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There are multitudinous touristic grounds for visiting Turkey. These reasons range from the multiple historical sites to the striking natural features that sprawl the country's landscape. Furthermore, the rich cuisines the nation offers are worth exploring.

Apart from that, its cities boast striking architectural ingenious dating back to the 15th century. Travelers love visiting this unique Middle Eastern nation, with Istanbul receiving a colossal chunk of tourists.

The Best Time To Visit Turkey

Turkey often experiences varying weather conditions in its different regions. Furthermore, its immense size makes it have three distinct climatic zones. The trick to abate these diverse conditions is opportunistically exploring this vast nation.

Related: Your Biggest FAQs About Visiting Turkey, Answered

November-March (Winter)

During this time, the weather gets chilly in most parts of the country except the southeast region. The average temperatures often range between 40 and 59 °F, with most parts experiencing snow, including Cappadocia.

The weather gets extremely snowy as it gets toward the end of February. These conditions make this time perfect for travelers interested in exploring Turkey's skiing slopes, especially Erzurum or Kartepe.

April-May (Spring)

Spring accentuates the country's landscape since this is the period of snow melting and flowers blooming. The weather experienced is often chilly and relatively warm, making it perfect for outdoor activities like hiking.

During this time, Turkey averages temperatures of 74 °F with short rains happening in various regions of the country. Apart from venturing into the backcountry, tourists can enjoy the famous International Istanbul Film Festival in April.

Related: Everything A Traveler Should Know Before Planning A Trip To Turkey

June-August (Summer)

As spring ends, the high tourism season in the country beckons. Summer packs the most elevated temperatures of 87 to 93 °F, with pleasant weather conditions, especially along the coastline. Travelers flock to the beaches to enjoy the weather while sailing the country's seas.

Rainfall is also low, making the period the ideal time for hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia. Travelers can also explore other outdoor activities like hiking or enjoy multiple festivals like the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival happening in June or July.

September-October (Fall)

Temperatures during this time are often mild to low, with days slightly shorter, gearing up for winter. The country also receives limited to no rain during this period, making it the perfect time for tourists to explore the ancient cities' ruins located in the hinterland.

Tourists can also try other activities during this time, like hiking the Lucian Way to enjoy the beautiful vistas around the Turquoise Coast. In addition, accommodation often costs less in most parts of the country.

How Long Can It Take To Explore Turkey?

Turkey is a vast country with numerous landmarks and features to explore. Its massiveness takes travelers several weeks to visit every attraction in the country. Fortunately, most of the top sites are around accessible areas, further truncating worthy visits to at least two days.

Day One (Istanbul)

One of the most thrilling destinations couples should visit is Istanbul. It boasts many attractions that require more than a day to explore. The metropolis brews a blend of historical and religious sites with satisfying modern landmarks while offering an unforgettable gastronomical experience.

To embark, travelers should visit Sultanahmet, the old town. Here visitors check out Hagia Sophia, a sixth-century cathedral that is a mosque in present-day.

Adjacent to Hagia Sophia is the Blue Mosque, with an interior crafted of 20,000 handmade mosaic blue tiles built in 1616. Once done exploring these religious epicenters, visitors can take a snack break at Sultanahmet Square.

To cap off the afternoon and evening, travelers can visit the Topkapi Palace and its cistern, the Basilica Cistern. Finally, tourists can embark on their 277-mile journey to Ankara.

Day Two (Ankara)

Turkey's capital is home to numerous archeological sites and various historical things to do within a day-tripping distance. Tourists can start by visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The institution details the history of the Hittite, Phrygian, and Urartian Empires.

Further ahead of the museum is the Anitkabir Mausoleum. Visitors can check out the site to learn more about modern Turkey and the history behind its inception.

Travelers should not end their trip without visiting the Citadel neighborhood dating back to the Byzantine era. To complete the day, travelers can head toward Kızılay to try the rich Turkish cuisine consisting of kebabs, pide, meze, and gözleme.

Tips For Visiting Turkey

One of the most vital tips for exploring Turkey is learning its language since few locals speak English. Visitors should at least master greetings or use a Turkish to English dictionary for translations.

Travelers should know that the most convenient mode of transport for tourists around the country is public transportation. In addition, they should also carry cash for transactions as it's the most suitable payment mode for visitors. Conclusively, tourists should respect the country's culture by constantly shunning political discourses and ensuring that they dress appropriately.

Visiting Turkey for two days might be exhausting and not enough for some travelers. Fortunately, the country is open to visitors throughout the year to explore the multiple sites in store for them. Here are several of these sites and their locations.

  • Izmir: Located along the coast of the Aegean Sea, the city is home to various archeological sites
  • Cappadocia: Lying south of Ankara, the region boasts an excellent terrain covered by traces of Anatolian Civilizations, making it perfect for hiking
  • Antalya: For striking natural features bundled with numerous historical sites like ancient cities, tourists should include this metropolis on their list

Turkey basks in a rich history that details several stages of civilizations. Tourists can visit this nation in less than a week and have an overall picture of what the country entails. The above itinerary is a perfect guide for tourists exploring Turkey in the shortest time possible.