Turkey weather in December
December is winter. Festive Istanbul, snow possible on the plateau and in the east, a quiet Mediterranean fringe that is not a beach holiday. The lights on Istiklal are the season. The empty promenade in Side is the other one.
Come for cities and, if you want it, a cold Cappadocia. Do not come because a summer photo of Ölüdeniz was still on the listing.
Of the twelve months in Turkey, December is the third coldest and the fourth wettest.
- Average temp
- 4°C (38°F)
0–7°C · 32–45°F
- Rainfall
- 42 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 2.6 h
hours per day
What is Turkey like in December?
Daytime
Short, cold inland, raw on the Marmara. Only the far south feels gentle, and even there you dress for winter. Outdoor time is the middle of the day or not at all.
A bright December afternoon in Antalya is a pleasant walk. The same hours in Erzurum or on the plateau are a different country. Istanbul between rain bands is coat, scarf, ferry, indoors.
Rain
Wet in Istanbul and the Black Sea. This is the season those regions were built for, meteorologically if not touristically.
The south is the drier winter coast, not a dry climate. You still want a shell. You do not want a packing list that assumes you will live in swimwear. The monthly table will look wetter in the north. Believe it.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Turkey in December?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 0°C (32°F).
December compared with November and January
December in Turkey is 4.6°C cooler than November and 10 mm wetter than it, which averages 8°C (47°F).
December in Turkey is 2.1°C warmer than January and about as wet as it, which averages 2°C (35°F).
Daylight in Turkey in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 9 hours 21 minutes in Turkey, rising about 08:03 and setting about 17:24 local time.
December ends 10 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
No month in Turkey has less daylight than December.
Turkey weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2°C / 35°F | 36 mm |
| February | 3°C / 37°F | 37 mm |
| March | 7°C / 45°F | 44 mm |
| April | 12°C / 53°F | 49 mm |
| May | 17°C / 62°F | 49 mm |
| June | 21°C / 69°F | 36 mm |
| July | 24°C / 76°F | 15 mm |
| August | 24°C / 76°F | 13 mm |
| September | 20°C / 67°F | 19 mm |
| October | 14°C / 58°F | 33 mm |
| November | 8°C / 47°F | 33 mm |
| December | 4°C / 38°F | 42 mm |
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Turkey in December
December climate averages for Turkey, 1991–2020.
Turkey averages 4°C (38°F) in December, ranging from about 0°C (32°F) at night to 7°C (45°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. December sees only about 42 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
Yes. December averages 4°C (38°F) against 2°C (35°F) in January — 2.1°C warmer.
December is 4.6°C cooler than November, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 2.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 21 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in Turkey.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 08:03 and sunset about 17:24 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 10 minutes shorter than it starts.
