If you’ve always dreamed of visiting Türkiye, chances are you’re picturing calm Mediterranean seas, lazy afternoons in the sunshine with a cocktail in hand, or floating above the magical landscapes of Cappadocia in the warm morning light. And I completely get why!

If you ask Google when is the best time to travel to Turkey, you’ll likely be told ‘May, June, September & October’. And yes, these months aren’t the height of peak season, so you are more likely to have good weather without it being TOO hot or cold.

But what if I told you that December could be an unexpectedly brilliant time to visit?

Forget the beach for a moment. Think atmospheric cities, dramatic winter landscapes, fewer crowds and, if you’re lucky, some surprisingly beautiful blue-sky days. Having visited both Istanbul and Cappadocia in winter, I’m here to make the case for giving travel to Turkey in December some strong consideration.

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Is December a Good Time to Visit Turkey?

Ok, I’ll be upfront, if you travel to Istanbul & Cappadocia in December, you might not be spending your time in a roof top pool or returning home with the world’s best tan.

BUT travel to Turkey in December offers something almost any other month in the year can’t…

The perfect combination of fewer crowds, winter atmosphere (still with the chance of some sunshine and warmth), PLUS cheaper flights, accommodation and tours.

If it’s weather you are worried about, there are no guarantees, but one of my happiest surprises travelling to Turkey in December was in fact, the weather. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones, but during our trip to Istanbul & Cappadocia in December, we experienced no rain or snow, and even had a couple of t-shirt wearing weather with blue skies and sunshine in Cappadocia. My ideal forecast!

As a snapshot, travel to Turkey in December is:

• Best for: culture, food, landscapes, winter atmosphere and exploring without summer heat.
• Less suitable for: guaranteed sunshine, beach days and a completely predictable itinerary.
• Key consideration: weather varies significantly between Istanbul and inland Cappadocia.

Why Visit Cappadocia in December?

Fewer crowds and a different atmosphere

For me, this was the biggest reason to visit Cappadocia in December. Seeing the hot air balloons passing over the unbelievably unique landscapes of Cappadocia with a blue sky backdrop is admittedly the dream. BUT you don’t HAVE to travel to Cappadocia during Summer, or even the shoulder season (May, June, September & October) to experience this. Yes, some luck is required but you can increase your odds by planning a longer stay and it is very much possible.

And if you don’t believe me, here is some picture proof that blue skies against the valley and floating balloons do exist.

Also worth saying, even without blue skies, seeing the hot air balloons drifting across the insanely unique and beautiful valleys is hard to beat. I can only imagine how amazing it would be to see Cappadocia’s famous fairy caps sprinkled in snow from above (or ground level for that matter); like a true winter wonderland.

Hot-air balloons are still possible

And on that note, Hot-air balloons during December are absolutely still possible. We stayed in Cappadocia for around 4 days during the first week of December and of those 4 days, the balloon rides ran on 3 of those days.

It’s true that for safety, certain weather forecasts (particularly winds) would result in balloon rides being cancelled (with good reason). And admittedly, this is more likely to be the case in winter/December.

But that’s why I would strongly encourage staying multiple days in Cappadocia and booking your balloon ride as early in your trip as possible to increase your odds of a flight if your original date is cancelled. The other hidden benefit of being in Cappadocia during December is it will be far easier to book your balloon ride without the masses of people who flock to Cappadocia during summer months.

Not only for availability, but my rather claustrophobic husband, very much appreciated a less crowded hot air balloon basket as we took to the skies. There was far more space for admiring the views without feeling like a sardine.

And if those aren’t reasons enough, another potential bonus is the price. Balloon flights can be considerably cheaper in the winter months, although this varies between operators and flight types. We found that December offered better value than peak season, so it’s worth comparing prices for your dates before booking. We saved around €100 off the peak prices for hot air balloon rides!

The one caveat with price and availability is Christmas & New Year dates. Prices and availability may vary here due to different demand compared with earlier December.

Winter hiking and cave hotels

I have to say, one of my favourite experiences of Cappadocia in December was having our Cave Hotel almost to ourselves. Perched up on our roof top (which was quite literally carved into the rock formation), looking out across the town and valleys with our warm Turkish Coffee, was unforgettable. Yes you could enjoy the roof top during Summer, but I actually think the cool fresh air made the experience even more enjoyable. Not to mention, out of peak season, the hotels are generally not at capacity which meant we were regularly enjoying the views as if we were the only ones in Cappadocia.

If of interest, we stayed at Luvi Cave hotel (you can read my full review on where to stay in Cappadocia to find out my top picks of cave hotels and everything you need to know before you book).

