Best Time to Visit Ankara in May
Weather, crowds, costs, and events for visiting Ankara in May
Best Time to Visit Ankara in May
The best times to visit Ankara are April to October for long sunny days, and January to November for the cheapest flights and hotels of the year. Both combine favourable conditions with better value than peak alone, and Ankara at its most rewarding.
AT A GLANCE
June to July
Sunny: Long sunny days. Crowds run High — book 3–4 months ahead.
April to October
Long sunny days. Crowd level is High; peak pricing.
January to November
Cheapest flights and hotels of the year. Crowd level is Low; book 2–4 weeks ahead.
Which season is best for Ankara?
May falls in spring — here's what to expect.
Spring
Spring — Garden Walks
March · April · May
Spring season
Spring is when travellers book Ankara for garden walks. Garden Walks timing runs Ankara (early April); Istanbul (mid April); Antalya (late April). Expect 8–19°C averages with 8–10 rain days/month and high crowds — but hotel rates hit $130–$180/night and high crowds fill the main sights Mid-season sits near 14°C with 9 rain days in April.
Early Blooms [Mar], Spring window [Apr], Warm Evenings [May]
Mar 8°C, Apr 14°C, May 19°C — mixed skies (8–10 rain days)
First-timers, photographers, couples, soft hikers
April pushes rates to $130–$180/night with high crowds at headline sights. May brings 10 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Ankara in Spring?
Book Ankara's garden walks for April at least 2–3 months out, then spend 2 nights in Istanbul in March where mid rates and medium crowds trade a short hop for calmer spring days.
Summer
Summer — Long Days
June · July · August
Sunny season
Summer is when travellers book Ankara for long days. Long Days timing runs Ankara (early June); Istanbul (mid June); Antalya (late June). Expect 23–26°C averages with 8–11 rain days/month and high crowds — but hotel rates hit $180–$250/night and high crowds fill the main sights Mid-season sits near 23°C with 11 rain days in June.
Long Days [Jun], Long Days [Jul], Warm Evenings [Aug]
Jun 23°C, Jul 26°C, Aug 25°C — mixed skies (8–11 rain days)
Festival-goers, families, beach seekers, nightlife fans
June pushes rates to $180–$250/night with high crowds at headline sights. June brings 11 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Ankara in Summer?
Book Ankara's long days for June at least 3–4 months out, then spend 2 nights in Istanbul in June where peak rates and high crowds trade a short hop for calmer summer days.
Autumn
Autumn — Crisp Hiking
September · October · November
Mild season
Autumn is when travellers book Ankara for crisp hiking. Crisp Hiking timing runs Ankara (early September); Istanbul (mid September); Antalya (late September). Expect 6–20°C averages with 7–8 rain days/month and medium crowds — and yet shoulder gaps still leave medium footfall on peak weekends Mid-season sits near 20°C with 7 rain days in September.
Mild Walks [Sep], Crisp window [Oct], Cool Wandering [Nov]
Sep 20°C, Oct 13°C, Nov 6°C — mostly clearer skies (7–8 rain days)
Photographers, hikers, food travellers, couples
September pushes rates to $90–$130/night with medium crowds at headline sights. November brings 8 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Ankara in Autumn?
Book Ankara's crisp hiking for September at least 4–6 weeks out, then spend 2 nights in Istanbul in September where mid rates and medium crowds trade a short hop for calmer autumn days.
Winter
Winter — Holiday Lights
December · January · February
Festive season
Winter is when travellers book Ankara for holiday lights. Holiday Lights timing runs Ankara (early December); Istanbul (mid December); Antalya (late December). Expect 1–3°C averages with 7–9 rain days/month and medium crowds — and yet shoulder gaps still leave medium footfall on peak weekends Mid-season sits near 2°C with 9 rain days in December.
Festive window [Dec], Quiet Streets [Jan], Quiet Streets [Feb]
Dec 2°C, Jan 1°C, Feb 3°C — mixed skies (7–9 rain days)
Skiers, budget travellers, museum lovers, festive shoppers
December pushes rates to $90–$130/night with medium crowds at headline sights. December brings 9 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Ankara in Winter?
Book Ankara's holiday lights for December at least 4–6 weeks out, then spend 2 nights in Istanbul in December where mid rates and medium crowds trade a short hop for calmer winter days.
