Safranbolu weather in December

December in Safranbolu: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Safranbolu🇹🇷 Turkey · Central & Eastern Turkey · City58
  1. 53Jan
  2. 62Feb
  3. 68Mar
  4. 78Apr
  5. 86May
  6. 90Jun
  7. 88Jul
  8. 84Aug
  9. 95Sep
  10. 82Oct
  11. 70Nov
  12. 58Dec

#11 of 12 months in Safranbolu · #1019 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 58/100 (tier D)

Days
10°C
Nights
1°C
Wet days
13
Sun
5.8 h
Humidity
83%
Daylight
9 h
Safranbolu, Turkey
Photo: Abdullatif Mirza · Pexels

Traveller notes on Safranbolu in December

Other months in Safranbolu

Turkey's forum consistently calls March the hardest month in the country to predict - a whole week could bring nonstop sunshine or a run of grey, showery days, with reality usually somewhere in between. What posters agreed on for towns like Safranbolu specifically: it's a genuinely lovely month for sightseeing the Ottoman-era streets and houses, with early spring flowers out and hotels running near-empty compared to summer crowds. Evenings turn properly chilly regardless of how the day went, so a warm layer for after dark is non-negotiable even on a sunny day.
OttomanTownRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters consistently name September-October as one of Turkey's best travel windows overall, with several describing trips across that stretch as having 'perfect weather.' For Safranbolu specifically - a UNESCO World Heritage old town known for its well-preserved traditional Ottoman houses - posters recommend budgeting a full two to three days to properly explore, with a trek through nearby Tokatli Canyon (an easy-to-moderate route with striking scenery) named as the natural add-on for anyone with an extra day. The town's inland, hillier setting means posters generally expect it to run a touch cooler than the Turkish coast at the same time of year, consistent with the broader early-autumn comfort the region is known for.
Tripadvisor community · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Safranbolu's card on the map.

Safranbolu climate normals — December

Daytime high10°C / 49°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low1°C / 33°F
Feels like (high)7°C / 45°F
Rainfall88 mm / 3.5 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days13 days
Humidity83%💦 very humid
Dew point2°C / 35°F
Sunshine5.8 h/day
Daylight9.3 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Snowfall24.8 cm / 9.8 in
Air quality (US AQI)40🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Safranbolu in December

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.

Quietschool holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Safranbolu'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 weatherSafranbolu's best weather comes in June, July and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Safranbolu in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Winter quiet and snow

    15 Dec – 28 Feb · usuallyOff-season shutdown

    Weekday visitors have the old quarter to themselves in winter, and after a snowfall photographers come for the white roofs of the Ottoman houses. Some guesthouses close, and the roads around Karabuk and Eskipazar can shut in heavy snow. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Where is Safranbolu?

Loading map…

Safranbolu in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Safranbolu?
December in Safranbolu: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Safranbolu on SeasonMap's comfort score (58/100).
What is the weather like in Safranbolu in December?
In December, Safranbolu averages a daily high of 9.5°C and a low of 0.8°C, with about 87.9 mm of rain over roughly 13.3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Safranbolu in December?
Safranbolu has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 40 in December.
Does it snow in Safranbolu in December?
Safranbolu sees roughly 24.8 cm of snowfall in December.