Turkey’s Cool‑Weather Getaways Attract Summer Travelers

As temperatures rise across the country, Turkish citizens are seeking relief in the nation’s cooler natural spots. Residents of Ankara have begun making the eight‑hour round‑trip to Erzincan’s Girlevik Waterfall, where water descends 40 metres from the Munzur mountains and provides a refreshing contrast to the heat. Visitors from Istanbul, Bursa, İzmir, Antalya, Diyarbakır, Adana and even overseas Turks are gathering at the waterfall’s nine‑spring source, praising its cold flow and scenic surroundings.

Travel guides highlight eight additional locations that remain comfortably cool into July and August. These include Ayder Plateau in Rize, where temperatures stay low enough to require a stove in the evenings; the high‑altitude lake of Uzungöl in Trabzon; Bolu’s forest‑framed Abant Lake; the crystalline waters of Salda Lake in Burdur; glacial lakes in the Kaçkar Mountains on the Rize‑Artvin border; Saklıkent Canyon on the Muğla‑Antalya frontier, noted for its icy streams; and the shaded highlands of the Kaz Mountains in Balıkesir. The destinations are promoted for hiking, picnicking and photography, offering a respite from the summer heat.