · 9 rain days · 7.1 h sun
Winter returns with highs of 7°C and lows down to -1.8°C. Rain picks up to 8.7 days, bringing damp, chilly conditions typical of the season. The cold and wet weather explain the low score this month, similar to January.
By trip type
City sightseeing
September and October are best for city trips. September averages highs of 26°C with only 2.3 rain days, and October 19°C with 3.5. June and July also work, but July reaches 29°C and June has 8 rain days.
Hiking & nature
October and September suit hiking best, with highs of 19–26°C and under 4 rain days. April (17°C) and November (13°C) are cooler options, but April has 7.7 rain days and November nights drop to about 1°C.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Eid al-Fitr First Day (20 Mar), Eid al-Fitr Second Day (21 Mar), Eid al-Fitr Third Day (22 Mar)
Public holidays: National Independence & Children's Day (23 Apr)
Public holidays: Labour Day (1 May), Atatürk Commemoration & Youth Day (19 May), Eid al-Adha First Day (27 May), Eid al-Adha Second Day (28 May), Eid al-Adha Third Day (29 May), Eid al-Adha Fourth Day (30 May)
Public holidays: Democracy and National Unity Day (15 Jul)
Public holidays: Victory Day (30 Aug)
Public holidays: Republic Day (29 Oct)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. September has the highest score of the year, 9.5 out of 10. Days reach about 25.6°C and nights fall to around 12.4°C. It is also very dry, with only 2.3 rain days and 13 mm of rain. You still get about 11.4 hours of sun a day.
August is the warmest month, but it is not extreme. The average high is 29.7°C and nights cool to about 15.8°C. It is also one of the driest months, with 1.6 rain days, 7 mm of rain and 12.9 hours of sun. It scores 7.8, lower than September (9.5) or June (8.4).
Autumn is usually better. October scores 9.3, while April and May both score 7.8. October has a high of 19.3°C, only 3.5 rain days and 16 mm of rain. May is a little warmer at 20.7°C, but it gets 11 rain days and 58 mm of rain. April is cooler, with a high of 16.7°C and a low of 4.3°C.
January is the coldest month and has the lowest score of the year, 2.7. Days reach only about 3.8°C and nights drop to around -5°C, so expect freezing nights. There are 10.1 rain days with 54 mm of rain, and about 7 hours of sun a day. It suits travellers who enjoy real winter conditions.
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