Snow in Turkey for Gulf Travellers: Where and When to Go in Winter

Yes, Turkey gets real snow every winter, and you do not need to go far from Istanbul to find it. In most years the mountains have snow from December to March. The easiest snow day from the city is Uludağ above Bursa, whose summit reaches 2,543 m. For deeper snow and proper skiing, a short domestic flight takes you to Erciyes near Kayseri or Palandöken near Erzurum. For families from the Gulf, the simplest plan is our Bursa and Uludağ tour from Istanbul with ferry, cable car and lunch, from $90 per person.

This page is written for travellers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. It explains which snow area suits which family, which months are safest, how Ramadan 2027 changes the dates, and what to pack for a first trip into real cold.

Five places to see snow in Turkey

Turkey's snow is in the mountains, not on the coast. Istanbul itself only gets a few snowy days in most winters (see below), so a "snow trip" almost always means leaving the city for a day or flying east. These are the five places Gulf families ask us about most.

Uludağ and Kartepe work as day trips; the other three need at least two nights because of the flights. For a first snow experience, one good day on Uludağ is usually enough; for several days of skiing, choose Erciyes or Palandöken.

Which months have snow

Nobody can book snow. The table below shows what is usual, not what is promised, and every winter is different. Mountain weather also changes fast: a sunny morning in Bursa can turn into fog and snowfall at the top.

If the goal is simply to see and play in snow, aim for mid-January to mid-February. We check the forecast and the ski centres two or three days before your trip, and if Kartepe has no snow we move the day to Uludağ, which is higher.

Does it snow in Istanbul itself?

Sometimes, but you should not plan a holiday around it. Long-term figures from the Turkish State Meteorological Service show about eight snowy days a year at Florya on the Marmara coast and around fifteen at Kireçburnu in the north of the city, mostly in January and February. Average January temperatures in the city are roughly 9°C by day and 3-4°C at night.

Heavy falls do happen: in January 2017 the northern suburbs measured more than a metre. But in many winters the snow melts by lunchtime, and a big storm closes roads and delays flights rather than creating a holiday scene. Treat snow in the city as a bonus and put a mountain day on the plan. Our guide to Turkey in winter covers what else the cold months offer.

Uludağ: the classic snow day from Istanbul

Uludağ is the mountain behind Bursa, the first Ottoman capital. The national park lies about 22 km south of the city, and the Bursa Uludağ gondola runs from Teferrüç in Bursa up to the hotel area (Oteller) at about 1,870 m. The line is 8.8 km long with stops at Kadıyayla and Sarıalan, and the ride between the end stations takes about 22 minutes. On a clear day you look down over the city and the plain of Bursa while the forest below you turns white.

At the top there are ski slopes and plenty of open snow. Most Gulf families do not ski at all: they want snowball fights, photographs, a sledge run and hot drinks. Equipment and warm suits can be rented on the mountain.

What makes Uludağ different is that the day includes a city. Bursa has the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), the Green Mosque and Green Tomb and the old silk market, and it is the home of İskender kebab. A typical day: early hotel pickup, the crossing towards Bursa, the gondola up to the snow, lunch, the historic centre and a prayer stop, and back to Istanbul in the evening.

It is a long day, so for very small children or older parents a private car is more comfortable than a shared group. Our private driver day with a Mercedes Vito is from $299 per group for eight hours within Istanbul; out-of-city routes like Bursa are quoted separately when you send us your dates.

Kartepe and Sapanca: the closest snow for young families

Kartepe is the closest ski area to Istanbul. It sits above the Gulf of İzmit and Lake Sapanca, and it is lower than Uludağ, so its season depends more on each winter. In a good year the slopes open around late December; in a mild year there may be only a few weeks of good snow. The upside is the drive: it is shorter than the Bursa day, and it pairs well with Lake Sapanca and the Maşukiye valley, which are popular with Gulf visitors in every season.

For families with toddlers, this is often the better day. You spend an hour or two in the snow, then go down to the valley for lunch by the stream, a short walk and the lake. Our Sapanca and Maşukiye day tour with lunch and pickup is from $70 per person, and a simpler Sapanca and Maşukiye day trip is from $33 per person.

We have written separate pages on this area: the Kartepe snow trip from Istanbul covers the ski centre and the cable car in detail, and the Sapanca and Maşukiye trip for Arabic-speaking visitors covers the lake, the bungalows and the valley.

