Do you think Turkey is an exclusively summer destination? But no! Many people go on vacation to Turkey in the winter - to relax in an excellent hotel for little money, breathe in the fresh sea air and catch salt spray, bask in the spa and thermal baths, play sports and go on excursions without crowds of tourists. Find out what the weather is in Turkey in winter, where to go and what to do on vacation.
Where to go in Turkey in winter
Seaside resorts... The favorites of our tourists - Kemer, Antalya, Side, Belek, Alanya - are not idle in winter either. It is usually warm and rainy in winter, but dry days are not uncommon. Our tourists flaunt in T-shirts, escaping from winter and enjoying the unusual warmth. Swimming in the sea is cold, unless you can swim in the heated pool at the hotel or soak in the hammam. Devote fine days to shopping, excursions and sightseeing of museums and ancient ruins. Go to the promenade and marina, admire the yachts and breathe in the salty sea air. Find out where is the best vacation in Turkey.
Istanbul. In winter, people come to the ancient city to do shopping, because chic sales begin. We were in Istanbul in winter - mostly there were unbearable winds and it was very chilly, so if the weather turned bad, I advise you to explore the city. Visit the grandiose Sultanahmet Mosque and the Dolmabahce and Topkapi palaces, look at the richest collection of the Archaeological Museum without any rush and queues, and do not forget about the beautiful Hagia Sophia and the mysterious Basilica Cistern. Visit local restaurants and cafes from time to time to warm up. Find out what is worth seeing in Istanbul.
Ski resorts. Tourists willingly come to the winter resorts of Uludag, Palandoken and Erciyes. The most popular is Uludag. Of course, this is not an alpine resort, but the prices are pleasant and there is "all inclusive"! Most of the tracks are designed for non-professionals, so there are many families with children. Almost every hotel has its own lift, and a ski pass is usually included in the price. There is après ski for every taste.
9 ideas of what to do in winter in Turkey
Celebrate the New Year. The brightest celebrations take place in Istanbul and Ankara, and in resorts the New Year is celebrated in hotels, restaurants or nightclubs. Cities shine with illumination, hotels put up Christmas trees and prepare show programs for guests. An excellent replacement for the annoying Olivier, President's speech and chimes!
- How to celebrate New Year in Antalya
- How to celebrate New Year in Istanbul
Go downhill skiing. Are you surprised? Turkey has good resorts and tracks, especially for beginners.
Go shopping... In Turkey, it's a sin not to buy souvenirs with an oriental flavor, good textiles, leather and fur products, spices and sweets. Moreover, usually from mid-January to March, grandiose sales are arranged here. Even we, very cool about shopping, bought a suitcase of beautiful things! See what to bring from Turkey as a gift for yourself and your family.
Visit holidays and festivals... The ancient town of Konya hosts the festival of the religious dance of the dervishes. The whirling monks in dresses are an unusual sight! And after the New Year, camel fights take place in Selcuk (near Izmir). This is an ancient tradition, the origin of which was laid by the Turkic tribes.
Relax. All year round large hotels must have a heated indoor pool, gym, restaurant, Turkish bath (hammam) and SPA-salon. And all this for reasonable money!
Walk in the fresh air and go on excursions. It's nice to just walk by the sea and catch the soft rays of the sun! It is comfortable to go on excursions: few people, cool, prices are lower.
Explore Turkish cuisine. Turkey is a gastronomic paradise. Try char-grilled hamsa fish, meze, iskander kebab, kefte, pastries, sweets and, of course, thick Turkish coffee. Find out what to try in Turkey.
Improve your health in mineral springs. The best health resorts are Yalova, Pamukkale and Kangal.
Explore the country... A completely different face of the country will open to you if you decide to rent a car and explore unexplored, non-touristy Turkey. Find out where and how to rent a car in Turkey.
The beginning of winter in Turkey
December is the warmest winter month. The popular Mediterranean resorts are free from slush and severe frosts. If the sun bakes you, you can walk lightly dressed. However, it is easy to catch cold in the cold wind! It is cold, windy and damp in the morning and evening, so a hat, warm jacket and a scarf will be needed anyway.
Most tourists choose the warm resorts of the Turkish Riviera - Antalya, Kemer, Alanya and Side for their holidays in Turkey in December. The weather at different resorts is different, but mainly during the day +13 ... + 18 ° С. But in Istanbul it is windy, damp and rather rainy, +10 ... + 12 ° С during the day.
Find out what the weather is like in Turkey in December.
Mid winter
Greenery and sun instead of winter slush and bitter frosts - this is about Turkey in the middle of winter. The climate in the region is very mild, and the temperature in January at sea resorts is usually +10 ... + 14 ° С. True, the weather is capricious.
Sea water heated over the summer cools down slowly, so its temperature is always higher than the air temperature. The warmest sea in January is the Mediterranean, the water temperature is about + 18 ° С. In general, it is cold in Turkey to swim in January, but Siberians and Scandinavians go into the water, which makes the Turks pretty surprised.
Find out what the weather is like in Turkey in January.
