Skiing in Turkey: Ski Resorts and Winter Holidays
Uludağ, Erciyes, Palandöken, Sarıkamış, Kartalkaya, Davraz and Saklıkent compared
In short: Türkiye has ski resorts from the hills near Istanbul to the high plateaus of the east. Uludağ and Kartalkaya are closest to Istanbul; Erciyes, an old volcano, pairs well with Cappadocia; Palandöken and Sarıkamış in the east have long seasons and famously dry snow; Davraz looks over Lake Eğirdir; and at Saklıkent near Antalya you can ski in the morning and be by the sea the same day. Seasons depend on snowfall, so always check each resort’s opening date before you book.
Last checked: 11 November 2026. We don’t list prices or confirmed opening dates for the 2026–27 season; resorts announce them when the snow arrives.
The resorts at a glance
| Resort | Province | Typical season | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uludağ | Bursa | Late Dec – late Mar | Trips from Istanbul, gondola from the city |
| Kartalkaya | Bolu | Dec – Mar | Between Istanbul and Ankara |
| Erciyes | Kayseri | Roughly Dec – Apr | Combining skiing with Cappadocia |
| Palandöken | Erzurum | Roughly Nov/Dec – May | Long runs, long season, city on the doorstep |
| Sarıkamış | Kars | About Dec – Mar | Dry “crystal” snow, pine-forest runs |
| Davraz | Isparta | Dec – Apr | Lake views, combining with Eğirdir |
| Saklıkent | Antalya | Short, snow-dependent | Skiing and the sea on the same day |
Season months are typical ranges from the resorts’ tourism listings and news reports, not dates for this winter.
Uludağ (Bursa)
- The mountain: about 2,543 m high, the highest in western Anatolia, known in ancient times as the Mysian Olympus. It is a national park.
- Getting there: a modern gondola runs about 8.8 km from Teferrüç in Bursa, via Kadıyayla and Sarıalan, to the hotel area (Oteller). It is one of Türkiye’s most popular ski areas and is close to Istanbul.
- Nearby: combine it with Bursa’s historic thermal baths in Çekirge.
Kartalkaya (Bolu)
- Where: in the Köroğlu Mountains, between Istanbul and Ankara.
- Altitude: base about 1,850 m, top about 2,200 m. The season usually runs from December to March.
- Nearby: the lakes of Abant and Yedigöller National Park are popular winter trips in Bolu province, though winter access to Yedigöller can be limited.
Erciyes (Kayseri)
- The mountain: a long-dormant volcano of about 3,916 m, the highest peak in Central Anatolia.
- Where: the ski area lies on the Tekir plateau, about 25 km south of Kayseri and less than an hour from Kayseri Airport, with runs starting at about 2,100–2,200 m.
- Combine with: Cappadocia, about an hour away; its valleys look magical in snow.
Palandöken and Konaklı (Erzurum)
- Close to the city: just a few kilometres from Erzurum, with Erzurum Airport nearby.
- Runs: the ski area reaches about 3,176 m, and its longest run of about 12 km is the longest in Türkiye.
- Season: long, roughly from November or December to May.
- Universiade: Erzurum hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade; alpine events were held at the new Konaklı resort, about 17–18 km from the city.
Sarıkamış (Kars)
- Where: on Cıbıltepe, about 55 km from Kars, with a ski area from about 2,100 to 2,634 m.
- Famous for: dry “crystal” snow and runs through Scots pine forest, which shelters them from the wind.
- Combine with: the Touristic Eastern Express, the ghost city of Ani and horse sleighs on frozen Lake Çıldır.
Davraz (Isparta)
- Where: summit about 2,635 m, 26 km from Isparta city centre.
- Views: the slopes look over Lake Eğirdir, and Eğirdir town is about 23 km away.
Saklıkent (Antalya)
- Where: on the Beydağları range, about 50 km from Antalya, with a ski area at about 2,000–2,400 m.
- Ski and swim: you can ski in the morning and be on the beach at Konyaaltı the same day.
- Season: short and dependent on snowfall. (Not to be confused with Saklıkent Canyon near Fethiye.)
Other winter ideas
- Thermal springs: Afyonkarahisar is known as Türkiye’s “thermal capital”; Bursa has historic baths in Çekirge; and the travertines of Pamukkale with Hierapolis are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- By train: see scenic train journeys in Turkey.
- Other resorts: Kartepe near Istanbul and Lake Sapanca, Ilgaz between Kastamonu and Çankırı, Bozdağ near İzmir, Zigana near Trabzon and Ergan near Erzincan.
Sources we checked (November 2026): Go Türkiye: skiing · Go Türkiye: Uludağ · Go Türkiye: Kartalkaya · Go Türkiye: Erciyes · Go Türkiye: Palandöken · Go Türkiye: Sarıkamış · Go Türkiye: Davraz · Go Türkiye: Kartepe · Go Türkiye: Eastern Anatolia ski centres · Go Türkiye: time to ski · Wikipedia: Uludağ · Wikipedia: Bursa Uludağ Gondola · Wikipedia: Kartalkaya · Wikipedia: Mount Erciyes · Wikipedia: Erciyes Ski Resort · Wikipedia: Palandöken · Wikipedia: 2011 Winter Universiade · Anadolu Agency: Cıbıltepe crystal snow · Hürriyet Daily News: Cıbıltepe · Daily Sabah: Davraz · Hürriyet: Davraz (Turkish) · Daily Sabah: Saklıkent ski and swim · Hürriyet Daily News: Saklıkent · Anadolu Agency: Kartepe · Go Türkiye: thermal springs · UNESCO: Hierapolis-Pamukkale
Skiing in Turkey: questions
When does the ski season start in Turkey?
Most resorts open in December once there is enough snow, and the eastern resorts such as Palandöken can run into spring. Each resort announces its opening date; check before you book.
Which ski resort is closest to Istanbul?
Uludağ near Bursa and Kartepe near Lake Sapanca are the closest; Kartalkaya lies between Istanbul and Ankara.
Can I combine skiing with Cappadocia?
Yes. Erciyes, near Kayseri, is about an hour from Cappadocia.
Where is the longest ski run in Turkey?
At Palandöken near Erzurum, with a run of about 12 km.
Can you ski and swim on the same day?
Yes, near Antalya: ski at Saklıkent in the morning and be on the beach at Konyaaltı later the same day, when there is enough snow.
Header photo: Mount Erciyes in winter. Photo: Hmyr2021, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).