Türkiye travel guide

Best time to visit Türkiye from the UK

Best value: Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct. Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct. Busiest and priciest: May–Aug.

Each bar is the average temperature in Ankara for that month, and its colour shows the season for visitors: best value (good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices), busiest and priciest, or quiet (off-peak, sometimes because the weather is poorer).

• Our pick: September and OctoberThe warmest of the best-value months (12–18°C), with fewer crowds than peak season.
• Peak season: May–AugUsually 14–22°C. The busiest time, so book flights and rooms early and expect higher prices.
• Quiet season: Nov–FebAround -2–5°C. The cheapest and least crowded time, but cold, so pack layers.
• Warmest: August (22°C) · coolest: January (-2°C)A 24°C swing between the warmest and coolest months.

Festivals and events

• Istanbul Tulip Festival Apr · Istanbul
• Whirling Dervish Festival Dec · Konya
• Istanbul Film Festival Apr · Istanbul

Festival dates move from year to year: check before you book.

Getting there from the UK

Flight time

About 4h

Distance

2,854 km

Main airport

IST

Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow; journeys with a change take longer.

Add Türkiye to your bucket list Search flights to IST

Practical info and travel guidance

• FCDO adviceAdvises against travel to parts of TürkiyeCheck which areas before you book.
• VisaNo visa neededUp to 90 days
• HealthcareNo free healthcareYou pay for treatment, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential.
• LGBT+ travellersLegal, but attitudes can be conservativePublic affection may draw attention.
• Women travellersFCDO warns of sexual assault or harassmentTake extra care at night and with drinks.

For British passport holders, summarised from the FCDO's advice for Türkiye, checked October 2026. FCDO page last updated 15 October 2026. Rules change: read the official FCDO travel advice for Türkiye before you book and again before you go.