End of winter in Turkey
The weather is less capricious than in the first months of winter. For Russians who are accustomed to strong February frosts and piercing winds, a holiday in February is almost heaven. Precipitation is getting less, because spring is gradually coming. However, it is still worth wearing a jacket and boots.
At the resorts of the Turkish Riviera on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, it is about +14 ... + 16 ° С. Thanks to the greenery and warmth, the weather resembles the second half of April in central Russia.
Find out what the weather is like in Turkey in February.
Prices for holidays in Turkey in winter
Tours. On New Year's and Christmas, the prices for trips to Turkey are the same as in summer, but the rest of the time you can relax much cheaper. For example, a week of vacation in Turkey in winter 2020-2021 for "all inclusive" in a good 5 * hotel costs only 40,000 rubles for two when departing from Moscow. Tours to Side, Alanya and Kemer are usually more affordable, and a little more expensive to Belek and Antalya. Read about all inclusive holidays in Turkey.
Last Minute Tours search on Travelata and Level.Travel services - they will find the best deals among all tour operators. Find out how to choose a good trip to Turkey. See also 7 ways to buy a tour for less.
Hotels. Prices in Turkey for hotels in winter are lower than summer prices - sometimes you can rent a 5 * room twice as cheap. The exception is New Years, when prices jump, so book a few months in advance. In Antalya, a double room in a 3 * hotel costs from $ 28, 4 * - from $ 40, 5 * - from $ 60. In Istanbul, a room in a hotel in the historical center can be rented from $ 14 per night, in 4 * - from $ 40. Look for discounted hotels on Hotellook, and apartments from owners on Airbnb.
Turkey's best winter resorts:
- Royal Holiday Palace 5 * in Antalya
- Justiniano Deluxe Resort 5 * in Alanya
- Maxx Royal Belek Golf & Spa 5 * in Belek
- Barut Hotels Hemera Resort & Spa 5 * in Side
- Akka Antedon Hotel 5 * in Beldibi (Kemer)
The best hotels for ski holidays:
- Ağaoğlu My Mountain 4 * in Uludag - All Inclusive
- Bof Hotel Ski & Convention 5 * in Uludag - All Inclusive
- Sway Hotels 5 * in Palandoken - All Inclusive
- Erciyes Hill 3 * in Erciyas - breakfast buffet
Is it worth going to Turkey in winter: reviews of tourists
Tourists in the reviews are not unanimous: someone says that you forgot in Turkey in winter, it is windy and rainy there. Others think that it is worth going, because a vacation in Turkey in winter is a completely different experience and emotions. Sea resorts are very different from summer ones. It seems the same greenery and sun, but everything froze a little. Deserted promenades, pleasant sea air, no hustle and bustle, besides, prices are very pleasant and good discounts in shops.Add to this a fast flight and a visa-free regime ... And judging by the reviews, vacationers are calm about the changeable weather.
Nutrija001: "The weather in mid-February is different. It was drizzling and hot up to 25 degrees. We sunbathed by the pool, I went to the sea to swim on a hot day, invigorating, the water is 17 degrees. But it’s not cold to go out."
You might think that you can get bored in winter in Turkey, but tourists write in reviews that this is not so. There are always activities! Vacationers are advised to choose good hotels with a large territory, indoor pools, a sauna and a sports complex in order to get the most out of their vacation.
sempreme: "We don't get bored in winter Turkey - walks along the sea, trips to Side or to the bazaar in Manavgat (where we buy halva, oil, spices), in the evening hammam and a pool. In the evening we play board games in the lobby, drink hot tea with pastries and delight. In terms of price = quality - we consider it excellent for the New Year. The cost for three for 9 days in a 5 * hotel with service, delicious food with fruits, lamb, etc., swimming pool, sea and sun - almost as much the same as in the suburbs for 3-5 days (without the sea, not always a pool, food is not comparable at all) ".
Nutrija001: "We walked by the sea, shopped, magical discount prices in Waikiki, De Facto. I barely closed my suitcase. I liked my vacation, the winter in Turkey is wonderful. Like our summer, it's even better. The climate is mild, the food is fresh and tasty, the prices are affordable. I will come again. "
As for the ski resorts, opinions are mixed. Tourists who have visited Uludag are generally satisfied. However, in winter there is not always snow or the thickness of the cover is insufficient, sometimes the insidious sun melts the top layer, and during the night it freezes with an ice crust. Also, some tourists were surprised at the prices for equipment rental ($ 100 for 1 hour of snowmobiling), plus SPA and instruction are expensive, so the "bagless" people have a hard time.
Vladimir: "Old ski lifts, short runs, no snow cannons, there is no culture of skiing among local people. The ski passes are paper, every time you need to put a card into the validator to get to the ski lift. Often the Turks cross your snowboard with skis, standing in line at the lift, scratching him and without apologizing! "
MariSky: "The ski business is well developed. I have been visiting the resort for 4 years. Many hotels, restaurants and cafes, clean areas, fresh air, ski and uniform rental. Low prices. Many coaches."
