Weather in Turkey in September

Is September a good time to visit Turkey?

September is a popular month to visit Turkey. The peak summer period begins to dissipate in September, leaving the beaches and tourist attractions for holidaymakers booking trips to Turkey at the end of summer. Many guesthouses and hotels in Turkey offer end of season specials in September and October, and sometimes it is possible to find cheap flights to Turkey after the summer rush. September is a great time to visit the coastal regions of Turkey. September is a great time to visit the inland regions of Turkey, particularly Ankara, as this part of Turkey tends to get snowed in during winter and mid-summer can be quite hot.  September is one of the best times to visit Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

 

Climate in Turkey in September

Most of Turkey enjoys a pleasantly mild climate throughout September. However, September is the end of the summer period and some parts of the country can get quite chilly in September. The average temperature in Ankara in September is between 8 and 23°C (46 to 73°F). Istanbul enjoys nine hours of sunlight each day in September and the average temperature in Istanbul in autumn is 16 to 23°C (61 to 73°F). The average amount of rainfall in Istanbul begins to pick up during September but this generally only amounts to seven days of rain throughout the month. Summer tends to stay a little longer along Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast, temperatures range from 19 to 31°C (66 to 88°F) in Antalya and sea temperatures are roughly 22°C (72°F) in the Aegean Sea and 26°C (79°F) off Antalya’s coast.

 

What’s on in Turkey in September

The Uni-Rock Festival in Istanbul’s Kucukciftlik Park generally attracts tens of thousands of heavy metal fans from across Europe for this popular three-day music festival. Ramadan generally falls in September and Turks across the country celebrate the end of the Ramadan fast in the festival of Seker Bayram. All three days are national holidays and many larger towns have concerts and traditional shows to mark the occasion. Large amounts of baklava are generally eaten, particularly by children, during this period. Other popular events in Istanbul during September include the Istanbul Street Art Festival, which happens around the city with graffiti displays as well as music and arts performances. The International Istanbul Fashion Fair is a great event to attend for those interested in contemporary Turkish designers and even a few international ones: cpi-istanbul.com

 

What to pack for a holiday in Turkey in September

Visitors should pack warm clothes if they plan to visit the interior parts of Turkey in September. Beach clothes and swimwear are best for Mediterranean holidays along Turkey’s southern coast. Visitors doing some sightseeing in Istanbul or the northern parts of Turkey should pack a light raincoat and a mixture of warm and cool clothes that can be worn in easily removable layers. September weather in Istanbul means that the days tend to begin with a slight haze which clears up later on in the day. Light clothing is essential, but so are pants, a cardigan, cool jersey or throw-over scarf.