Turkey Holidays

Holidays to Turkey – Fabulous weather, stunning beaches

Do you love clubbing and pubbing? Adore lounging on the beach? Enjoy a quiet, mellow sunny summer break? Are you wild about water sports? Or usually found with your head in a guide book, hunting down archaeological wonders? Are you the world’s most fanatical foodie? Either way, holidays to Turkey offer the lot. Stunning sandy beaches. Endless sunshine and searing peak season temperatures. Amazing culture and ancient history. Excellent nightlife. Genuinely friendly locals.  Fabulous food. And some of the world’s finest historic sites. There’s something for couples, families and groups, as lively or laid back as you want, right through from May ‘til October.

When to go

Turkey’s six month-long season, running from May to October, means there’s a broad choice of times to visit. It tends to be busiest during the school summer break and it’s fairly busy in June too, because of the fabulous late spring weather. May and September are quieter, and the season dies down around mid-October. Weather-wise, some areas get very hot indeed during July and August, with high humidity to match, ideal for real heat-lovers and beach fans but perhaps best avoided if you’re here for the culture and prefer your life a little cooler.

The weather in Turkey

Turkey is split into seven regions, each with a unique climate. On the coast it’s almost always absolutely gorgeous in the summer, with 13-14 hours of reliable sunshine a day and temperatures topping 30-34C during the daytime in June, July and August, 19-22C at night. The Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coastal resorts enjoy lovely long, hot summers and mild, damp winters.  Bear in mind that July and August can get very humid as well as extremely hot.

Getting the best deal

If you want cheap deals and package holidays to Turkey, travel outside the school holidays. Easter and half term are busier than term time too, and higher demand drives prices up. It’s quieter outside the school holidays with more couples than families in smaller resorts and more clubbers than kids in the party resorts. Want to know more? Explore our regional, city and resort pages, enjoy our travel blog or take a look at our best current deals.

Travel preparation for a holiday to Turkey

A bit of planning can make all the difference! Here are a few handy tips to help you make the most of your precious break. 

• Turkey is in the East European Time Zone, and it’s two hours ahead of Britain
• The average flight time from the UK is 4 hours
• Turkey’s currency is Lire
• The official language is Turkish although many people speak English, especially in the resorts
• The average price of a meal out in Turkey is around 20 Lire, around £6
• British citizens need a visa. You buy a three month tourist visa at the airport before you get to Passport Control, for £10
• Depending on the situation when you travel, you may need a course or booster against hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis B and rabies. See your GP or travel clinic 8 weeks in advance to be on the safe side. Travel vaccinations are not all free, it depends what you need, so expect to pay
• The FCO occasionally release travel advisory warnings for Turkey. Check the latest on the Foreign Travel Advice website.
• For official Turkey tourist information click here - Go Turkey
• Book early and make your holiday more affordable by paying only a low deposit amount at time of booking

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