When I first learned that Turkish Airlines offered direct flights between Riga and Istanbul, I started dreaming about a sunny winter getaway. The average temperature for Istanbul in January is 45F/7C, which might not seem super warm, but is an improvement over Riga’s 30F/-1C and near-constant snow cover. Istanbul is also 1,800 kilometers south of Riga, resulting in more daylight hours and, one would think, more heat. But Mother Nature had other plans: a cold front blew across the Middle East just in time for my trip. Figures!
Once I got over my initial disappointment, I realized how breathtaking Istanbul is under a blanket of white. Palm trees danced in the snow-speckled breeze wind, while the city’s famed domes glistened whenever the sun made an appearance. Bare branches offered unobstructed views of historic architecture, and diminished crowds ensured a pleasant touring environment. We never needed dinner reservations for even top restaurants. Meanwhile, we could really appreciate the charms of the Grand Bazaar, which is reportedly choked with tourists in the summer months. I didn’t get the warm weather I was after, but the beautiful scenery more than made up for it.
PIN IT!
Would you like to see Istanbul covered in snow?
What are your favorite places to visit during the off season?
Ready to book my return! (Shivering and teeth chattering as I look at that colored steps shot…)
LOL, I still can’t believe I noticed those steps given the conditions. If memory serves, I had actually turned around hoping to get a shot of the colorful umbrellas that were overhead. K had no recollection of the entire scene!
Beautiful photos! There’s just something about the light in winter that makes for lovely photographs, even if the process of taking them is cold and painful.
Thanks, that’s so true! Fortunately I was well prepared for the cold after several months in Riga. Gloves with electronic-sensitive fingertips have been a life saver!
Oh I loved Istanbul in winter, like you said we had everything to ourselves. And that is the main reason I like visiting places in winter. Beautiful photos!!! Currently having a bout of #travelenvy
Thanks, Rosemarie! Off-season travel can be so much more enjoyable. I would rather be cold than crowded!
Wow! This probably sounds ridiculously dumb, but I didn’t realize Turkey (or at least Istanbul) ever saw snow, so your pictures really surprised me! I’ve seen pictures of the Blue Mosque MANY times, but never have I seen it sprinkled with snow.
Also, I love low/shoulder season travel so much. I’d take slightly less-than-perfect weather in lieu of large crowds of tourists and peak season prices any day of the week!
That doesn’t sound dumb at all – the snow took me completely by surprise! Fortunately I went wearing my winter layers and accessories because of Riga’s weather. I had just been hoping to shed them while I was there!
I am with you on crowd avoidance. Everyone who shared with me their horror stories of the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace Harem had been there during the summer/early fall. Meanwhile, our experiences couldn’t have been more pleasant. When you do make it to Istanbul, definitely go during the winter!
Funny to think that a couple of weeks later it was sunny, warm and 15C. I wouldn’t have liked it if it snowed, I went just to escape the cold, haha. Gorgeous pictures, by the way 😀
How lucky you were, Vlad! Though looking back through my photos, I’m very glad I got to see the snow 🙂
I’ve been to Istanbul so many time, but never in the snow. It looks lovely! I love it no matter what the weather is like.
While the snow was beautiful, I’d love to go back and experience the city in warmer weather and cruise along the Bosporus!
WOW! Absolutely beautiful pictures. The first one took my breath away!
Thanks, Agness! It was breathtaking in person, too 😉
Wow, it was a great journey through photos! Istanbul looks ethereal in winter!
Thanks! Ethereal is a great adjective – it really did feel like a dream!
WOW! I love those little sidewalk treasures you spotted, what a lovely surprise! Even though you didn’t quite get the sunshine, these photos are stunning, so maybe it was for the best!;-) You’ve really bumped Istanbul up on my travel list, Heather!
At first I thought the evil eye pendants were just for tourists, but then I started seeing them embedded in the sidewalk outside shops and restaurants. Such a fun little discovery! And when you do go to Istanbul, make sure it’s in the winter!
So beautiful! I’m not sure why but I always pictured Istanbul sunny and warm, I’ve never thought it could snow there, how silly of me!
I know, it was a surprise for me too! Even though we were there in the snow for a week, it still feels like a dream!
Until I met some people who lived in Istanbul, I also had no idea it could snow in Istanbul. Didn’t place it in my mind at about the same latitude as Beijing! These shots are beautiful and I’d really like to see Istanbul in the snow. Haven’t seen much snow at all these past five years.
