Intro
December is Antalya at its quietest and most surprising. The beaches are empty, the summer crowds a distant memory, and yes, it is the wettest month of the year, but it is mild rather than cold, the ancient sites are gloriously deserted, and you can genuinely ski in the morning and stand by the Mediterranean in the afternoon. If you come for the right reasons, December is a hidden gem. Here is the honest local guide.
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Check Price & Availability ›📋 Antalya in December, at a glance
| 🌡️ Temperature | 15–18°C days / 7–10°C evenings |
| 🌊 Sea temperature | Around 18°C, too cool for most |
| ☀️ Sunshine | 5–6 hours a day, many bright spells |
| 🌧️ Rain | The wettest month, around 11 days |
| ⛷️ Special | Ski and sea on the same day |
| 💰 Prices | The lowest of the year |
| ✅ Best for | Culture, budget, quiet, festive escapes |
Overall verdict: December is not a beach month, but it’s mild, cheap, and wonderfully quiet, ideal for empty ancient sites, a festive city break, and even a day on the ski slopes.
📝 A Local’s Note
If a Saklıkent ski day is part of your plan, call ahead or check conditions the morning of, snowfall in the Taurus Mountains varies year to year and the season doesn’t always start right at the beginning of December. It’s also a genuinely different climate up there, pack proper winter layers for the mountain even if you’re comfortable in a light jacket down on the coast.
Antalya Weather in December
December is mild rather than cold, but it is officially the wettest month of the year. Daytime temperatures settle at a gentle 15°C to 18°C, cool but comfortable for walking and sightseeing in a jacket, while evenings drop to 7°C to 10°C, so warm layers are essential after dark. Rain is the defining feature, around 11 rainy days across the month, though it typically comes in short, heavy bursts with bright, sunny spells in between rather than endless grey. On a clear December day, the light is beautiful, the air is fresh, and the snow-capped Taurus Mountains behind the city are a spectacular sight.
Can You Swim in Antalya in December?
For most visitors, no. The sea cools to around 18°C, and the air is too cool for comfortable beach days. Hardy swimmers and the local “winter swimmers” do take a dip, and many hotel pools are heated, but December is not a sea-and-sunbathing month. Come for the culture, the calm, and the mountains, not the beach. If swimming is your priority, visit between June and October instead.
Ski in the Morning, Sea in the Afternoon
This is December’s showpiece, and one of the most remarkable things Antalya offers all year. Just a couple of hours from the warm coast, the Saklıkent ski centre in the Taurus Mountains opens for the winter season, with snow, slopes, and mountain air. It is entirely possible to ski or play in the snow in the morning and be back by the Mediterranean, strolling the harbour in a light jacket, by the afternoon. Very few destinations on earth let you combine snow and sea in a single December day. It is genuinely unforgettable, and almost no summer visitor ever sees this side of Antalya.
The Best Things to Do in December
Explore the ancient ruins in total peace. December is glorious for history. Aspendos, Perge, Termessos, and Side are mild, atmospheric, and often completely empty, you may have the world’s best-preserved Roman theatre entirely to yourself. Pick a clear day, wrap up warm, and enjoy the soft winter light.
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Check Price & Availability ›Wander a festive Kaleiçi. The old town is atmospheric and quiet in December, its cobbled lanes cosy and lamplit, its cafés warm and inviting. Around Christmas and New Year, parts of the city and the malls put up festive lights and decorations, giving Antalya a gentle seasonal sparkle.
Museums, aquarium, and indoor gems. December’s rainy days are perfect for the excellent Antalya Museum, home to Perge’s magnificent statues, and the Antalya Aquarium, one of the world’s longest tunnel aquariums, an ideal way to spend a wet afternoon.
Warm up in a traditional hammam. A Turkish bath is the perfect December experience, steamy, warm, and deeply relaxing when the evenings are cool and the rain is falling outside. It is one of the great pleasures of visiting in winter.
Day trip to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is atmospheric and almost empty in December, and the warm thermal pools feel wonderful against the cool air, a genuine highlight of an off-season visit. The white terraces under a crisp winter sky are beautiful.
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Check Price & Availability ›Christmas and New Year in Antalya
Turkey is a Muslim-majority country, so Christmas (25 December) is not a public holiday and is a normal working day, though tourist areas, hotels, and malls often put up decorations and festive lights. New Year (Yılbaşı), however, is widely and enthusiastically celebrated, with lights, gift-giving, decorated trees (a Yılbaşı rather than Christmas tradition), fireworks, and lively parties in hotels, restaurants, and bars across the city. If you want a warm-ish, affordable, and atmospheric place to see in the New Year, Antalya is a lovely and unusual choice.
Why December is Such Good Value
Antalya welcomed a record 17.12 million visitors in 2025, almost none of them in December. That means the lowest prices of the entire year: cheap flights, quiet hotels, tiny tour groups, and an entire ancient region almost to yourself. You trade beach weather for solitude, culture, mild sightseeing days, snowy mountains, and remarkable value. For budget and culturally-minded travellers, December is one of Antalya’s best-kept secrets.
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Check Price & Availability ›What to Know Before You Come
A few honest points. Most beach clubs, water sports, and some seasonal resort hotels are closed for winter, all-inclusive beach holidays are essentially not a December thing. Boat trips run on a very reduced, weather-dependent schedule. Daylight is shorter, so plan sightseeing for the earlier hours. And pack for genuine variability: a bright, mild afternoon and a cold, wet evening can happen the same day. None of this is a drawback if you come for winter Antalya’s real strengths.
What to Pack for December
Layers are essential. Bring warm clothing, a proper jacket, jumpers, and a waterproof coat, plus a compact umbrella for the frequent showers. Water-resistant walking shoes matter for wet cobbles and ruins. Add warm clothing and gloves if you plan a day at the Saklıkent ski slopes. Swimwear is only needed for a heated hotel pool or a hammam. And do not skip sunglasses and sunscreen for the bright, clear spells.
Getting From the Airport
December often means landing to rain, so a pre-booked transfer, with a fixed price and a driver waiting at arrivals, is especially welcome. No standing in a wet taxi queue after your flight.
Is Antalya Worth Visiting in December?
Yes, for the right traveller. If you want empty ancient sites, mild sightseeing weather, a festive New Year, snowy mountains within reach, and the lowest prices of the year, December is genuinely rewarding and hugely underrated. If you want a hot beach holiday with guaranteed sunshine, it is the wrong month, choose summer instead. December trades sea and sun for solitude, value, culture, and the rare magic of snow beside the Mediterranean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about visiting Antalya in December.
Is Antalya worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you want empty ancient sites, mild sightseeing weather, a festive New Year, and very low prices, plus the rare chance to ski and see the sea in one day. It is not a beach month.
How cold is Antalya in December?
Mild rather than cold: daytime temperatures of 15°C to 18°C, cooling to 7°C to 10°C in the evening. A jacket and warm layers are needed, especially after dark.
Can you swim in Antalya in December?
Not comfortably for most people. The sea cools to around 18°C and the air is cool. Heated hotel pools are the reliable option; the open sea is for hardy winter swimmers only.
Does it rain a lot in Antalya in December?
Yes, December is the wettest month of the year, with around 11 rainy days. Rain usually comes in short, heavy bursts with bright sunny spells in between, rather than continuous grey.
Can you really ski near Antalya in December?
Yes. The Saklıkent ski centre in the Taurus Mountains is about two hours away and opens for winter, so you can ski in the morning and be back by the Mediterranean in the afternoon.
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Page last updated: August 2026