Best Places to Visit in Turkey During Winter
Some believe that tourism in Turkey is limited to summer only! Yet, Turkey has one of the best winter tourism which makes it the best destination for winter lovers. Tourism in Turkey continues throughout the year; each season is distinguished by its different activities and attractions. Its climate is generally characterized by stability; the northern regions are closer to being cold, and the southern regions enjoy a mostly warm Mediterranean climate. When you visit Turkey in winter, you will not be able to close your eyes to its fascinating beauty, full of snow-capped valleys and lakes, cozy cafes with warm Turkish tea in hand, and after a long cold day, you will find comfort in the warm Turkish baths.
Why should you visit Turkey in winter?
- Tourism in Turkey in winter will bring you to try a unique adventure by attending a variety of festivals, celebrations and events that take place at this time of the year. Such as the Istanbul Film Festival, and the Istanbul Marathon, which is the only marathon in which the contestants run across two continents, as it starts from the Asian coast to the European side of the Bosphorus and takes place on the third of November of each year.
- If you are a fan of skiing, then Turkey is the ideal choice for you in winter, as it would provide you with a good variety of ski resorts, as well.
- Generally, tourism in Turkey, in winter, is not expensive, because prices in Turkey tend to be cheap at this time of the year.
The natural landscapes that Turkey is famous for are covered in snow in winter, like a divine masterpiece, which is one of the most important reasons that would push you to visit Turkey in the winter, one of these heavenly places that are recommended to visit in winter is: Cappadocia, known as the "Winter Wonderland".
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The best time to visit Turkey is in winter
In general, winter in Turkey begins in November, when temperatures begin to drop gradually, with rain. However, the best time to do winter tourism in Turkey is December. However, you should pay attention to the fact that this time is also a global tourism peak season due to the New Year and Christmas holidays, as many events are held all over the world, which means that the prices of airline tickets start to rise from the third week of December. Yet, you can get cheap airline tickets if you book well in advance of travel.
The best places to visit in Turkey during winter
Bursa:
It is called the Green Bursa, which has the longest cable car in the world, and is considered one of the most beautiful Turkish cities in winter if you decide tourism in Turkey. It contains many places that are worth visiting, the most important of which is Mount Uludag, which is visited by tourists from all over the world for skiing, as the height of snow there reaches 4m. The mountain includes a national reserve called Uludag Milli Park. Ski competitions are held in Uludag Mountain, as the ski season opens in the region from December to late March, annually. You will also have the opportunity to ride the famous Bursa cable car, which has a length of 8.8 km, so that tourists and skiers can move up the mountain through it.
Those who visit Bursa in winter cannot resist going to the Çekirge, where the hot springs, rich in iron and sulfur, are located. It is worth mentioning, that the temperature of the spring water reaches 80 0C, the Kara Mustafa bath is one of the most famous of these springs.
In addition, we must not forget the third largest cave in Turkey, Oylat Mağarası. It is considered one of the amazing miracles of nature that was formed 300 million years ago as a result of a very large earthquake that struck the region. Uilat is surrounded by trees on all sides, in addition to wonderful flowing waterfalls and other small caves. You can also find natural hot water springs in the same place.
Yalova pronounced as "Yalowa":
If you love green forests, lakes, picturesque coasts, spa resorts, palaces, temples and castles, then winter tourism in Turkey Yalova is the most suitable for you. As for the weather in Yalova, it is a mixture of the climate of the Black Sea region and the Mediterranean, meaning that it is hot and dry most of the year, and warm and rainy in winter. Those who visit Yalova cannot avoid going to the Vow Cafe, which is one of the city's tourist attractions. It includes historical stories that cannot be forgotten! It is said that the cafe commemorates the Roman emperor who made a sacrifice there before heading to the Iran campaign.
The city of Yalova is also famous for its hot springs, which are characterized by many therapeutic properties, in addition to being considered a wonderful place for recreation and relief from the hustle and bustle of life. One of the most famous areas that contain such springs is the village of Termal, where its mineral springs go back to the days of the Romans.
As for places of worship and religious rituals, Rustem Bash Mosque is one of the best religious monuments in Yalova. The mosque was built in the era of the Ottoman Empire, by order of Commander Rustem Pasha. It is usually visited by tourists to enjoy the greatness of Ottoman architecture and its breathtaking art.
