Amasya is a historic city and province in north-central Turkey, set in a dramatic gorge on the Yeşilırmak river beneath the rocky heights of Mount Harşena. Known as the Şehzadeler Şehri, or City of Princes, where Ottoman heirs trained as provincial governors, Amasya is famous for its Pontic royal rock tombs carved into the cliffs, its riverside Ottoman timber mansions, and its sweet apples. The birthplace of the ancient geographer Strabo, it blends Hellenistic, Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman heritage in one of Turkey's most scenic provincial towns.
Amasya has a continental, transitional climate shaped by its sheltered position in a narrow gorge along the Yeşilırmak (Green River) in north-central Anatolia, screened from the full influence of the Black Sea coast to the north. Summers are hot and dry, with July and August highs around 30-33°C in the valley, while winters are cold and often snowy, with January days near freezing and nights dropping below zero. The city receives moderate annual precipitation of roughly 580-600mm, wettest in spring (April-May), and about half a metre of snow falls across an average winter. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant, making them the best times to visit.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
4°C/39°F
Coldest month; frosty nights below zero, frequent snow, dramatic snowy gorge scenery but icy stairways
February
6°C/43°F
Still cold and wintry with snow and frost; quiet, atmospheric, and lowest prices of the year
March
12°C/54°F
Spring begins, valley greens up, lingering chilly nights, occasional rain and late snow
April
17°C/63°F
Mild and green, the wettest month with orchards and the riverfront in blossom
May
23°C/73°F
Warm, lush, and pleasant for the castle climb and old-town walks before summer heat
June
27°C/81°F
Warm and increasingly dry; the Atatürk Culture and Art Festival (Jun 12-22) animates the city
July
30°C/86°F
Hot and dry with valley highs around 33°C; warm evenings, very little rain, midday heat on the climbs
August
30°C/86°F
Hottest month alongside July; dry and sunny, best explored in the cooler mornings and evenings
September
25°C/77°F
Warm, clear, and comfortable; apple harvest begins, golden orchards, fewer crowds - excellent month
October
19°C/66°F
Mild crisp autumn days, golden light, the rock tombs and river at their most photogenic
November
12°C/54°F
Cooling toward winter with shorter, greyer days and the first cold snaps; quiet and low-priced
December
6°C/43°F
Cold and wintry with snow likely; festive atmosphere, snowy gorge views, icy underfoot
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Mild and green (daytime highs rising from around 12°C in March to 23°C in May) with the Yeşilırmak valley and surrounding orchards in blossom. April and May are the wettest months but also among the most beautiful, with the rock tombs and riverfront at their freshest before summer heat.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Hot and dry, with July and August highs around 30-33°C in the sheltered valley and warm evenings. Rain is infrequent. The June Atatürk Culture and Art Festival fills the city, and long daylight hours suit sightseeing if the midday heat is avoided.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
Warm early autumn cooling to crisp, clear days, with September and October especially pleasant (highs around 20-27°C). The Amasya apple harvest takes place, orchards turn golden, and crowds thin. November cools markedly toward winter.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Cold and frequently snowy, with January and February highs near 4-6°C and nights below freezing. Snow blankets the gorge, the rock tombs, and the castle, creating dramatic scenery, though stairways and bridges become icy and some services slow.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- June (Atatürk Culture and Art Festival) and the warm July-August school holidays bring the most domestic visitors
- Shoulder Season
- May, September, and October - mild, beautiful, and the best balance of weather and lighter crowds
- Low Season
- November-March (cold, snowy, very quiet, lowest prices)
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Amasya International Atatürk Culture and Art Festival
The city's biggest annual celebration, commemorating Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's arrival in Amasya on 12 June 1919 (a turning point of the Turkish War of Independence). Ten days of concerts, exhibitions, theatre, folk performances, and sports fill the streets and riverfront
Ferhat ile Şirin Cultural Events
Performances and storytelling tied to the famous legend of Ferhat and Şirin, whose tale is set in Amasya; the legendary water channel Ferhat is said to have carved through the mountain remains a local attraction
Amasya Apple Harvest
Amasya is famous across Turkey for its apples (Amasya elması). The autumn harvest fills markets with the local variety and is celebrated in regional produce events and stalls
Çiçek Bamyası and Local Produce Markets
Amasya's distinctive small dried okra (çiçek bamyası) and other regional specialities feature in summer markets and food events alongside the apple, a point of local pride
Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı)
Turkey's national day is marked with parades, flags, and evening celebrations along the riverfront, with particular resonance in Amasya given its role in the founding of the Republic