Editor: Irina
January 1 is the traditional start of the new year in Turkey, as elsewhere in the world. How is the New Year celebrated in Turkey - at the sea and in Istanbul, what to do there, and how much does the ticket cost?
Where will you be on New Year's Eve? You will probably choke on your coffee and say: "at home with your family." And imagine the gathering at the table, salads, champagne and the president's speech. Then we will continue: why not celebrate the New Year in Turkey?
You will choke on your coffee a second time, arguing, "in winter?" and leave without knowing that a vacation in Turkey for the New Year 2021 is a very real option. Both for active sports, and for those who prefer not to crawl out of the all inclusive embrace 🙂
Features of rest. Weather in Turkey
These ferries carry out trips along the Bosphorus
(we took the photo at the end of November)
Let's say right away that you won't be able to swim: the weather in December cools the Mediterranean Sea down to + 19 ° C. The only exception is indoor / heated pools at hotels. You can count on the beaches, the sun can flare up to + 20 ° C (when it is not disturbed by frequent clouds for winter).
The climate is characterized by short daylight hours, periodic rains and winds. Is there snow? At the seaside resorts - almost never, there, so-and-so, greenery and flowers, and in Istanbul, snow is likely, but wet.
It is in winter, in the off-season, that if not on a budget, then it is much cheaper to go to Turkey. For example, a week for two in an excellent 5 * Alva Donna Exclusive hotel in December-January will cost 60,000 rubles (not on holidays), and in June - already 135,000!
Weather in Turkey for New Year
| Air / water temperature | |
| Istanbul | + 6 ° C ... + 10 ° C |
| Mediterranean Sea (Antalya, Belek) | + 10 ° C ... + 15 ° C / + 19 ° C |
How is New Year celebrated in Turkey?
Despite the fact that Turkey is an oriental country, there is a festive atmosphere at the end of December at resorts and in big cities: streets and shop windows are decorated, Christmas trees are installed. Moreover, this is exactly New Year's Turkey, and not Christmas, as in European countries. In the central squares (in Istanbul - on Taksim) they hold dancing concerts and, of course, fireworks in the New Year.
A different alignment, warm and at a laid table - New Year in the hotel: in Turkey, in the Mediterranean part of it, it is very popular. Entertain with an orchestra, lotteries with prizes, parties and belly dance performances. Russian pop stars like Mota or Mitya Fomin can also "look" into super-luxury hotels, and Turkish DJs into budget hotels. Don't forget your evening dress or suit, there is a dress code.
Tours to Turkey from Moscow for the New Year
On a note: tours to Turkey for the New Year 2021 can be taken at a more or less adequate price if you choose to leave December 25, 26, 27 and 28... Everything after is much more expensive. |
You can make sure of the economical departure dates and check the prices for the dates that suit you on the aggregators:
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
They compare offers from all leading tour operators and show you the best deals. Plus, hotel reviews are immediately collected. Recommended!
Nuances of New Year's tours to Turkey:
✓ More relevant than ever early booking... And although you won't be able to fly away, tour operators have significantly increased the number of flights for the winter of 2020-2021, such a demand! - nevertheless, you should not postpone the decision until mid-December, otherwise the extra 20-30 thousand rubles will "stick" to the tour
✓ Not all hotels in Turkey are open for the New Year. There are many open complexes in Belek and Antalya (Lara). Large networkers like Regnum, Rixos, Maxx, etc.
✓ How much does a ticket to Turkey cost? Tours in December 2020 can be grabbed inexpensive - for 45-50 thousand, but in a very mediocre hotel and for breakfast. Tour for 7 days for twoall inclusive"- already from 55,000 rubles, and in good hotel - all 85-100 thousand. Let's clarify that the same tours in January 2021, after the 10th, cost half the price!
✓ The price of the voucher may not include the surcharge for the gala dinner; check with support when booking.
Prices for holidays in Turkey in winter
5 * hotel, where we were checked in by Turkish Airlines during a 24-hour transfer in Istanbul
Not to say that prices are very different from summer ones (we do not take into account tours). The cost of recreation with all the classic expenses like water parks, excursions, gifts is detailed in this article >>.
- Food prices in Turkey: budget breakfast - from 5 liras, lunch from 6 liras, dinner from 10 liras
- For New Year's Eve dinner with entertainment - from 300 to 900 TL
- On a Bosphorus cruise tour - from 200 TL
- To a ski resort (7 nights, full board, for two) - from 130,000 rubles
For counting: 1 Turkish lira = 10 rubles |
Which resort is better to choose for the New Year?
Gulhane park in the city center, in December there is also no snow 🙂
Istanbul
It should be noted that the weather on New Year's in Istanbul is unstable, sleet falls and a cold wind blows. At best, you can expect pleasant snow and + 10 ° C sun. We advise you to draw up several routes in case of different weather: on a fine day, walk along iconic locations - Istiklal Street, Taksim Square, Galata Bridge with a trip along the Bosphorus; on a rainy day - visit museums, mosques, shopping centers.
And here is how the New Year is celebrated. The moment of crossing from December 31 to January 1, tourists usually meet at the Galata Bridge with fireworks or book a table at one of the restaurants (in the Sultanahmet area). By the way, January 1 is a non-working day.
Beach resorts
In Alania The festive atmosphere is already felt in December: a large Christmas tree is placed on the embankment, and expats organize a Christmas market. On New Year's Eve itself, the municipality holds fireworks, and the fun in local cafes and bars continues until the morning.
In Kemer only going to be fun if you go to a big 5 star hotel putting on a holiday show. There is no place to walk there. Some people also do not recommend going there because it gets dark faster than in other Mediterranean cities, and when it rains, streams run from the mountains and it gets warm.
Belek offers the most worthy hotels where you can relax in winter. We will talk about them below. In addition, the resort is located not far from Antalya, a large city that does not go into hibernation.
In SideAs in Kemer, it is worth celebrating the holiday exclusively in a good hotel with a program - and there are not many of them open in winter. Otherwise, it is boring here, since Side can hardly be called a city.
But Antalya Suitable for tourists who are ready to pay from 100k for a Happy New Year tour in a hotel (and the best "sub-resort" for this is Lara), and for budget travelers. Concert programs are being prepared near the Migros shopping center, on the square of the singing fountains. After the chimes, people walk along the illuminated streets and look into city cafes.
Useful articles on Istanbul:
- How to get from the New Airport?
- What to see in 1-3 days?
To summarize: for lovers of movement and megacities → Istanbul, and for those who still hope to catch some sun on the coast → Antalya or Belek. Why? Not sad - both hotels are open and New Year's activities are present.
TOP-7 hotels in Turkey (price-quality) according to the advice of tourists
What do you need to know?
✓ Conferences and corporate events are the main "fodder" of winter hotels in Turkey. Silence and solitude will not happen 24/7, but compared to the summer din and hustle and bustle - very good!
✓ A typical NG program in a typical hotel that does not really want to spend money on a holiday is brightened up by the stars of the Turkish spill, from DJs to dancers and presenters.
✓ Often the winter concept of recreation at the hotel is reduced: this is reflected in animation (it seems to be there and not) and alcohol (everything is imported only for money, even on ultra all).
✓ If the hotel has an indoor pool, this is a plus, and if there is an outdoor heated pool, it is a huge plus (you will love it). We tried to find hotels that practice this, but at the same time do not stand like an airplane wing 🙂
- 5 * Regnum Carya Golf & SPA Resort, Belek. Highly rated luxury hotel loved by tourists. Festive programs last from December 28 to January 1, entertain with live music, themed dinners.On the night of December 31, a gala dinner, show, entertainment with prizes and a masquerade party are organized
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 180,000 rubles
after January 10 - from 155,000 rubles - 5 * Calista Luxury Resort, Belek. Pricey but high quality: there is a heated pool and spa area. It is noted that the hotel conducts a good program from year to year - a dinner with an orchestra, fireworks and a cool after-party
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 150,000 rubles
after January 10 - from 95,000 rubles - 5 * Ela Quality Resort, Belek. Advantages - heated outdoor pool and active animation for children, compared to other winter hotels
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 130,000 rubles - 5 * Titanic Deluxe Belek, Belek. Represents new hotels in Turkey, reviews say that the hotel is "sophisticated", but the New Year will seem boring. What it is distinguished for is for a huge heated pool, where you can arrange swimming + mini-clubs for kids
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 130,000 rubles
after January 10 - from 115,000 rubles - 5 * Adalya Elite Lara Hotel, Antalya. A fun, lively hotel with an outdoor heated pool. Even in winter, there are many vacationers. Great reviews, Adalya is always a reliable and proven option
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 110,000 rubles
after January 10 - from 55,000 rubles - 5 * Alva Donna Beach Resort Comfort, Side. The hotel is not the most luxurious, but it is considered a solid top five, without a stretch. Of the minuses - a small area. Very popular for winter vacations; of course there is a heated pool
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 90,000 rubles
after January 10 - from 60,000 rubles - 5 * Sealife Family Resort Hotel, Antalya. All inclusive city hotel, very convenient for walking around the city. Hamam, sauna, indoor pool. The beach is public; located in the locals' favorite holiday area
How many? Tour for the New Year - from 85,000 rubles
after January 10 - from 50,000 rubles
What to do in Turkey sights
Galata Tower is visible from almost any part of Istanbul
Where to go during the cold season? Winter Turkey is ideal for leisurely walks along the embankments, shopping, spa, and tasting Turkish dishes.
It would be foolish to miss the chance to visit excursions without crowds of people. Often on January 2, vacationers on the Mediterranean coast are offered to climb Mount Tahtali. The price of the lift is € 33 for an adult and € 16.5 for a child of 7-12 years old. You can play golf, popular in Belek and Antalya.
If you are in Istanbul, visit the Galata Tower, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace - the main attractions in Turkey.
Nightclubs in Turkey
An event, without which the holiday will not pass, if you are young and loving to dance, is a New Year's party in Turkey. In Antalya, one of the best Olympos clubs, although located in the Falez hotel, is open to everyone. Club Arma is located in the port area and contains several bars and a restaurant.
In Istanbul, tourists and locals recommend the 360 Istanbul club-restaurant, where you can celebrate the holiday with dancing, delicious food and interesting show numbers.
New Year on the ski slope
Go skiing or snowboarding and chic all-inclusive? Where else but in Turkey! If you hear about this for the first time, then it is not surprising: skiing is a relatively new direction. For an experienced athlete, the slopes of these resorts will seem too simple, but for beginners and children they will be just right.
Uludag (Bursa) is the most popular resort, where rest is easily combined with a visit to Istanbul, because this place is located only 150 km from it. Snow here from the second half of December to the end of March.
Hotel room for two: from $ 150 per night (three meals a day)
On the Palandoken (Erzurum) there are tracks of different levels. The resort is young and attracts audiences in search of adrenaline. Ski rental for a day - $ 20, snowboard - $ 30. A ski pass for a week of skiing will be about $ 177 per person.
Hotel room for two: from $ 70 per night (breakfast)
Resort Erciyes (Kayseri) is located on the slopes of the mountain of the same name, the highest in central Anatolia. There are 12 km of trails here, and tourists are served by two chair lifts and two drag lifts. There are also conditions for freeriding and wellness centers.
Hotel room for two: from $ 40 per night (breakfast)
How to organize a ski trip in Turkey? Quite easy:
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Reviews of tourists - is it worth celebrating the New Year in Turkey?
City center: in the background the Blue Mosque
Although Turkey is considered a summer beach resort, and in winter Russians prefer the tropics of India and Thailand, it has fans of rest in the cold season.
Reviews of tourists say that, despite the rains and winds, the sun, greenery, clean sea air pleases. If you're lucky, you can even sunbathe and take a photo under a palm tree. Pleasure is brought by walking along the embankments without crowds, a gym, a sauna, a pool with warm water. No need to cook-wash-clean. In the evening - live music and dancing.
At the same time, tourists complain about high prices to Turkey for the New Year, unstable weather and boredom in small resort villages (Kemer, Side, partly Alania).
Pros and cons
| pros | Minuses |
| ➢ Good, in comparison with Russian, weather ➢ In classy hotels, you can relax much cheaper than during the season ➢ Availability of ski resorts ➢ The all-inclusive system operates, albeit a stripped-down ➢ Short 3 hour flight ➢ Cheap relative to Europe and Southeast Asia | ➢ High price due to popularity ➢ Frequent rains in December and January, sleet in the north ➢ The sea is cold for swimming ➢ Pistes in ski resorts are too easy ➢ You can get bored, so you should choose the right resort |
| pros |
| ➢ Good, in comparison with Russian, weather ➢ In classy hotels, you can relax much cheaper than during the season ➢ Availability of ski resorts ➢ The all-inclusive system is in place, albeit cut down ➢ Short 3 hour flight ➢ Cheap relative to Europe and Southeast Asia |
| Minuses |
| ➢ High price due to popularity ➢ Frequent rains in December and January, sleet in the north ➢ The sea is cold for swimming ➢ Pistes in ski resorts are too easy ➢ You can get bored, so you should choose the right resort |