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Which month is best for Ankara?
| Month | Avg Temp | Rain Days | Crowds | Cost | Overall | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1°C | 8 | Low | $ Budget | ★ Avoid | Quiet winter days |
| February | 3°C | 7 | Low | $ Budget | ★★ Okay | Quiet budget travel |
| March | 8°C | 8 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★ Okay | Early spring walks |
| April | 14°C | 9 | High | $$$ High | ★★★ Great | Spring city walking |
| May | 19°C | 10 | High | $$$ High | ★★★ Great | Warm outdoor days |
| June | 23°C | 11 | High | $$$$ Peak | ★★★ Great | Long sunny days |
| July | 26°C | 9 | High | $$$$ Peak | ★★ Okay | Warm outdoor days |
| August | 25°C | 8 | High | $$$ High | ★★ Okay | Warm outdoor days |
| September | 20°C | 7 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★★ Great | Mild city walking |
| October | 13°C | 7 | Low | $$ Mid | ★★★ Great | Crisp outdoor walking |
| November | 6°C | 8 | Low | $ Budget | ★★ Okay | Cool quiet wandering |
| December | 2°C | 9 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★ Okay | Festive city lights |
Temperatures shown as Ankara monthly averages.
When is Ankara Cheapest to Visit?
Timing your trip right can save 25 to 40 percent on flights and hotels. Green months are cheapest, red months are most expensive.
Cheapest window
January–November. Save about 25–40% versus $$$$ Peak June; hotels track the same flight discounts in this $ Budget window, so flight and stay costs move together.
Book early regardless
June and July sell out entirely when crowds hit High and pricing hits $$$$ Peak — book accommodation 3–4 months ahead regardless of budget, not only flights.
Best value sweet spot
September and October: great weather on this page (~20°C, 7 rain days) at $$ Mid pricing; Medium crowds still keep it from matching June’s sell-out rush.
Cheapest months to visit Ankara
January–November is the cheapest stretch to visit Ankara. $ Budget months on this page typically cut flights about 25–35% versus $$$$ Peak, with hotel rates moving in step rather than lagging. Averages sit near 1°C with roughly 8 rain days, so packing stays simple if you accept cooler or wetter days. The exception: festival or holiday spikes inside an otherwise cheap month can briefly push stays toward $$ Mid even when the band still reads $ Budget.
Most expensive months to visit Ankara
June and July are the most expensive months to visit Ankara. $$$$ Peak and $$$ High rows align with High or Very High crowds and the 3–4 months booking lead already shown for sell-outs. Expect the 25–40% saving story to reverse here — you pay the premium the chart paints in red. Weather can still look strong (23°C, 11 rain days in June), which is why demand sticks. The exception: a shoulder week just outside the core peak label sometimes dips to $$$ High instead of full $$$$ Peak if.
Best value months to visit Ankara
September and October offer the best value months to visit Ankara. Great-rated weather pairs with $$ Mid instead of $$$$ Peak, so you keep comfort without the full 25–40% penalty of peak pricing. September averages about 20°C with 7 rain days and Medium crowds — busy enough for open attractions, not yet June-style sell-outs. The exception: once a “value” month overlaps a major holiday cluster, lead times jump back toward 3–4 months even if the cost word has not flipped to $$$$ Peak.
Best Time to Visit Ankara For…
January–November. Flights are typically 25–35% cheaper than peak season — base in Ankara and keep trips flexible inside that budget window.
January–November. Crowd level stays Low with about 1°C averages — base in Ankara for quieter streets and easier bookings.
April and May and October. Expect around 14°C with a great rating — base in Ankara for the most comfortable sightseeing days.
April and May or October. April and May maximises iconic weather in Ankara but draws higher crowds and peak pricing; October trades that rush for calmer streets and still-strong ratings.
May and June. Base in Antalya or Bodrum as beach season begins before peak July heat.
April and May. Walk Sultanahmet and the Bosphorus in spring before summer cruise crowds peak.
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Best Time to Visit Each City in Turkey
Timing varies across Turkey's main cities. Here is when each is at its best.
Ankara Travel Essentials
- Currency & cards
- Turkish lira (TRY). Cards work in cities and resorts; keep cash for markets, tips, and smaller towns.
- Connectivity
- Airport SIM or eSIM covers navigation. Free Wi‑Fi is common in hotels, cafés, and many malls.
- Domestic transport
- Metro, trams, and ferries suit big cities; domestic flights and coaches cover longer intercity hops.
- Etiquette & logistics
- Dress modestly at mosques (covered shoulders and knees; women may need a headscarf). Remove shoes before entering.
- Visa / entry
- Confirm entry rules on Turkey’s official e-Visa site before you book. Official source
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Ankara Travel Timing — FAQ
Everything you need to know about timing your Ankara trip
Most travellers cover Ankara's core highlights in a short city break, then add nights only if you want day trips beyond the centre. Anchor those days in the April–October window shown here so weather and pacing stay aligned.
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How we work this out
Temperature and rainfall figures are 30-year meteorological averages. Crowd levels come from national tourism arrival data. Price bands reflect mid-range accommodation and economy flights from major long-haul cities, sampled quarterly.
Last updated 18 July 2026 · Written by the Holicay travel team