I am planning a trip for my family to Istanbul (or other recommended areas in Turkey) for this coming christmas season.
Can you, experts of this area, please inform me of the weather at this time.
What time of the year is best to visit anyway? Is it pleasant in december-januarY?
Is this winter season uncomfortable or quiet? Slow or crazy?
I would love your insight, your take on the city and advice...
Greatly appreciated.
blessings and light to all on your journeys.
ceciliafox
1
hmb
I just asnwered this exact question yesterday. Please look at my answers on yesterday's page. It saves us from giving the same answers over and over again, before you give us your questions.
December is the last place to go for a holiday in Turkey. The weather is horrid (most of Turkey's rain falls between Nov and March. No it is not pleasant in December or January. Yes the winter season is uncomfortable. (We lived through 7 Turkish winters.)
Best time of the year to visit Turkey is April-May and Sept-Oct. You might get lucky on the Med coast around Antalya, and then again it rain for a week.
2
evidonia
I've been in Istanbul two times in mid-November and it was quite pleasant. Many days were sunny and temperature around 10 degrees Celsius, but a few days were rainy. But this is November, so expect December-January to be more rainy or even snowy. The temperature in Istanbul in Dec-Jan can be around 5 degrees Celsius.
Istanbul is never a quiet city, it's always traffic and much people. The best time to go to Istanbul is as HMB says; April-May or Sept-Oct (or even beginning of June or in November, I'd say). The rest of the year it is either too hot or possibilities of much rain or too cold (usually cold winds in Istanbul in March). But since the world climate is changing (i.e. has been crazy the past years) a Wintervisit in Istanbul can also turn out to be pleasant...
:-)
3
zacharym87
Last December we had cold weather but no snow to speak of. The winter before was colder and we got a lot more snow, so December here can be unpredictable. Interestingly, large parts of the city are decorated for Christmas in this Muslim city, although most Turks seem to be under the impression that Christmas is on January 1 rather than December 25.
5
balikci
hi cecilia
you can visit istanbul anytime you wish,
weather is good,
turkey is being affecting from global worming and climate change,
last year we missed snow and rain so much,
there wasn't even a drop of snow last year in the same monthes.
best time for visitng istanbul actually august cos holiday time and traffic is not bad.
but in winter season or spring season no problem public transportations is good,
do not worry about weather in istanbul and enjoy your holiday visit
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner