Turkey is known as a favorite tourist destination in summer, but those visiting in winter are in for a treat. It’s as exciting, beautiful and dynamic as the second half.
Hotel and rental prices drop substantially from November through to March, meaning you can snag a great accommodation deal at this time of year.
The first thing to do is take a stroll through Taksim Square, which has a festive entrance and a beautiful atmosphere full of lively people. It has a small market full of vendors from all over Turkey selling beautiful handcrafted antiques and other products. As you walk down the street, turn right and you will see the famous Galata Tower, which attracts many tourists for its historical setting and beautiful views of Istanbul . You can also take a tour through the Bosphorus and enjoy a nice hot meal and a cup of the famous Turkish tea. Another fun and different thing to do in Istanbul is visiting the aquarium. Opened in 2011, and is one of the largest in the world. It is home to more than 10,000 sea creatures, including giant stingrays, tiger sharks and many other species. An interactive museum that uses cutting-edge technology. It will traverse 16 different universes from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean along a geographic route (an 80-meter-long waterway).
Located at 2200m above sea level, the resort area is Turkey’s highest ski center and is a popular destination for brave and seasoned skiers who want to downhill on the high, treeless slopes. This ski resort is Turkey’s premier ski resort with excellent facilities and 43 km of slopes. There are 13 lifts, including the main cable car that connects the ski slopes.
Due to the high altitude of the resort , the ski season is generally longer than other Turkish ski resorts, with about 150 days of skiing per year from December to April.
Kars is one of Turkey’s main bases for winter adventures. This small town at the northeastern tip of Turkey has become a winter destination in recent years. Its popularity is due to the fact that it is the closest city to travel to Lake Kildir in the northeast and many other tourist attractions. Kars itself has a castle and several historic mosques, as well as beautiful 19th-century architecture from the period the city was under Russian rule. It is known as a gourmet city, and in winter you can try the local roast goose.
Turkey’s most famous rail line is the Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi) between Ankara and Kars, and winter is the most popular time of year to board. This 24-hour train ride is all about scenery. In the middle of winter, the landscape of the high plateaus and Rocky Mountains that surround the northeastern part of Turkey is completely covered in snow.
This train is used sparingly by foreign tourists, but it is very popular with Turkish tourists, so it is advisable to book your trip in advance. It is known that the train was full several months ago.
Lake Çıldır is still out of sight for most foreign tourists. This alpine lake in the mountainous regions of northeastern Turkey is a winter wonderland and well worth the long trip. It is the second largest lake in Turkey with an area of 123 square kilometers. During the winter, Lake Çıldır is frozen and surrounded by a snow-capped mountain landscape. In winter, locals organize sledding and fishing excursions on the lake. This is a very popular way to experience the fantastic snowy scenery that looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale book. On the lake you can not only go sledding, but also rent a snowmobile, as well as other modern means of transport.