Winter tourism in Turkey is a very interesting option: the country has numerous destinations specializing in winter activities. In addition, there are other destinations that, while they can be visited throughout the year, offer advantages to travelers who come from December to March. In this post, we review some of these proposals, in case you are considering spending your winter holidays here.
Typically Winter Tourism
As we said, many people choose winter tourism in Turkey: the altitude of some of its most emblematic destinations and the mountainous terrain of certain regions mean that snow is a guest that always attends its appointment. And that has allowed the development of activities that can only be carried out in the coldest months of the year, aimed at all types of profiles.
If we think of alpine skiing and its more common variants, we think of large resorts such as Palandoken, a few kilometers from Erzurum, in the east of the country. For many, it is the best resort in the country, with a ski area above 2,100 meters altitude and the longest run in the country, more than 2 km, and regular sporting events.
On the other hand, in western Anatolia, near Bursa, rises another mythical mountain for skiing: Uludag, very popular among the inhabitants of Istanbul. In addition to the classic disciplines, here you can practice other more experimental modalities. For example, heli-skiing, which uses a private helicopter to access special ‘off-piste’ slopes. Or snow cycling, for traveling on two wheels on a white blanket.
Another of the most popular resorts is Kartalkaya, halfway between Istanbul and Ankara, with regular buses from both cities. This strategic position means that it has many users every winter, especially young people, as a lively apres-ski industry has developed around the resort, that is, evening leisure after the day of sport.
We close this review of destinations purely associated with winter tourism in Turkey with the Çildir Goku or Lake Çildi: the rigorous and icy winters of this area, near the city of Kars, cause this lake to freeze from December to March. Therefore, the most varied activities are practiced on this natural track: from classic ice skating to snowmobile routes. But the most unique and attractive for tourists is horse-drawn sleigh rides.
Destinations that Continue in Winter
Winter tourism in Turkey does not stop. Although there are destinations clearly associated with sun and beach, especially on the Turquoise Coast, where activity slows down, most major destinations continue their activity normally in the coldest months of the year. And for the most intrepid travelers, this is precisely the best time to visit them, escaping the torrid summers… or the high prices of the high season.
This is the case of Ephesus: this Greco-Roman city, which is preserved as one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, offers little shade in summer, so visiting it in the central hours of the day in that season is not an easy experience for many travelers. However, on sunny winter days, the sun is the best ally to enjoy the ruins at an optimal temperature.
And Cappadocia is another example: the whimsical rock formations are sometimes covered with a thin layer of snow, adding an even more special nuance to the panorama. Temperatures in winter are very low, no doubt, but hotels also launch special prices at this time.
