October is a great time of the year to visit Turkey, with temperatures lower making it more pleasant to go sightseeing in Istanbul and to visit Cappadocia and other ancient sites. Continue reading for more information on travel and weather, including average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and travel tips for the month of October.
- 1. Weather Overview
- 2. Best Places to Visit
- 3. Crowds and Costs
- 4. What to Wear
- 5. Monthly Weather in Turkey
- 6. Recommended Tours
Turkey Weather in October: Overview
Averages:
- Temperature range: 13–24°C (56–75°F)
- Rainfall: 5 cm (2 inches)
- Rainy days: 4
- Sunshine hours/day: 5
- Sea temperature: 20°C (69°F)
- Humidity: 62–78% (from comfortable to more humid in Istanbul)
October is a transitionary month in Turkey, when temperatures go from warmer to being cooler throughout the country. Most cities along the coast are still warm in the middle of the day, but the end of October is starting to get too cold for a beach holiday. Cappadocia and Istanbul are also still warm but pleasant to visit and walk around.
October sees a little bit of rain, approximately 4 days a month with an average of 5 cm (or 2 inches) of rainfall. The days also start to get shorter, with approximately 5 hours of sunshine per day.
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Weather of Turkey's Major Cities in October
| Turkey City | Daily High Temp. | Daily Low Temp. |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (largest city, historical importance) | 19ºC (66ºF) | 13ºC (55ºF) |
| Cappadocia (Rockscape, ballooning) | 21ºC (70ºF) | 4ºC (39ºF) |
| Antalya (Top beach resort city) | 27ºC (81ºF) | 16ºC (61ºF) |
| Izmir (near Kusadasi, once Ephesus) | 25ºC (77ºF) | 15ºC (59ºF) |
| Turkey City | Rain (cm) | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (largest city, historical importance) | 10 | 4 |
| Cappadocia (Rockscape, ballooning) | 3 | 1 |
| Antalya (Top beach resort city) | 6 | 2 |
| Izmir (near Kusadasi, once Ephesus) | 6 | 2 |
The Best Places to Visit in Turkey in October
For visitors to Turkey in October, Istanbul and Cappadocia are great starting points to build out your itinerary, as the temperatures are warmer there in the day (but not as hot as during the summer), and cool to cold in the evenings.
Weather conditions in Turkey in October are great throughout the country for more active travelers looking to go sightseeing, or those looking to visit some of the many places of natural beauty.
To find out more about which places we recommend for a trip to Turkey in October, read on.
1. Explore Istanbul's Gems
Istanbul is Turkey's gorgeous main city, and is likely where you'd start your trip to Turkey as this is where most flights come in, and because Istanbul is most certainly worth staying in for multiple days.
October's weather is perfect for sightseeing, from the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, to the beautiful Bosphorus river which runs through the city. Warm, but not hot, temperatures mean that it is pleasant to walk around Istanbul's hilly roads and take in the unique architecture and try some of the street foods.
For some tours in Istanbul, see the following itineraries:
- Istanbul Old City Walking Tour — Full-day Guided Immersion of the Old Days
- Istanbul Land & Sea Combo with Food Tasting — 2-Day Istanbul Sightseeing and Food Tasting Tour
- Turkey Food Tour — 4-Hour Private Night Food Tour in Istanbul
2. Rise Above Cappadocia's Famous Landscape in a Hot Air Balloon
October is one of the most popular times of the year to visit Cappadocia — while the daytime temperatures are still warm, the morning and evenings are not yet too cold in October.
Cappadocia is a must-visit, with its beautiful rockscapes being covered in hot air balloons dotted throughout the sky every day (as the weather permits). We recommend staying there for a couple of days so that you won't be missing out if the weather doesn't allow for a hot air balloon ride on one of the days.
There are also lots of other sights to see in Cappadocia, some of which are elaborated on here: Top 10 Things to Do in Cappadocia.
