Turkey spans two continents and multiple climate zones, from Mediterranean coast to continental interior. Istanbul averages 5°C in January and 23°C in July, with rain from October to March and occasional snow in winter. The Turquoise Coast (Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum) has a classic Mediterranean climate: summers at 30-34°C, winters mild at 10-15°C, with the swimming season running May to October. Cappadocia has a continental steppe climate: hot dry summers (28°C), cold snowy winters (-2°C), and the best balloon-flying conditions in spring and autumn. Ankara on the Anatolian plateau drops to -3°C in January with regular snow and reaches 23°C in July. The best months for most of Turkey are April to June and September to October when temperatures are comfortable for sightseeing.
