Although Turkey is situated in a geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate, the diverse nature of the landscape, and the existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts, results in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. Istanbul is part of Europe and the weather reflects that. You’ll find a wet cold winter (3-8 degrees Celsius) slowly turning into a damp, warm Spring and a mild to hot (18-32 C°) summer that doesn’t hang around any longer than feels is necessary. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers (24-36°C) and mild winters (4-16 °C). Cappadocia shares the climate of much of inland Turkey. Summers can be very hot and your altitude is directly proportional to the amount of snow you get in the winter.

Being a large country there is no ‘average’ climatic condition and there are considerable variations between Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coastal regions. In Central Anatolia (Cappadocia) there is a considerable variation between day and night time temperatures, with summer peaking at around 26°C. Around Izmir and Ephesus the climate is warmer still, with average summertime temperatures occasionally exceeding 30°C. Further south on the Mediterranean in Fethiye mild winter for a few months and long hot summers with 30°C average. As for eastern Turkey The climate of the region can be harsh and unpredictable, summers tend to be hot and extremely dry. Winters are bitterly cold with frequent, heavy snowfall. Villages can be isolated for several days during winter storms. Spring and autumn are generally mild, but during both seasons sudden hot and cold spells frequently occur.

There are seven basic climatic areas:
Marmara — temperate, warm and fairly humid summer days, cool nights, chilly and rainy winters; Marmara Average Temperature: 14.2

Aegean — hotter and drier than Marmara, but can be almost as cold in winter; Aegean Average Temperature: 4.3

Mediterranean — hot and humid in summer, especially the eastern coast, mild but rainy and coolish in winter; Mediterranean Average Temperature: 17.2

Central Anatolia — hot, dry summers, cold, rainy winters with snow; Central Anatolia Average Temperature: 0.7

Black Sea — high rainfall, most days overcast, mild and humid in summer, damp and chilly in winter; Black Sea Average Temperature: 12.5

Southeast Anatolia — very dry and very hot (100+ F/38+ C) in summer, mild and dry in winter; Southeast Anatolia Average Temperature: 16.0

Eastern Anatolia — mild, short, dry summers, long and bitterly cold winters with lots of snow. Do take a sweater for evenings year round. Eastern Anatolia Average Temperature: 8.1