Ski Resorts in Turkey Compared: Erciyes, Palandöken, Uludağ, Kartalkaya and Sarıkamış

Turkey is better known for beaches, but it has more than a dozen ski resorts, and the largest are a serious alternative to better-known resorts in Eastern Europe. This guide compares the main resorts and explains which one suits whom.

In short: which resort for whom

• Erciyes (Kayseri): One of the country's largest ski areas, with around 112 km of pistes, 25 km from a major city. Good for beginners and experienced skiers alike, with Cappadocia nearby.
• Palandöken (Erzurum): High and known for long, steep runs. A favourite with experienced skiers, and the coldest winters of all.
• Uludağ (Bursa): The oldest resort and the closest to Istanbul. Hotels sit on the mountain itself; busy at weekends.
• Kartalkaya (Bolu): Hotels right by the pistes, skiing through pine forest.
• Sarıkamış (Kars): Runs through Scots pine forest and dry, powdery snow, far out in the east.
• The south: Davraz (Isparta) and Saklıkent (near Antalya) are small resorts within reach of Antalya.

Erciyes (Kayseri)

The resort spreads across the slopes of Mount Erciyes, a 3,917-metre dormant volcano. It has around 112 km of marked pistes, 41 runs and 19 lifts, including two gondolas. The highest lifts reach about 3,400 metres, so the snow lasts: in 2025/26 skiing continued until 15 May.

Its biggest difference is how close it is to a city. Kayseri centre is about 25 km away, and Kayseri airport (ASR) has frequent flights from Istanbul. You ski in the morning and spend the evening in a city full of restaurants and Seljuk monuments, with Cappadocia about an hour away. The resort has four gates (Tekir, Hisarcık, Hacılar and Develi), wide beginner areas with magic carpets and a floodlit piste for night skiing. Our Erciyes ski resort guide covers the gates, pistes and lifts.

Best for: beginners, families, mixed-ability groups and anyone combining skiing with Cappadocia.

Palandöken (Erzurum)

Palandöken is a few kilometres from Erzurum city and about 20 km from Erzurum airport. Skiing reaches around 3,100–3,200 metres. It's known for long, steep descents, dry snow and hard frosts: Erzurum is one of the coldest cities in Turkey.

Best for: confident skiers and snowboarders who want long runs. Beginners may find it tough and cold.

Uludağ (Bursa)

Turkey's most famous and oldest ski resort. Bursa is about 40 km away by road, and a cable car around 9 km long has carried people from the city up the mountain since 1963. From Istanbul it's a 2–3 hour drive. Hotels sit right in the ski area.

Best for: people living in Istanbul or combining the city with a few ski days. The downside is weekend and holiday crowds.

Kartalkaya (Bolu)

A resort at around 2,200 metres among pine forest, a few hours' drive from Istanbul. The hotels stand right by the pistes, many with direct access to the slopes.

In January 2025 a fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the resort killed 78 people. It is a tragedy that can't go unmentioned. In October 2025 a court sentenced those responsible, including the hotel's owner. Wherever you stay in the mountains, check where the emergency exits are after you check in and make sure your room has a fire alarm.

Best for: skiers who want to stay on the slopes and ski among trees.

Sarıkamış (Kars)

The Cıbıltepe ski area near Sarıkamış rises to 2,634 metres. Its runs cut through Scots pine forest, and its dry, powdery snow is often called "crystal snow". It's in the far north-east of the country, near the city of Kars and its airport.

Best for: nature lovers and powder fans who don't mind a long journey.

The south: Davraz and Saklıkent

If you're staying in Antalya, the nearest options are Saklıkent, around 40–50 km from the city with a handful of runs, and Davraz near Isparta, about 140 km from Antalya, with around fourteen runs and a few chairlifts. Both are small: fine for a day or two, limited for a full ski holiday.

When to go

Most resorts open in mid-December and close at the end of March, with skiing into April at the highest. Snow decides the opening date; our guide to when ski resorts in Turkey open shows how it has varied. The busiest weeks are New Year and the Turkish school holidays (25 January – 5 February 2027). For the festive season, see New Year skiing in Turkey.

Why we recommend Erciyes for a first trip

• Every level on one mountain: wide nursery slopes, plenty of blue and red runs, and black runs for experts.
• A city on the doorstep: plenty to do in the evening, and for non-skiers too. See things to do on Erciyes if you don't ski.
• Reliable snow: lifts up to around 3,400 metres and more than 150 snow cannons.
• Cappadocia an hour away: easy to add a couple of days of balloons and valleys. See Cappadocia in winter.

Our step-by-step guide on how to plan a ski holiday in Turkey helps with the rest. First-timers should look at the 4-night First Steps package, with the lesson, lift pass, equipment, clothing, hotel and transfers included. If you already ski, try the 4-night Experienced package.

• Turkey ski resorts
• Erciyes
• Palandöken
• Uludağ