Turkey is a big country with a lot to see: Istanbul on the Bosphorus, the strange rock valleys of Cappadocia, Greek and Roman cities along the Aegean, long Mediterranean beaches and, further east, high mountains and very old sites that see few foreign visitors. It runs on a single time zone with no clock changes, and its climate ranges from mild and wet on the Black Sea to hot summers and snowy winters on the central plateau.
Turkey for visitors
Most trips begin in Istanbul, the largest city, with its mosques, bazaars and palaces in the old city and the ferries that cross between the European and Asian sides. The capital, Ankara, in the middle of the country, is worth a stop on the way to Cappadocia for the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Atatürk mausoleum.
Cappadocia and central Anatolia
Cappadocia is a region of soft volcanic rock carved by erosion into cones and pillars, with cave churches, underground cities and hotels built into the rock. Hot-air balloon flights at sunrise are the famous experience, and the valleys are good for walking.
The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts
The Aegean coast around İzmir has the ruins of Ephesus and Pergamon, and resort towns such as Bodrum and Çeşme. Inland, the white terraces of Pamukkale sit above the ruins of Hierapolis. The Mediterranean coast, from Fethiye and Kaş to Antalya and beyond, combines beaches, boat trips and the Lycian Way, a long-distance walking trail past ancient tombs and cliffs.
The Black Sea and the east
The Black Sea coast is green and wet, with tea plantations, mountain pastures and the Sumela Monastery near Trabzon. The east and south-east are quieter and more traditional: the giant stone heads on Mount Nemrut, the old stone town of Mardin, Göbekli Tepe near Şanlıurfa, Lake Van and the medieval ruins of Ani near Kars.
Getting around
Distances are long. Domestic flights are the usual way to link Istanbul with Cappadocia, the coast or the east. Comfortable long-distance coaches go almost everywhere, high-speed trains link Istanbul, Ankara and Konya, and a rental car makes sense on the coast.
Time in Turkey
Turkey has one time zone, Europe/Istanbul, known as Turkey Time. It is UTC+3 all year: the country does not use daylight saving time, so the clocks never go forward or back.
That has been the case since September 2016, when Turkey stopped changing its clocks and stayed permanently on what had been its summer time, three hours ahead of UTC ([1]).
One clock for such a wide country means late winter mornings in the west and early summer sunrises in the east. In Ankara, the sun rises at about 08:06 in late December and 05:20 in late June.
Right now Turkey is 3 hours ahead of London and 1 hour behind Dubai. The gap with Europe changes by an hour when Europe changes its clocks. Flights from Western Europe take a few hours, so jet lag is rarely a problem; from the Americas or East Asia, plan an easy first day.
Climate and weather
Turkey has several climates. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. The Black Sea coast is mild and wet in every season, which keeps it green. The central Anatolian plateau, including Ankara and Cappadocia, is dry and continental: hot summer days, cool nights, and cold winters with regular snow. The mountainous east has long, harsh winters and short summers, and the south-east is very hot and dry in summer.
Istanbul sits between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and has a mix of Mediterranean and humid climates. Its average highs range from 9°C in January to 28°C in August, and it gets about 865 mm of rain a year. The wettest month in Istanbul is December, and summers there are fairly dry. The Istanbul guide has the full month-by-month figures.
Istanbul is a mild middle ground, not a guide to the whole country: the south coast is much hotter in summer and warmer in winter, while Ankara and Cappadocia are colder in winter, and the east is colder still.
Summer heatwaves are common inland and on the south coast; our guide to extreme heat covers how to plan around very hot days.
Best time to visit Turkey
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for a trip that mixes cities, ruins and Cappadocia. From April to early June and from September to October, the temperatures are comfortable for walking around Istanbul, Ephesus or the rock valleys, and the countryside is green in spring.
Summer is beach season on the Aegean and Mediterranean, and the sea stays warm enough for swimming well into autumn on the south coast. July and August are hot and busy, with European and Turkish school holidays filling the resorts. Summer is also the best time for the Black Sea mountains and the high east, where winter lasts a long time.
Winter in Istanbul is often grey and wet, but queues at the big sights are short. Cappadocia under snow is striking, and there are ski resorts at Uludağ near Bursa and Palandöken near Erzurum.
During Ramadan many people fast from dawn to sunset. In Istanbul and the resorts daily life goes on much as usual, while in more conservative towns the days are quieter and the streets fill up after the evening meal. The two religious holidays, at the end of Ramadan and a couple of months later, move earlier each year and bring busy roads, coaches and flights as people travel to see family.
Practical facts
- Capital: Ankara, not Istanbul.
- Population: about 87 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: Turkish lira (TRY). Cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops in cities and resorts; carry some cash for markets, small shops and rural areas.
- Language: Turkish. English is common in hotels and tourist areas, less so elsewhere. Merhaba (hello) and teşekkür ederim (thank you) go a long way.
- Calling code: +90.
- Tipping: a small tip is customary in restaurants and for guides, and rounding up is usual in taxis.
- Driving: on the right.
- Mosques: visitors are welcome outside prayer times; cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a headscarf.
- Emergency number: 112 for the police, gendarmerie, fire service, ambulance and coast guard ([2]).
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- Istanbul city guide: the seasons month by month, the lodos and poyraz winds, Black Sea snow, what to pack, and how Istanbul's clock lines up with the rest of the world.
- World Clock: Turkey's time next to your own and other cities.
- Weather: live conditions and the forecast for Ankara, Antalya, Cappadocia or any town in Turkey.
- Asia: time zones and key facts for every country on the continent.
- Further reading: a guide to UTC and the world's time zones.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Turkey in?
All of Turkey uses Turkey Time, UTC+3, with the IANA identifier Europe/Istanbul.
Does Turkey have daylight saving time?
No. Turkey stopped changing its clocks in 2016 and now keeps the same time all year ([1]).
Is Istanbul the capital of Turkey?
No. The capital is Ankara. Istanbul is the largest city and the main entry point for visitors.
When is the best time to visit Cappadocia?
Spring and autumn bring mild days and the most settled weather for walking and balloon flights. Summer days are hot but nights are cool; winter is cold, often with snow.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Turkey?
On the right.
Sources
- IANA: Time Zone Database release 2016g: Turkey switched from EET/EEST (+02/+03) to permanent +03, effective 7 September 2016.
- Milliyet: Interior Ministry announces a single emergency number across Turkey (in Turkish, 11 October 2021): police, gendarmerie, fire, ambulance, coast guard and disaster lines combined under 112.