When is the cheapest time to visit Turkey?

Prices bottom out in Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec — typically 20-40% below peak-season rates on hotels and flights.

What months should I avoid in Turkey?

There's no single "avoid" month — every season in Turkey has something to offer.

Best time to visit · Europe / Western Asia

When to go to Turkey

Spring and autumn are the best times for Istanbul and Cappadocia. The Mediterranean coast is perfect June–September; eastern Turkey is best in summer.

Best: April–June, September–NovemberPeak: July–August

Month-by-month

Jan

Okay

3°–9°C · 95mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low

Feb

Okay

3°–10°C · 75mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low

Mar

Good

5°–13°C · 65mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low

Apr

Great

9°–18°C · 45mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium

Tulip Festival in Istanbul

May

Great

14°–23°C · 30mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium

Jun

Great

18°–28°C · 20mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high

Jul

Good

21°–31°C · 5mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high

Hot in southeast

Aug

Good

22°–31°C · 5mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high

Sep

Great

18°–27°C · 15mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium

Oct

Great

14°–21°C · 50mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium

Nov

Good

9°–16°C · 75mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low

Dec

Okay

5°–11°C · 100mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low

Festivals worth timing your trip around

Apr

Istanbul Tulip Festival

Over 30 million tulips bloom across Istanbul’s parks and gardens.

Apr–Nov

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Season

Hundreds of balloons float above fairy chimneys at dawn.

Dec

Whirling Dervishes Festival

Commemorative Sema ceremony in Konya honouring Rumi.

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Hotels in Turkey →Flights to Turkey →

Common questions about Turkey

When is the best time to visit Turkey?: April–June, September–November. Spring and autumn are the best times for Istanbul and Cappadocia. The Mediterranean coast is perfect June–September; eastern Turkey is best in summer.
When is the cheapest time to visit Turkey?: Prices bottom out in Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec — typically 20-40% below peak-season rates on hotels and flights.
What months should I avoid in Turkey?: There's no single "avoid" month — every season in Turkey has something to offer.
When is peak tourist season in Turkey?: July–August

See also the full Turkey climate deep-dive with temperature heatmap and daily-rainfall breakdown.