Turkey weather in December

Considering a trip to Turkey this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What is the weather like in Turkey in December?

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

During the day the temperature is very cold in Sarıkamıs at -1°C and moderate in Datca at 17°C. As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 14°C in Datca and -11°C in Sarıkamıs.

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Doğubayazıt with an average of 36 mm to heavy snow/rainfall in Turgut with 254 mm. Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month sees the heaviest rainfall of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul experiences limited sunny days, amounting to roughly 61 hours of sunshine. This makes it perfect for those who prefer dimmer, cloudier settings rather than intense sunlit days

For a closer look at December's conditions in Turkey, see the map below. For a more detailed look at Turkey's yearly weather, check out our Turkey climate page.

Where to go in Turkey in December

Find the average weather conditions in December for the most popular destinations in Turkey on the map below. Click on a destination dot for more detailed information.

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor
Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

Popular destinations in Turkey

What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in Turkey?

Average weather in Istanbul

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

Istanbul
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly rainfall precipitationRainfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
16°C 
11°C 
94 hours 
76 mm 
13 days 
12°C 
7°C 
61 hours 
103 mm 
17 days 
poor 
January   >> January
>>  
10°C 
5°C 
68 hours 
89 mm 
18 days 
poor 
Climate in Istanbul

Average weather in Trabzon

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

Trabzon
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly rainfall precipitationRainfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
15°C 
9°C 
108 hours 
146 mm 
12 days 
11°C 
6°C 
85 hours 
120 mm 
13 days 
poor 
January   >> January
>>  
9°C 
3°C 
84 hours 
123 mm 
13 days 
poor 
Climate in Trabzon

Average weather in Antalya

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

Antalya
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly rainfall precipitationRainfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
20°C 
11°C 
176 hours 
139 mm 
8 days 
15°C 
8°C 
147 hours 
241 mm 
13 days 
poor 
January   >> January
>>  
14°C 
6°C 
155 hours 
228 mm 
12 days 
poor 
Climate in Antalya

Average weather in Alanya

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

Alanya
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly rainfall precipitationRainfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
19°C 
12°C 
168 hours 
114 mm 
9 days 
15°C 
9°C 
136 hours 
179 mm 
14 days 
January   >> January
>>  
13°C 
7°C 
130 hours 
178 mm 
15 days 
poor 
Climate in Alanya

Average weather in Side

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

Side
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly rainfall precipitationRainfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
21°C 
13°C 
167 hours 
130 mm 
9 days 
16°C 
10°C 
133 hours 
203 mm 
14 days 
poor 
January   >> January
>>  
15°C 
8°C 
140 hours 
205 mm 
14 days 
poor 
Climate in Side

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

Is December the best 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. Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.

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  • 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 climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.