It’s time to travel to Turkey if you’re seeking a vacation in a place with a rich cultural background and a wide variety of cuisine, all surrounded by stunning beaches and pointy mountains. Turkey’s winter begins in November and continues through December. Even though the country is cold, Turkey will greet you with a warmth unmatched by any other place. The warm climate along the Mediterranean Coast will allow you to take advantage of the sunny days by strolling on the beach. Additionally, December is a month with some rain and cloudy days. Consider making some preparations for the same since there is occasionally significant rain in some areas of Turkey. Apply for a turkey visa online, pack your bags and book a flight is all necessary to begin a fantastic chilly vacation. During this season, higher altitudes in some areas of eastern Turkey experience snowfall. So, here are some winter activities you may enjoy in Turkey in December!

Things to Do in Turkey in December

1. You can fly for six miles straight

More than 100 mountains in Turkey rise higher than 9,800 feet, and each one has a few dozen ski resorts. The most well-known is Uludag, an Alpine village south of the Sea of Marmara. The tallest mountain in Turkey and the site of the longest natural ski runs in Europe, Palandoken, is found in the province of Erzurum in the east. The views here are extremely breathtaking in December during Turkey’s winter.

2. History, Culture And Ruins

The magnificent Greco-Roman sites in Turkey along the Mediterranean are best visited in the winter. The heat and crowds disappear during this time of year, and the gloomy ambience allows you to explore each one freely. Visit the spooky Termessos sarcophagi by going to the travertine slopes above Antalya. Turkey in December is even more enjoyable because of the unrestored amphitheatre above the white-marble Sagalassos ruins. Alexander the Great took over both Pisidian cities in 333 BC.

3. The Real Santa Claus in Turkey

The historical village of Myra, now known as Demre, was where the genuine St. Nick lived, far from the North Pole. The Greek Orthodox community in Demre pays tribute to the saint in a black gown on his feast day each year. The saint is more like Poseidon, the sea god, in the eyes of the pilgrims. But don’t let the absence of elves and reindeer fool you. The Christmas season in Turkey is marked by gifts brought down the chimney, according to the Santa Claus legend.

4. Turkish Bath to treat yourselves!

In Turkey’s winter, the greatest time to visit a hammam or bathhouse is when it’s steaming with visitors. One of the most excellent things to do in Turkey in December is to see Kihn Ali Pasha, which dates back to the 16th century and just underwent restoration restoring it to its former grandeur. It houses one of the 56 bathhouses built by renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. This is a unique experience for travellers worldwide because it can only be had in Turkey, especially during the winter.

5. Fishing on the edge of Asia and Europe

Millions of fish can be seen travelling in the winter from the calmer Black Sea to the warmer Mediterranean. Anglers crowd locations along the waterway that separates the city’s Asian and European districts. The best places to eat in Turkey in December may be found on the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn. The best winter fish, including lufer (bluefish), palamut (bonito), hamsi (anchovy), and mezgit, may be enjoyed at a traditional meyhane restaurant (whiting).

6. Sahlep – The Essence of Turkey

Older men begin pushing the steaming brass samovars filled with an Ottoman-era creamy beverage throughout the winter in Istanbul. Sahlep combines hot mastic milk, flour from orchid tubers, and cinnamon. It is eaten by many Turks for its unique healing powers. It tastes insanely good and is the ideal remedy for a chilly December day in Turkey. Enjoy your sahlep after purchasing a bag of kestane kebap, or freshly roasted chestnuts, from a street cart.

7. Puddings – A Turkey Delight

Asure is a pudding served to celebrate the day Noah’s Ark crashed. Its key ingredients are grains, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, beans, chickpeas, and sugar. The precise ingredients of this porridge-like treat differed from region to region, but each one is ideal for a cold December day in Turkey. Quince, or ayva, is another well-liked wintertime treat. It is typically poached in cloves and sugar syrup and served with dollops of clotted cream. The fruit’s flesh turns orangey-red and contrasts stunningly with the green pistachio flakes sprinkled on top.

8. A Walk Along Abant Lake

You can travel 4.5 kilometres of the stunning Abant Lake, located in the Bolu province’s Little Lake District, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. The lake is surrounded by forests, fir and beech trees coated in snow, and is a must-see on any trip to Turkey in December. Even a hotel in this area resembles the Overlook if the setting couldn’t be any more similar to Shining.

9. Visit An Inland Sea with Snowy Peaks

The Van region in southeast Turkey is high-altitude, wild, and lonely. The largest lake in the nation, Lake Van, has volcanoes that loom over its northern and western coastlines. This is a wonderfully fantastic place to visit in Turkey in December, with small islands sprinkling the lake and old castles, churches, mosques, and tombs on its shores! You can take a ferry to Akdamar Island even if you visit in mid-January because the salty lake doesn’t freeze during the winter. A royal church of the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan, the Church of the Holy Cross dates to the 10th century.

There are more reasons than not for you to begin making travel plans to Turkey in December. If You have a turkey e visa, you will have a wonderful trip in Turkey in the winter, full of luxury, adventure, and delicious experiences.