Best time to visit Cappadocia
The best time to visit Cappadocia for general outdoor activities is from early-June through to mid-September, with the expectation of hot weather during July and August.
Cappadocia – Weather summary |
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| Hottest month | August – 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January – 4°C (39°F) |
| Sunniest month | July – 11.5 hrs daily |
| Wettest month | May – 60mm (2.3in) rainfall |
| Windiest month | February – 14kph (8mph) |
Climate data: Average highs. Source: Turkish State Meteorological Service (TSMS). Weather station: Erkilet International Airport or Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), located 5km (3mi) north of Kayseri. |
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Cappadocia climate
Cappadocia experiences a continental climate, with hot, sunny summers and cold nights; winters are cold when the average temperature is close to freezing.
Located on the Anatolian plateau in central Turkey, the largest cities in Cappadocia are Kayseri (or Caesarea of Cappadocia) at 1,050 meters (3,445 feet) above sea level, and Nevşehir (or Nissa) at 1,200 meters (3,935 ft) near Göreme.
Göreme National Park, where the famous Fairy Chimneys are found, sits at an altitude between 1,000 and 1,300 metres (3,300 and 4,300 ft).
Summer, from mid-June through to mid-Septeember, is hot and sunny, with an average high temperature above 25°C (77°F). There is a remarkable temperature difference between night and day.
Winter, from December to February, is chilly and wet averaging 1°C (34°F). The temperature may drop to around -20°C (-4°F).
Frequently asked questions
We answer the most commonly asked questions (FAQs) about the weather in Cappadocia.
What is the best month to visit Cappadocia?
Mid-June through mid-September are the best months to visit Cappadocia – the climate is perfect with warm to hot, sunny weather and minimal rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in Cappadocia.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and heat of summer, both spring and autumn seasons, from April to June and September to November are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Cappadocia?
The hottest months in Cappadocia are July and August, with an average daily high temperature of 31°C (88°F), with high heat and a low of 13°C (55°F)
However, on the warmest days the temperature may reach 35°C (95°F).
The hot season lasts from early-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 25°C (77°F).
What is the humidity in Cappadocia?
Cappadocia experiences seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with average relative humidity calculated at between 45% – 78% over the course of the year.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in Cappadocia?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in Cappadocia is 2°C (35°F), and varies over the course of the year from very dry at -5°C (23°F) to dry at 9°C (48°F).
Typically, there is little or no 'absolute humidity' in Cappadocia.
Which is the coldest month in Cappadocia?
The coldest month in Cappadocia is January, with an average high temperature of 4°C (39°F) and low of -5°C (23°F).
The cool season lasts from late-November through to early-March, with an average daily high temperature below 9°C (48°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Cappadocia?
The sunniest month in Cappadocia is usually July, with an average of 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day – that's an average of 82% of daylight hours.
Which month has the most rain in Cappadocia?
May is usually the wettest month of the year in Cappadocia, with on average 60mm (2.3in) of rainfall, distributed across 14 days.
The rainy season lasts from mid-October through to mid-June, with a greater than 13% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The dry season lasts from mid-June through to mid-October. The months with the least rainfall in Cappadocia are July and August.
Which month has the most snowfall in Cappadocia?
January usually receives the most snowfall in Cappadocia, with on average 77mm (3in) of snow. The snowy period of the year lasts from mid-November to late-March.
Which is the windiest month in Cappadocia?
The windiest month of the year in Cappadocia is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 14 kilometres per hour (8.7 mph; 7.6 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from December through to late-April, with average wind speeds of more than 12 kilometres per hour (7.5 mph; 6.5 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from late-April through November. The calmest month of the year in Cappadocia is October, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (7 mph; 6 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Cappadocia.
Cappadocia Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 14 | 8 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| -6 | -5 | -1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 4 | -2 | -4 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level – heat | |||||||||||
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| Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| -5 | -4 | -2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 78 | 73 | 64 | 59 | 58 | 53 | 46 | 45 | 49 | 60 | 70 | 78 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 40 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 60 | 40 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Average monthly snowfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 77 | 77 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 72 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Nevşehir, Cappadocia, Turkey | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
Peak season: Lasts from June to August when prices are at their highest, and during Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Shoulder season: September and October.
Low season: Winter, from Novermber to January.
Source: Meteorological data for Cappadocia is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1992 to 2021 by the Turkish State Meteorological Service from the closest weather station: Erkilet International Airport or Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), located 5km (3mi) north of Kayseri.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Cappadocia: 18 August, 2025
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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