Ankara

Turkey Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Turkey in December.

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Istanbul Trabzon Antalya Ankara

Planning a trip to Turkey this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Turkey in December

In December, Turkey experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to mild and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is very cold in Sarıkamıs at -1°C (30°F) and mild in Datca at 17°C (63°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 14°C (57°F) in Datca and -11°C (12°F) in Sarıkamıs.

For specific regional insights in Turkey, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Doğubayazıt with an average of 36 mm (1.4 in) to heavy snow/rainfall in Turgut with 254 mm (10 in). Based on our climate, it is the month with the most precipitation throughout the year in Istanbul.

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Istanbul receives around 61 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Turkey by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Turkey — and find the best time to visit. (based on Istanbul)

January10°C (50°F) February10°C (50°F) March12°C (54°F) April16°C (61°F) May21°C (70°F) June26°C (79°F) This monthJuly28°C (82°F) August29°C (84°F) September25°C (77°F) October20°C (68°F) November16°C (61°F) December12°C (54°F)
Best Time to Visit Turkey →

Best Places to Visit in Turkey in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Turkey.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Turkey

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Turkey?

Temperature range in Turkey (December)

Precipitation variation in Turkey (December)

Istanbul

In December Istanbul generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
94 hours
61 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
poor
poor
Climate in Istanbul →

Trabzon

In December Trabzon generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
108 hours
85 hours
84 hours
Monthly rainfall
146 mm (5.7 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
123 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Trabzon →

Antalya

In December Antalya generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
176 hours
147 hours
155 hours
Monthly rainfall
139 mm (5.5 in)
241 mm (9.5 in)
228 mm (9 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Antalya →

Alanya

In December Alanya generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
168 hours
136 hours
130 hours
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
179 mm (7 in)
178 mm (7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Alanya →

Side

In December Side generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
16°C (61°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
167 hours
133 hours
140 hours
Monthly rainfall
130 mm (5.1 in)
203 mm (8 in)
205 mm (8.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Side →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Turkey.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Turkey in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Istanbul 12°C (54°F) 7°C (45°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Trabzon 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Antalya 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 241 mm (9.5 in)
Ankara 7°C (45°F) -2°C (28°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Bodrum City 17°C (63°F) 13°C (55°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Izmir 14°C (57°F) 6°C (43°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)

Turkey weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Turkey in December?

Turkey typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Istanbul average around 12°C (54°F), and temperatures drop to about 7°C (45°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Turkey in December?

In Istanbul, the average daytime high in December is 12°C (54°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 7°C (45°F).

Does Turkey get a lot of rain in December?

Turkey sees substantial rainfall in December. Istanbul typically averages about 103 mm (4.1 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Turkey?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Istanbul, December may not be the ideal time to visit Turkey.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in May, June, July, August, September and October offering mostly perfect weather in Istanbul. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Turkey.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Turkey? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Turkey.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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