We also didn’t realize that Istanbul was in the same time zone as Riga. It’s funny how your mind’s geography can be so distorted from reality.
Sounds like you need to get up to Harbin! 😉
Hehe, I made it to Harbin last winter! It was beautiful and indeed we saw a lot of snow, but it never fell from the sky the whole time we were there.
Beautiful pictures Heather! You are right, the snow adds a nice contrast.
Thank you! I’ll take snow over rain any day 🙂
What a lovely set of photos! I wish I could go back to Istanbul right away – have already started looking into Turkish restaurants and supermarkets in my hometown so we can pretend we’re back there once we return home!
We only caught the very end of the snow – on our first day I was barely able to stay awake long enough to take many photos, due to an overnight bus journey from hell, and by the second day it had mostly melted away! Secretly kind of glad, as though it was very picturesque I’m much more of a warm weather girl!
I used to think of myself as a warm weather girl, too, but now that I’ve been living in Latvia I’ve embraced the cold! I guess that’s a good thing since I can’t seem to escape it even when I travel south, LOL. I invested in a good coat and base layers before we moved, and it’s amazing what a difference that can make!
Great pictures as usual. I’m not sure I can do another winter (cold, wind, snow) vacation. I like the idea of fewer tourists but these old bones just don’t like the cold. Istanbul looks to be a lovely city. I would spend most of my time in the bazaars. The colors are just fantastic!
Wow! Your photos are brilliant and you’re right, you got a better prespective of what Istanbul has to offer. I’ve been to Istanbul only once and will be going again in the summer but somehow, I never really thought about it snowing there. But of course, if it can snow in Mongolia and India, why not Turkey. It’s a good thing you had a fluffy coat LOL!
Thankfully living in Latvia has prepared me for the cold LOL! Unbelievably, Istanbul was the same temperature as Riga for that one week. I just can’t get a break!
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. 🙁
I can’t help you with the weather but perhaps I could use your skills! I’ll be going to Riga in a few months, do you have any suggestions as to where to stay that is not too pricey and a bit more boutique-like? Thanks.
I’ve only been inside the Radisson Blu and the Albert Hotel, which both have top-floor bars. But from the outside, the Monika Centrum Hotel looks absolutely charming. The only thing is that the location is in the Art Nouveau district, not Old Town, and I don’t know what the rooms are like. Old Town hotels that look nice (again, from the outside) are the Astor Riga and the Hotel Garden Palace. If you want luxury, stay at Neiburgs (maybe $150 a night). I’d do a search on Booking.com and try to avoid the area around the train station. And the further away from the river you get, the further you get from Old Town. Hope this helps!
Try Radi un Draugi! It’s in the old town, small and reasonably priced. My whole family (8 adults) enjoyed staying there last summer.
Thanks for the tip, Zaiga!
Amazing photos! I visited Istanbul in summer when it was too hot and very crowded, so I’d love to go back in winter and see the contrasts!
Thanks, Lizzie! After hearing about the summer crowds, I’m very happy to have visited during the winter. I hope you make it back to experience it for yourself!
Fabulous photos Heather. Now I really do want to go back and see the city under snow….It’s so pretty. I’m glad you had a fabulous time!
Thanks, Jenny! Snow in Istanbul was a special experience, to be sure, but I still want to go back to get the warmer weather I was after! There’s a Bosporus cruise waiting with my name on it 🙂
Wow, Istanbul certainly looks beautiful in the snow. I’m sorry it was chilly, but your photos really make it look worthwhile!
Thank you, Katie! If we hadn’t been shivering, it would have felt like a dream 🙂
Your pictures are just enchanting dear. May I please know which month you visited Istanbul. Is it worth visiting Turkey around 20th of December dear? Thanks.
Thanks Faatimah! We visited Istanbul during the first week of January, and I think it would be very worthwhile to visit in December!
So glad you went to Istanbul outside the summer months. Because we take part in the races that make up the Eurasia Marathon in Istanbul, we’re always there in November and everywhere looks so lovely under the autumn leaves…and the scenery is much clearer, too. 🙂 We’ve just got back from our first April visit, too, and we can highly recommend springtime. Looks like summer just lost out. 🙂
Julia
I think I need to experience Istanbul during every season, Julia! I picked up a book while there, “the Tulip of Istanbul,” and am now plotting a spring visit to see the flowers in bloom. I bet it’s absolutely gorgeous!