And it wasn’t just the cave hotel roof tops with uninterrupted views. If you like your hikes not to be full of people, December is the time to go. As I mentioned, we were lucky enough to have some warm sunshine and enjoyed some sun bathing at the top of Love Valley, with barely another soul in sight.

But sun or no sun, the landscape you’ll experience is out of this world. For me at least, it was nice to experience them in peace, which is another reason I loved visiting Cappadocia in December.

There are also SO many things to do in Cappadocia besides the well known balloon rides. Read my full alternative guide on Cappadocia beyond the balloon rides to find out more of the amazing things the area has to offer (including my top pick of hikes) – all of which can be done in December (at a fraction of the price).

Why Visit Istanbul in December?

The weather in Istanbul in December is typically around 10 degrees celsius (lows of 5 degrees), but can in fact peak at 18 degrees C! We were lucky to experience warmer than expected weather…and as a side note, it turns out Istanbul is the perfect place to buy yourself some pretty decently priced Ray Bans!

To get the best of Istanbul, it really doesn’t matter whether it’s raining, snowing, shining or anything else. You don’t typically travel to Istanbul for the weather alone, which makes travelling to Istanbul in December an excellent choice.

A city made for wandering, eating and exploring

You’ll get the best out of Istanbul by simply roaming the streets of the various diverse neighborhoods (old and new). In fact, if our step count was anything to go by, I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any warmer!

Not to mention that plenty of Istanbul’s main attractions are indoors (and some are even underground); Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar, Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Blue Mosque, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern…I could go on and on.

I loved that we could wonder from neighbourhood to neighborhood, landmark to landmark, without ever having to worry about planning around the heat. And whilst Istanbul is a busy city at the best of times, it’s not quite the same level in December. Getting completely and utterly lost in the Grand Bazaar (multiple times) would have been far more stressful in the peak of the travel season!

If you’ve read any of my other pieces, you’ll know I’m a sucker for specialty coffee in an atmospheric coffee shop..and that’s exactly what Istanbul delivers. From hidden courtyard cafés or vintage-style hideaways (especially in neighborhoods like Karaköy and Kadıköy), there are too many charming spots to name. In my opinion there is nothing better than escaping the colder weather by hibernating in a nice Coffee shop, warm flat white in hand, whilst watching city life glide past.

And that is’ before I’ve even mentioned Istanbul’s gastronomy scene. Even in the heart of winter, you’ll find endless options for restaurants with a cosy but buzzy atmosphere all over the city.

Embrace the winter atmosphere

Yes, you may experience wind, rain and even snow. But this won’t dampen your spirits when you can be exploring Istanbul’s epic (warming) food scene, variety of incredible restaurants and bars or snuggled up in a cosy hotel. I’d strongly recommend a deliciously warm Turkish breakfast and coffee to warm you up!

We stayed at World House Boutique Hotel Galata and loved it for its unique charm, beautiful interiors, attentive staff and not least, perfect cobbled street location near the Galata Tower. As with Cappadocia, depending when in December you travel, you can expect to pay a fraction of the price during December (currently around 110-130 EUR per night vs 175-200 EUR in July).

Depending on where you are from, the slightly cold, atmospheric winter weather is all part of the experience. In fact, if like me you are from the UK, the double digit temperatures in Istanbul during December will bring you some welcome warmth!

What Are the Downsides of Visiting Turkey in December?

Whilst I only have positive things to say about my trip to Turkey in December, I acknowledge it might not be for everyone. These are the potential downsides to bear in mind before you decide if a trip to Turkey in December is for you:

• Cappadocia can be very cold, with frost or snow.
• Balloon flights and some outdoor activities may be cancelled.
• Istanbul can be wet and grey.
• Shorter daylight hours mean more careful day planning.
• Christmas and New Year dates may have different prices, availability and demand from earlier December.

So, Would I Recommend Visiting Turkey in December?

If you are banking on some winter Vitamin D and don’t like the uncertainty of having to make some last minute changes to your itinerary, Turkey in December might not be for you.

But if like me, you love culture, a completely unique travel experience and don’t need winter sun to make your trip, I’m confident you will love Turkey in December.

For me, that’s what makes a December trip to Türkiye so appealing. You get the energy, history and food scene of Istanbul, followed by the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia. It’s a completely different experience from the classic summer holiday, and one I’d happily recommend to anyone who enjoys exploring somewhere a little differently.

If this is you and you need more help planning your trip, check out my full alternative guide on Cappadocia beyond the balloon rides and review on where to stay in Cappadocia where I cover my top picks of Cave Hotels.