We at Global Highlights include Cappadocia in many of our sample tour itineraries for Turkey, for example:
- Cappadocia Panoramic Adventure — 2-Day Cappadocia Highlights
- Great Circle of Turkey — 16-Day Turkey Legends: Istanbul–Canakkale–Kusadasi–Pamukkale–Antalya–Cappadocia
3. Visit Three of the Churches from the Book of Revelation
Turkey has many incredible churches to offer, as well as the mosques you might have seen in Istanbul. October's weather is great for sightseeing and taking in these ancient sites as some of them require a little more adventuring and walking, including the location of the church of Sardis (mentioned in Revelation 3:1) in the capital of ancient Lydia, and Thyatira (Revelation 2:18).
In Thyatira you can also learn more about the famous purple cloth dying process, and get some souvenirs to take home. The third Revelation church is Ephesus (Revelation 2:1), which has its remains located near modern-day Izmir on the south Turkey coast.
4. Hike Along the Lycian Way near Antalya's Coast
While Antalya might be best known for its beautiful beaches, October's weather actually means that the area is better suited to more active travelers looking to go for a hike.
One of these famous hikes is the Lycian Way, which takes you through some varying landscapes and natural sights, as well as Roman ruins, an abandoned Greek village, and plenty of spots to take a dip in the ocean or go for a boat ride to secluded bays.
The Lycian Way is one of Turkey's hidden gems that is an absolute must for lovers of hikes and walks.
Another active tour suggestion in Turkey: Top Natural Heritages Combo of Turkey — 3-Day Private Adventure Tour through Cappadocia and Pamukkale
Low Season: Least Crowded and Lower Prices & Republic Day
October is Turkey's low season, making it much less crowded throughout the country. On top of that, prices are lower for both accommodation and for domestic flights.
In October the Turkish population does celebrate Republic Day (October 29, to be precise), which is a public holiday celebrating the day Turkey became a republic. You can expect to see more crowds on this day, as families will go for days out or might head to the parks and museums. You will also see lots of Turkish flags throughout, and streamers and balloons in red and white.
What to Wear in October
For tourists planning to visit Turkey in October, we recommend bringing a range of layers in order to feel comfortable both during the warmer portion of the day, and during the cooler mornings and evenings.
If you are visiting Istanbul, we recommend bringing a jumper or a light coat, as the evenings can get a little chilly. For those visiting Cappadocia, you'll want to bring an additional layer on top of that, such as a winter coat, as the temperature can really drop in October evenings (especially at the end of the month) and you don't want to be caught off guard.
For visitors looking to go hiking, we recommend bringing supportive footwear as well as plenty of layers to add or remove during your hikes and throughout the day. If you are planning on visiting a church or a mosque, you'll be asked to cover your head, so we recommend bringing a shawl or scarf. You can usually rent or borrow one, or buy one at a nearby shop, but bringing your own is easier.
Monthly Weather in Turkey
Suggested reading: Best and Worst Times to Visit Turkey>>>
Recommended Tours for Turkey in October
There are so many sights to see in Turkey, and so many activities to do, it can be hard to choose where to go and to plan your time. To get you started, or if you're looking for a curated itinerary of some of the best sights to see in Turkey, look no further than our tours here:
- Natural Beauty Immersion — 13-Day Natural Highlights of Turkey: Istanbul–Fethiye–Faralya–Blue Cruise–Antalya–Cappadocia
- Great Circle of Turkey — 16-Day Turkey Legends: Istanbul–Canakkale–Kusadasi–Pamukkale–Antalya–Cappadocia
- Classical Wonders — 7-Day Top Highlights of Turkey: Istanbul–Cappadocia–Kusadasi
- Turkey Tours
You can also put together your own tour with our experts. Just let us know where you'd like to go, what your requirements are, and how long you'd like to stay in Turkey for, and we can do the work for you! Contact us to begin a tour inquiry.
Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
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