Turkey
Best Time to Visit Kars
Kars sits high on the Anatolian plateau and has a stark continental climate: winter is brutal, summer warm but short. Pick your season carefully — the city’s character changes completely between the snow and the green.
✦ Come in late May or September for the best combination of decent weather, thin crowds and affordable rooms.
✅ Best months
June and September. June has long daylight, clear skies and temperatures around 20°C — perfect for exploring the Ani ruins without a coat. September is similarly mild, with harvest colours and no summer heat.
🔥 Peak season
July and August. Domestic tourists flood in for school holidays. Hotel prices can double, especially in Kars town centre. The main draw is the comfortable warmth for sightseeing — expect 25–30°C and afternoon thunder showers.
💷 Shoulder (best value)
May and October. May brings spring blossom and cheaper rooms; days hit 15°C but evenings stay chilly. October has crisp air, autumn colours and few tourists — just be ready for sudden cold snaps.
🌙 Quietest & cheapest
December to February. Temperatures regularly drop below –20°C. Snow blankets the city and Ani ruins are often inaccessible. Hotels offer steep discounts but many restaurants and tours shut down. Only go if you want a genuine winter landscape and don’t mind extreme cold.
Kars season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Weather: Cold and changeable; March can still snow. April 5–12°C, May 10–18°C. Frost possible into early May.
Crowds: Low
Spring melt makes roads muddy. Good for avoiding crowds at Ani if you can handle chill and damp.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Weather: Warm and sunny, 20–30°C. July and August see occasional afternoon storms.
Crowds: High
Prime time for Ani and hiking. Book accommodation well ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Weather: September still warm (20°C), October cools to 10–15°C, November turns cold and snowy.
Crowds: Low to moderate
September is ideal — autumn light at Ani is beautiful. October manageable; November is winter-lite.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Weather: Bitterly cold, –10 to –25°C. Snow covers everything.
Crowds: Very low
Only if you’re after snow photography or the Kars Cheese and Honey Festival (January). Most outdoor sites close.
🎭 Events worth timing a trip around
Kars Cheese and Honey Festival (late January) — a midwinter draw with local food producers, despite the cold. The Ani At Dawn event (late May/early June) offers sunrise guided tours of the ruins when the light is best.
🧳 What to pack
Even in summer, pack a wool layer and windproof jacket: Kars can drop to 8°C after sunset, and the Ani plateau is relentlessly exposed.
Found your dates? Get your hotel briefing.
Room tips, the 14-day forecast for your exact stay, dining, transport and more — free for any Kars hotel.
Researched & reviewed by the TripSage editorial team · Updated July 2026.