Ephesus weather in December

In December, Ephesus sees average daytime highs of 14°C and overnight lows near 7°C, with 120 mm of precipitation across 11.1 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 16°C in the first days to 13°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Ephesus's 12th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ephesus's year-round climate.

Daytime high
14°
10th warmest
Overnight low
3rd coldest
Precipitation
120 mm
11.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:25 AM – 4:48 PM
Cloud cover
51%
12th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.03 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.1
out of 10

Ephesus is town and district in İzmir Province, Turkey.

Density
92/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 16°C in the first days to 13°C by the end.

A typical December day in Ephesus reaches about 14°C in the afternoon and slips back to 7°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 10°C and 18°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 5°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1169
2169
3169
4168
5158
6158
7158
8158
9158
10158
11148
12147
13147
14147
15147
16147
17147
18147
19137
20137
21137
22137
23137
24137
25137
26137
27137
28137
29137
30137
31136

How December really feels in Ephesus

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Ephesus weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan13° / 12210.39.73.6
Feb14° / 10210.110.54.0
Mar16° / 778.511.75.5
Apr20° / 11°536.9137.1
May25° / 16°295148.1
Jun31° / 20°102.514.66.0
Jul34° / 23°20.414.44.1
Aug34° / 23°20.413.54.1
Sep30° / 20°222.612.36.7
Oct25° / 15°675.2118.1
Nov19° / 11°1047.99.96.6
Dec14° / 12011.19.44.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 46%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35644
45545
55545
65545
75545
85545
95545
105545
115545
125545
135644
145545
155545
165446
175446
185446
195446
205446
215347
225347
235248
245248
255149
265149
275050
285050
295050
305050
315050

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Ephesus gets around 120 mm of rain and snow over 11.1 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 36% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
132
232
332
433
533
634
735
835
936
1036
1137
1237
1337
1438
1537
1637
1737
1837
1937
2037
2137
2237
2337
2437
2537
2637
2737
2837
2937
3037
3136

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 97% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1937
2937
3946
4955
5955
6964
7964
8973
9973
10973
11982
12982
13982
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22982
23982
24982
25982
26982
27982
28982
29982
30982
31982

Wind in December

Winds average 9 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:13 AM to 7:32 AM, and sunset from 4:47 PM to 4:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.67:134:47
29.57:144:47
39.57:154:47
49.57:164:47
59.57:174:47
69.57:184:47
79.57:194:47
89.57:204:47
99.47:204:47
109.47:214:47
119.47:224:47
129.47:234:47
139.47:234:47
149.47:244:48
159.47:254:48
169.47:254:48
179.47:264:48
189.47:264:49
199.47:274:49
209.47:284:50
219.47:284:50
229.47:294:50
239.47:294:51
249.47:294:51
259.47:304:52
269.47:304:53
279.47:314:53
289.47:314:54
299.47:314:54
309.47:314:55
319.47:324:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.03 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.03 kWh/m² to a high of 7.79 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.03 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.1Moderate
62.1Moderate
72.1Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
122.0Moderate
132.0Moderate
142.0Moderate
152.0Moderate
162.0Moderate
172.0Moderate
182.0Moderate
192.0Moderate
202.0Moderate
212.0Moderate
222.0Dim
232.0Dim
242.0Dim
252.0Dim
262.0Dim
272.0Dim
282.0Moderate
292.0Moderate
302.0Moderate
312.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Ephesus

In seasonPeak

In December, Ephesus sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Ephesus's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Ephesus?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.1
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
0.1
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Ephesus for sightseeing.

What to pack for Ephesus in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Ephesus sees daytime highs around 14°C and nights near 7°C. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Ephesus in December

The nearest coast averages about 18°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 23 km away) is warmest in August at about 24°C and coldest in February near 16°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 27 to Nov 5 — about 5.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan17Cool
Feb16Cool
Mar16Cool
Apr17Cool
May19Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul23Refreshing
Aug24Refreshing
Sep23Refreshing
Oct21Refreshing
Nov19Cool
Dec18Cool

UV index in Ephesus in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Ephesus peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highModerateJun 23UV 9Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr8Very high
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Ephesus in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Ephesus is worst in March — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.6× the cleanest month (December, 11 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodMar 2118 µg/m³Dec 1911 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb14Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr17Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul14Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ephesus?

Ephesus sits at 38.0°N, 27.4°E, 35 m above sea level, in Turkey. The nearest listed city is Kuşadası, 14 km away.

Topography around Ephesus

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Ephesus.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Ephesus has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 377 m around an average of 55 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,009 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,124 m.

The land around Ephesus is covered by trees (49%) within 3 km, trees (60%) within 16 km, and trees (42%) and water (27%) within 80 km.

3 km
377 m
16 km
1,009 m
80 km
2,124 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Kuşadası 14 km · Söke 23 km · Torbalı 26 km · İncirliova 33 km · Tire 36 km · Bayındır 38 km · Menderes 39 km · Aydın 43 km

Turkey travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$18,599
2025
Happiness
5.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
3.2
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
6.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 488
Religion
Muslim 100%other 0%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Ephesus (37.9514°, 27.3685°, elevation 35 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).