Best Time to Visit Kayseri

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

April to June and September to October are the months to aim for. In April the days are mild, around 18°C, and the lows still feel cool. By June it's warm and bright without being harsh. Showers pass through in spring, so keep an hour free in your plan for a tea break in a café near the Seljuk-era Güpgüpoğlu Konağı or the Kayseri Castle walls, built from dark volcanic stone.

Autumn is just as good, and it's drier. September stays warm and sunny, with only a few wet days. October cools off nicely for walking around the old centre and visiting the Seljuk sites, like the Huand Hatun complex and the Sahibiye Medresesi (an old Islamic school). This is also the best window if you plan to drive out to Cappadocia's valleys, about an hour away, or hike on Mount Erciyes without baking.

November is rated Excellent too, but it's cold at night, so it suits quiet city breaks better than hiking.

Summer: hot, dry and sunny

July and August are the hottest months, with highs of 32°C and 33°C. Rain is almost absent. Afternoons on the open Anatolian plateau feel dry and strong, so do your sightseeing in the morning and spend the hottest hours in the cool stone interiors of the Kayseri Museum or the covered Kapalı Çarşı bazaar. Evenings are pleasant, and locals are out late.

This is the busiest time for Turkish domestic travel, since school is out. Kayseri isn't a beach town, so it doesn't get swamped, but Cappadocia nearby fills up. Try a plate of mantı (tiny dumplings with yogurt), the city's famous dish, and you'll understand why people come for the food alone.

Winter: cold, grey and quiet

From December to February, highs sit between 6°C and 9°C, and nights drop below freezing. January is the coldest month, with the lowest nights at -3°C. Days are short and cloudy, and snow is common. Crowds are thin, and hotels are easy to get.

Winter does have one big draw. If you ski, Erciyes ski resort, on the mountain above town, is the reason to come. The slopes are an easy drive from the centre. For everyone else, winter is a time for museum visits and warm bowls of soup.

March is a mixed month. It's the wettest on the table, with 52 mm over ten days, and still chilly. Wait until April if you can.