Ankara:
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the second largest city after Istanbul in terms of population. The climate of Ankara is very cold in winter, as snow covers the city in the winter. Although Ankara is not a popular destination for tourists, the city offers a lot of activities even in winter, as its winter is white par excellence. It may also be a favorite place for history lovers; it contains many remaining monuments from the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman eras. Beginning with the historical district and its Ottoman white houses. In addition to Ankara Castle, with its wonderful views of the red-roofed houses. Moving on to the Temple of Augustus, and the remains of the Roman bath.
One of the places to visit in Ankara is the mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish state. As for museum lovers, they can visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, the former Ulukanlar Prison Museum, or watch the daily life of Turks in past centuries in the Ethnography Museum. As for skiing, you can find it in Cankaya, or join the snowball fight in the Seğmenler Parkı.
Bolu:
Bolu is located in the northwest of Turkey and overlooks the Black Sea between Istanbul and Ankara. It is considered one of the charming tourist places in Turkey, which enjoys a significant natural beauty that includes forests, lakes and beaches, in addition to hot springs and ski centers at the slopes of the mountains, which makes it distinctive for tourism, whether in summer or winter. Tourism in Bolu is one of the most beautiful experiences that you can live.
One of the most prominent tourist attractions of Bolu is Lake Abant, as the city is called Bolu Abant, after this lake that is surrounded by forests to reflect an unfamiliar beauty on its waters. There are also high mountains around it that give the lake a wonderful view. It is worth mentioning that Lake Abant is no less beautiful than Lake Golcuk Bolu, which is surrounded by nature on all sides as well, so that visitors forget time as they meditate on nature and walk around it. Visitors will also be able to visit the Guksu Natural Park, which is 18.2 km away.
As for the Seven Lakes National Park, it is one of the most beautiful parks and tourist places in Turkey. It was given this name on behalf of the seven natural lakes amid the plants and trees. There are plenty of trees and flowers in the garden, reaching 236 species, such as Beech, Oak, and Pine Trees, which makes it a charming natural masterpiece.
Antalya:
Antalya is located on the Mediterranean coast from the southwestern side of Turkey, so that the city is located on low coastal areas and is surrounded by mountain ranges on three sides and the sea on the fourth side. Antalya is famous for being a summer destination in tourism in Turkey, but what many do not know about it is that it may be a winter destination par excellence for skiing and enjoying the snow that covers the top of Mount Taurus in the winter.
Saklıkent Ski Resort is the best ski resort in Antalya, as it is located on the western side of the city center. The resort includes a restaurant that offers panoramic views, in addition to a small hotel. It also contains ski facilities such as ski rental, etc. It is one of the best winter tourist places in Antalya. We also cannot forget the Olympus cable car, where the trip by the cable car usually lasts 10 minutes. It is worth mentioning that each cabin in the cable car accommodates 80 passengers. The trip begins on the Olympus cable car from Mount Olympus and ends on the top of Tahtali, which is about 2365 m. above sea level. Visiting these places will attract you to try other activities such as paragliding, mountain climbing, and skydiving.
Cappadocia pronounced as "Kapadokya":
Cappadocia or the Winter Wonderland, is one of the most beautiful winter destinations in tourism in Turkey. It is famous for its stunning landscapes and the natural wonders that snow covers in winter, so no winter trip would be interesting without visiting Cappadocia.
As for your winter day in Cappadocia, it will start early in the morning to enjoy a hot air balloon and watch the beauty of Cappadocia covered with soft white snow from above, which will give you an opportunity to explore the wonders of the city in winter. In addition to the balloon trip, you can visit many tourist places in Cappadocia, such as: Goreme National Park, where you will enjoy watching Cappadocia's archaeological landmarks, caves, churches, stone valleys, and rock formations that take strange and different shapes. You should also visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and contains a group of houses, churches and monasteries carved into the rocks, and decorated with beautiful frescoes whose original colors are still intact, which goes back to the tenth and twelfth centuries. You should pay attention here that the place is somehow far from restaurants and cafes, so we advise you to bring a snack and a bottle of water.
There are plenty archaeological and tourist places in Cappadocia that would be so interesting and explorable for visitors, such as: the underground city of Kaymakli, Monastery Selim, the Pink Valley, the Red Valley, and many other places that will captivate you with their charm and remain your memory.
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