A comparative guide to eight ski areas in Turkey: which resort suits whom, when to go and how to get there.
We run an active delivery network at these four resorts all season.
Erciyes Ski Resort spreads across the northern and western flanks of the 3,917 m Mount Erciyes and, with 112 kilometres of marked runs, is the largest ski area in Turkey. Its 34 pistes — reached from the Hisarcık, Tekir and Develi gates — cover everything from wide blue slopes where a child can take a first lesson to demanding black descents that start at 3,400 m.
Kartalkaya Ski Resort sits between 1,850 and 2,200 m in the fir forests of the Bolu mountains, with 22 pistes and 25 kilometres of terrain. Being 265 km from Istanbul and 230 km from Ankara makes it the most-visited weekend ski destination in Turkey.
Uludağ is the first name that comes to mind when Turks talk about skiing. Its 24 pistes and 30 kilometres of terrain run from the hotel zone at 1,750 m to a 2,543 m summit, and it is the only major resort a skier can reach from Istanbul in half a day.
Palandöken Ski Resort runs from 2,200 m to 3,176 m, making it both the highest resort in Turkey and the one with the longest season. It can open in November and stay open into May — effectively the only place in the country for spring skiing.
Every ski resort in Turkey by altitude, piste length and season.
| Resort | City | Altitude | Total pistes | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erciyes Ski Resort | Kayseri | 2200–3400 m | 112 km | December – April |
| Kartalkaya Ski Resort | Bolu | 1850–2200 m | 25 km | December – March |
| Uludağ Ski Resort | Bursa | 1750–2543 m | 30 km | December – March |
| Palandöken Ski Resort | Erzurum | 2200–3176 m | 50 km | November – May |
| Sarıkamış Ski Resort | Kars | 2100–2634 m | 22 km | December – April |
| Davraz Ski Resort | Isparta | 1650–2635 m | 18 km | December – March |
| Ilgaz Ski Resort | Kastamonu | 1800–2200 m | 12 km | December – March |
| Kartepe Ski Resort | Kocaeli | 1250–1600 m | 8 km | January – March |
Sarıkamış Ski Resort lies 55 km south-west of Kars, set between 2,100 and 2,634 m in Scots pine forest. Its international reputation rests on "crystal snow": in this exceptionally dry climate, snowflakes reach the ground with their crystal structure intact.
Davraz Ski Resort lies 26 km south-east of Isparta on the northern flank of Mount Davraz. Its eight pistes run from a 1,650 m base to a 2,635 m summit and mostly suit beginners and intermediates.
Ilgaz Ski Resort sits in the Yıldıztepe sector of Ilgaz Mountain National Park. Its seven pistes and 12 kilometres of terrain between 1,800 and 2,200 m make it small but welcoming.
Kartepe Ski Resort is only 120 km from Istanbul, on slopes looking down over Lake Sapanca. Its six pistes between 1,250 and 1,600 m make for a small area, but it is the only genuine ski resort within day-trip range of the city.
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