For most people the best months are May–June and September–October: warm sea, sunny days and smaller crowds than July and August. Istanbul is good year-round but best in spring and autumn. Winter suits city breaks and Cappadocia snow scenes, not beach holidays.
| Season | Coast (Antalya, Bodrum, Fethiye) | Istanbul | Cappadocia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Warm days from April; sea still cool until May | Mild; tulips in April | Fresh and green; good walking |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Hot (often 35°C+), busiest and priciest | Hot and humid, crowded | Hot days, cool nights |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Sea at its warmest in September; quieter from October | Pleasant, clear days | Best walking weather |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Mild in Antalya; many resort hotels close | Cool and wet, occasional snow | Cold, often snowy; balloons still fly on calm days |
| Month | Antalya high (°C) | Antalya sea (°C) | Istanbul high (°C) | Cappadocia high (°C) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | 17 | 9 | 4 | City breaks, snowy Cappadocia |
| Feb | 16 | 17 | 9 | 6 | City breaks |
| Mar | 18 | 17 | 12 | 11 | Sightseeing |
| Apr | 22 | 18 | 16 | 17 | Great for Istanbul and walking |
| May | 26 | 21 | 21 | 22 | Excellent all round |
| Jun | 31 | 25 | 26 | 26 | Beach season begins in earnest |
| Jul | 34 | 28 | 28 | 30 | Peak heat and prices |
| Aug | 34 | 29 | 29 | 30 | Peak heat and prices |
| Sep | 31 | 28 | 25 | 26 | Excellent all round |
| Oct | 26 | 25 | 20 | 19 | Warm sea, fewer crowds |
| Nov | 21 | 22 | 15 | 12 | Quiet; some resorts winding down |
| Dec | 16 | 19 | 11 | 6 | City breaks |
Figures are long-term averages and vary year to year.
UK and Irish school holidays push up prices in late July and August, at Easter and in the October half-term. If you can travel outside these, you’ll pay less and enjoy quieter beaches.
Turkey’s religious holidays follow the lunar calendar and move about 11 days earlier each year. During Ramazan Bayramı (Eid al-Fitr) and Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha), Turkish families travel in huge numbers: domestic flights, buses and coastal hotels fill up, and some offices and museums change their hours. Check the dates before you book.