SeasonMapAnkara weather in January
Turkey
January in Ankara: cold, a little rain, with reliable snow — a fair time to visit.
#12 of 12 months in Ankara · #1026 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 54/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Ankara in January
Other months in Ankara
The Türkiye forum's read on Ankara in September is dry heat by day and chilly at night, and the record is emphatic about both halves: highs near 27°C, lows near 14°C, and rain on fewer than two days across the whole month. That thirteen-degree daily swing is the thing to pack for — layers, plus a light waterproof if the trip also takes in Cappadocia, which regulars describe as behaving much the same way. September is broadly rated the better half of a window that starts going hit-and-miss from the middle of October, when thunderstorms and heavy rain arrive.
Add your own note from Ankara's card on the map.
Ankara climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 6°C / 43°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -2°C / 29°F | |
| Rainfall | 53 mm / 2.1 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 9 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | -3°C / 26°F | |
| Sunshine | 6.9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | |
| Wind | 13 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Snowfall | 17.6 cm / 6.9 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 73 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Ankara in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsRamadan, Semester (winter) break in Turkey, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Ankara's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherAnkara's best weather comes in May, June and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
January coincides with Winter inversion.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Ankara in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Holiday
Ramadan
25 Jan – 25 Mar · usuallyAnkara keeps working through it — this is a civil-service city — but the lokantas around the ministries go quiet at lunchtime and the old quarter below the citadel fills at sunset. Source ↗
- Season
Winter inversion
15 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyWinter smogThe city sits in a bowl and cold, still weather traps household heating smoke in it for days at a time. It is nothing like as bad as it was in the coal years, but the hills above still look down on a lid. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Ankara — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Ankara?
Ankara in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Ankara?
- January in Ankara: cold, a little rain, with reliable snow — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Ankara on SeasonMap's comfort score (54/100).
- What is the weather like in Ankara in January?
- In January, Ankara averages a daily high of 6.2°C and a low of -1.9°C, with about 53 mm of rain over roughly 9.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Ankara in January?
- Ankara has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 73 in January.
- Does it snow in Ankara in January?
- Ankara sees roughly 17.6 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Ankara
Compare Ankara in January
Warmer or cooler than Ankara in January
Similar destinations in Western Asia — January
Within 300 km: Göreme's Winter balloon cancellations around 1 Dec – 28 Feb.