You might think of Turkey just as a summer destination. But it has a climate that allows you to visit all year round, depending on your activities.

For beach-goers there’s no doubt that summer delivers the goods! Long sunny days send temperatures reliably into the 30s Celsius at Antalya and most other coastal resorts, both on the Mediterranean and Turquoise coasts. Inland it can get even hotter, triggering occasional summer thunderstorms.

If sightseeing’s your thing, the autumn months might offer a more mellow warmth. Indeed, through September and October, the heat is more comfortable and the weather still mostly fine - a great time to visit the ancient history of Cappadocia, for example.

By November, the weather is turning more unsettled, and the first snows arrive to the mountains inland. Through the winter months of December to February, you can expect mixed weather through much of Turkey. Snow can occasionally reach Istanbul and the capital Ankara, but temperatures can vary quite markedly from day to day. And southern coastal locations hold onto a milder climate - ideal for an out-of-season bargain.

Spring arrives haphazardly, but showers become less frequent from March to May. Temperatures rise steadily, but it’s a great time to sight-see, before the peak of the heat arrives by June, when sunscreen becomes a ‘must’ for the summer.