Hi,
I am planning a trip to Istanbul for early August. I heard the weather is very hot during this time. Should I still continue planning this trip even though the weather will be very hot? I heard it can be very busy/touristy during August.
Also, what is the best way to travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia? Should I buy the flight while I am in Istanbul or should I book the ticket early?
It is hot yes,but I guess that is relative;if you are used to hot weather then it will be nothing you cannot cope with.If you aren't then just take your time,drink plenty of fluids and you'll be fine.You can expect it to be c.30-32oC most of the time with odd days a tad higher.
August in Istanbul is no busier than any other time these days.many choose this period for coastal holidays so foreign tourism doesn't increase especially and many local people will be away on their summer holidays too.
Flying is the quickest way to reach Cappadocia(I guess you're not interested in a 10 hour overnight bus ride...right??).Flights go from both of Istanbul's airports to Nevşehir and Kayseri.Flights to the latter tend to be far more frequent and cheaper too.Transfer time from there is not very much more than from Nevşehir,maybe an extra 20 minutes is all.
If you definately know you'll go to Cappadocia then it would be wise to book your flights asap.The nearer the date so the prices tend to rise and seat availability drops.
Turkish Airlines,Pegasus,Anadolujet and Onurair all cover the routes so you can look at their web sites and book directly with them.
As above...it is hot but far from unbearable.Depends on you and your tolerance to heat I guess.
It will be busy too...at the main tourist attractions.These days in Istanbul I think it is almost always busy at those places ;-) Maybe in the middle of winter? It is a huge city with a large population,and it is crowded,aside from tourists.
I have done the overnight bus to Cappadocia a few times..its fine,if you don't mind a nightbus.Fairly economical and you save a night's accommodation cost.
Alternatively there is the plane as above..faster for sure,more expensive.As sari suggests book it in advance if you decide on a flight....
It's not as hot as you might think. Yes it's warm but akin to several European cities in summer rather than swelteringly tropical.
I disagree with the above, August is the height of European school holidays and Istanbul is exceptionally busy.
What is 'hot' or 'warm' differs from person to person..depends on your experience,what you are used to.....your tolerance.
Last summer I was there in August.It was around 33°during the day, as i remember.Hot for many,but cooler than the European city that I live in.......
I agree on the number of tourists..there will be a lot.But there are nearly always a lot of tourists in Istanbul these days.It is on the way to becoming one of the most visited cities in the world....I think it is already in the top 6 or 7.
Pretty much all the major tourist cities in the world are 'hot' in August..apart from a couple In Australia,and maybe Cape Town and Buenos Aires.....plus London sometimes ;-)
If people have vacation at that time,they will travel.....
@4"... I disagree with the above, August is the height of European school holidays and Istanbul is exceptionally busy...."
Yes,it is the height of the European school holiday season but,as I pointed out, most tend to take coastal holidays, with perhaps some just spending an odd day or so in Istanbul en route to the coast.In August one can frequently find some excellent hotel special offers in Istanbul as they wish to encourage visitors to spend longer in the city at this time of year.
I was in Istanbul last August and found it quite a nice time to visit certainly quieter than other times I have visited, as Sarikanarya says most people head to the coast at this time of the year, as do a lot of the residents. Of course the main attractions are still busy but as not as much as when I visited in June or September. As for flights as always it is cheaper to book in advance, buses it makes no difference.
