Skiing in Turkey: Palandöken, Erciyes, Uludağ and the Other Resorts

When the season runs, the main Turkish ski resorts with altitudes and character, how to reach them, where to stay and which one suits your level.

Turkey in winter is a mountain country as much as a coastal one. Ski areas run from Erzurum in the east to Bursa in the west, and they cover everything from first-timers' slopes to long, steep descents. This guide covers the main resorts, when the season runs, how to reach them and what to check before you book. Figures are current as of September 2026; lift and piste status changes every season, so confirm with the resort before you travel.

When is the season?

Most Turkish resorts open in December, depending on snowfall, and close between late March and April. The high-altitude areas — Erciyes and Palandöken — sometimes open in late November, and sometimes open late when the snow does not arrive. Dates are announced each year by the resort and the provincial authorities.

The Turkish State Meteorological Service publishes forecasts specifically for ski resorts. The busiest periods are New Year and the mid-winter school break; weekdays and the late February–March window are noticeably quieter.

Eastern Anatolia: Palandöken and Sarıkamış

Palandöken (Erzurum)

Only a few kilometres from the city centre, Palandöken skis between roughly 2,000 and 3,176 metres (Büyük Ejder peak). Long, steep, demanding runs make it the choice of experienced skiers, and a gondola runs to the top. The altitude and cold keep the snow dry. Erzurum airport is close enough for a weekend trip.

Sarıkamış (Kars)

The Cıbıltepe area runs between about 2,200 and 2,634 metres. What sets it apart is that the pistes run through Scots pine forest, and the dry "crystal snow" it is known for. The trees shelter the runs from wind. Reached by road from Kars airport — and the Eastern Express train, famous for its winter scenery, stops here. A good choice for families and intermediate skiers.

Central Anatolia: Erciyes

Erciyes (Kayseri)

On Mount Erciyes you can ski from 3,400 metres down to 2,200, and investment over the past decade has pushed the piste network past a hundred kilometres. Its biggest advantage is that Kayseri airport is about half an hour away. Runs of every difficulty, snowboard parks, and wide summit views — and it combines naturally with a winter trip to Cappadocia.

Marmara and the western Black Sea: Uludağ and Kartalkaya

Uludağ (Bursa)

The highest mountain in the Marmara region (2,543 m) and Turkey's oldest, best-known resort; the hotel zone sits at about 1,800 m. A cable car of roughly 9 km climbs from Teferrüç in Bursa via Sarıalan to the hotels. Proximity to Istanbul makes weekends very busy; the runs are mostly easy to intermediate, which makes it a good place to learn.

Kartalkaya (Bolu)

In the Köroğlu mountains, surrounded by pine forest, between about 1,850 and 2,250 metres. Its position between Istanbul and Ankara makes it easy to reach by road from either. Plentiful soft snow, forested runs and ski schools make it popular with families. After the January 2025 hotel fire in which 78 people died, accommodation inspections in the area were tightened.

Closer to the Mediterranean: Davraz and others

Davraz (Isparta)

Pistes between roughly 1,650 and 2,344 metres, with Lake Eğirdir visible from the top. Close enough to Isparta and Antalya for day trips from the Mediterranean coast. Fewer runs than the big resorts, but quieter and cheaper.

Kartepe, Ilgaz and Saklıkent

Kartepe (Kocaeli) is the closest resort to Istanbul for a day trip. Ilgaz (Kastamonu–Çankırı) is a quiet, forested alternative. Saklıkent, near Antalya, can — when snow allows — put skiing and a sea view in the same day. Seasons at these smaller areas depend more heavily on snowfall.

Getting there and where to sleep

Two patterns work: stay at the foot of the piste and ski from the door, or stay in the nearby city and travel up each day. City-based works well at Palandöken and Erciyes, where distances are short and shuttles run all season. At Uludağ, Kartalkaya and Sarıkamış, staying on the mountain saves time. Carry winter tyres and chains on mountain roads; roads can close temporarily during heavy snow, so follow the highways authority's road-condition announcements. Accommodation for New Year and the school break sells out far in advance.

Which resort suits you?

First time on skis: Uludağ, Kartalkaya or Sarıkamış — easy runs and ski schools.
Experienced, want steep and long: Palandöken.
Variety and modern lifts: Erciyes.
Scenery over statistics: Sarıkamış's forest runs, or Davraz above the lake.
Short trip from Istanbul: Kartepe or Kartalkaya.