Erciyes, Erzurum and Kars: when you want deep snow

If the goal is several days of guaranteed-looking snow, fly east. The Anatolian plateau is high and cold, and the snow there is drier and lasts longer than on the Marmara mountains.

• Erciyes (Kayseri). A large modern ski resort on an old volcano, about 40 minutes from Kayseri airport, with around 150 km of slopes and a base at about 2,100 m. Cappadocia is roughly an hour away, so one trip gives you snow and the fairy chimneys. Our Cappadocia and Erciyes ski tour from Istanbul is from $588 per person for three days with flights.
• Palandöken (Erzurum). The mountain rises to 3,271 m and the ski area starts only a few kilometres from the city. It is known for long runs and a long season, often from December well into spring.
• Sarıkamış (Kars). A small town at 2,100 m surrounded by pine forest. Winters are very cold, with average night-time lows around -10 to -12°C from December to February. Many visitors come for the snow-covered forest and for the Eastern Express train from Ankara to Kars.

For eastern Turkey, see our Eastern Turkey destination guide. For Cappadocia without skiing, the Cappadocia two-day trip from Istanbul with flights and a cave hotel night is from $599 per person; in winter the valleys are often white and the balloon flights still run whenever the wind allows.

Visa, flights and Ramadan 2027 for Gulf families

Entry. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holders of ordinary passports from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman can visit Türkiye without a visa for up to 90 days within 180 days. Turkish law requires your passport to be valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of your permitted stay, so for a full 90-day stay that means at least 150 days of validity. Families with relatives or domestic staff on other passports should check each passport separately; our Turkey visa requirements update covers the main nationalities.

Flights. Istanbul is a short flight from the Gulf. Emirates and flydubai list nonstop Dubai–Istanbul flights at about 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes, and Turkish Airlines and the national carriers of the other Gulf states also fly nonstop to Istanbul. Check whether your ticket uses Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side.

Ramadan and Eid. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and end around 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr in the second week of March. That matters for snow trips, because February is one of the best snow months. If you want to travel in the school holidays or for Eid, note that by mid-March the snow on Kartepe is often thin, and Uludağ or Erciyes is the safer choice. During Ramadan, restaurants in Bursa and on the mountain stay open, and we time the return so you can break your fast at the hotel or at a restaurant you choose. For Eid plans, see our Eid al-Fitr 2027 Istanbul trip from the UAE.

Packing and comfort for a first snow trip

Many Gulf travellers arrive with good coats but light shoes, and shoes are what ruin a snow day.

• Waterproof boots. Trainers get wet within minutes, and rental sizes for children run out on busy weekends.
• Layers, not one heavy coat. A thermal layer, a sweater and a waterproof jacket: warm on the gondola, windy at the top.
• Gloves, hat and sunglasses. Snow reflects strong sunlight, so protect children's eyes too.
• Dry socks in the car for the drive back.

Prayer and food. Türkiye is a Muslim-majority country, so food in Bursa, Sapanca and the mountain restaurants is halal by default, and pork is not served in ordinary Turkish restaurants. Mosques are easy to find in every town on these routes, and the driver will stop when you ask. Women do not need to change their dress for the mountain; for mosque visits in Bursa, a headscarf and covered arms and legs are expected, as in Istanbul. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more detail on dress.

Language. Guides on our tours speak English. An Arabic-speaking guide in Istanbul can be arranged on request, subject to availability; ask when you book and we tell you straight away whether one is free for your dates. More ideas for Gulf families are on our Istanbul tours for Gulf travellers page, and multi-day options are on Turkey tour packages from Dubai and from Saudi Arabia.

Tours that cover this

• Bursa and Uludağ Tour from Istanbul: Ferry, Cable Car and Lunch: from $90 per person, about 8 hours. The most reliable snow day from Istanbul.
• Sapanca Lake and Maşukiye Day Tour from Istanbul, Lunch and Pickup: from $70 per person, about 10 hours, with the cable car option towards the Kartepe snow.
• Cappadocia and Erciyes Ski Tour from Istanbul: 3 Days with Flights: from $588 per person, for skiing and Cappadocia together.
• Istanbul Private Driver Tour: Mercedes Vito for 8 Hours, 1-6 Guests: from $299 per group, for your city days before or after the snow.

Frequently Asked Questions