Türkiye.
Any month
TürkiyeGuide
The best month? It’s any month!
January
Istanbul is generally cold, gray and wet, and coastal resorts are deserted.
Ski season is in full swing on Mt. Erciyes in Cappadocia, as well as farther east in Erzurum and Kars, and at Kartepe and Uludağwithin driving distance of Istanbul.
Black Sea anchovies (hamsi) are at their fattest and most delicious.
Not-to-miss events:
- Greek Orthodox Epiphany
- Selçuk Camel Wrestling Championship
February
Can’t warm up? A steamy hamam might do the trick.
Early signs of spring are starting to crack through the winter chill along Turkey’s southern coast in places like Datça, which hosts an annual almond blossom festival.
Not-to-miss event:
- Datça Almond Blossom Festival
.
March
Kurdish communities celebrate Newroz, a festival marking the beginning of spring.
Wintry Istanbul starts to defrost, and days on the Mediterranean coast can be sunny and warm (though sea temperatures will take some time to catch up).
Not-to-miss events:
- Newroz
- İzmir European Jazz Festival
April
Tulips bloom in parks across Istanbul, as do wildflowers in many parts of the country, making April a wonderful (if occasionally rainy) time of year for hiking on southern routes like the Lycian Way and Carian Trail.
Çanakkale draws visitors en masse for Anzac Day, the annual commemoration of Allied soldiers (mostly from Australia and New Zealand) killed on the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli.
Not-to-miss events:
- Istanbul Tulip Festival
- Anzac Day
- Istanbul Film Festival
- Alaçatı Herb Festival
- Urla Artichoke Festival
May
Istanbul’s sidewalk cafes and rooftop bars are hopping, and the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are warm but not yet sweltering.
Even Turkey’s far east is thawing out.
It’s a good time to be pretty much anywhere in the country.
Do not miss:
- Hıdrellez
.
June
The summer festival season kicks off with outdoor classical concerts in Istanbul, some at historic sites.
Beaches are starting to get busy, and the heat in the country’s southeast is becoming formidable.
Key events:
- Istanbul Music Festival
- International Bursa Festival
- Tekirdağ Cherry Festival
July
The green high pastures (yayla) in the mountains of the Black Sea region offer relief from the heat elsewhere. Lush lavender fields are blooming in Isparta’s Kuyucak village and İzmir’s Seferihisar.
Do not miss:
- Istanbul Jazz Festival
- Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race
- Istanbul Opera Festival
- Bozcaada Jazz Festival
- Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Championships
.
August
With beaches heaving with people during the high summer holidays, a blue cruise on a gulet (traditional wooden yacht) around the Aegean or Mediterranean coast is an ideal escape.
In Istanbul, catch a breeze on a ferry ride or Bosphorus tour.
It’s also prime time to hike the Kaçkar Mountains, which are snowed in for much of the rest of the year.
Key events:
- Gümüşlük Classical Music Festival
- Bodrum Ballet Festival
- Ephesus Opera and Ballet Festival
September
Beach towns start to get a bit quieter (though remain wonderfully warm) as the school holidays end.
Istanbul bustles again, with a packed cultural calendar, especially when it comes to visual art exhibitions and events.
Key events:
- Istanbul Biennial
- Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
- Bosphorus Cup Istanbul Regatta
October
Cappadocia and the coasts are generally still warm, Istanbul usually has more nice days than gray ones, the southeast is starting to cool off, and crowds and prices are diminished most everywhere.
Key events:
- Istanbul Design Biennial
- Republic Day
- Cappadocia Ultra-Trail
- Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival
.
November
Rainy season starts to set in around much of the country, making this a great time to invest in a museum pass. Brighten up a dreary day with a fresh-pressed juice – it’s pomegranate season!
Events to catch:
- Istanbul Marathon
- Istanbul Theater Festival
- Istanbul Puppet Festival
- Bursa Karagöz Shadow Puppetry Festival
December
The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia are even more otherworldly than usual when it snows (though inclement weather often keeps the famous hot-air balloons grounded).
The central Anatolia city of Konya puts on a week of events commemorating the death of Mevlana, the Sufi mystic and poet better known in the West as Rumi.
Event to visit:
- Konya Mevlana Festival