Turkey

Turkey Weather in January

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

Thinking about venturing to Turkey this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Turkey in January

In January, Turkey experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to mild and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. The month of January is in the winter season.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Sarıkamıs at -3°C (27°F) to mild in Datca at 16°C (61°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in Datca and -13°C (9°F) in Sarıkamıs. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Turkey. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

To explore the conditions in Turkey in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Doğubayazıt with an average of 35 mm (1.4 in) to heavy snowfall in Turgut with 234 mm (9.2 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during January. Istanbul experiences about 68 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Turkey by month

Best Places to Visit in Turkey in January

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

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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Turkey?

Temperature range in Turkey (January)

Precipitation variation in Turkey (January)

Istanbul

In January Istanbul generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
61 hours
68 hours
89 hours
Monthly rainfall
103 mm (4.1 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Trabzon

In January Trabzon generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
84 hours
89 hours
Monthly rainfall
120 mm (4.7 in)
123 mm (4.8 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Antalya

In January Antalya generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
155 hours
162 hours
Monthly rainfall
241 mm (9.5 in)
228 mm (9 in)
158 mm (6.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Alanya

In January Alanya generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
136 hours
130 hours
131 hours
Monthly rainfall
179 mm (7 in)
178 mm (7 in)
143 mm (5.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Side

In January Side 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.

December
January
February
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
133 hours
140 hours
157 hours
Monthly rainfall
203 mm (8 in)
205 mm (8.1 in)
147 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: Turkey January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Turkey in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Turkey was -15°C (5°F) in Eskisehir on January 30, 2006.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Istanbul 10°C (50°F) 5°C (41°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Trabzon 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
Antalya 14°C (57°F) 6°C (43°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Ankara 5°C (41°F) -4°C (25°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Bodrum City 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 195 mm (7.7 in)
Izmir 13°C (55°F) 4°C (39°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)

Turkey weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Turkey in January?

January in Turkey brings poor weather. In Istanbul, daytime temperatures are typically around 10°C (50°F) and nighttime lows hover near 5°C (41°F).

What is the average temperature in Turkey in January?

In Istanbul, the average daytime high in January is 10°C (50°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 5°C (41°F).

Does Turkey get a lot of rain in January?

January is on the drier side in Turkey. Istanbul averages only about 89 mm (3.5 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Turkey?

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

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August, September and October provide 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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