Seasonal Weather in Etimesgut: What to Expect Throughout the Year (and Honestly, Everything Else)
okay, so etimesgut. it's… a place. i'm liam, by the way. i'm a freelance photographer, currently bouncing around turkey trying to find interesting light. and honestly? etimesgut isn't exactly overflowing with postcard views, but it's real. and the weather? well, that's a whole thing.
it's currently that weird shoulder season thing, like late october. the air smells like damp concrete and someone's definitely burning leaves somewhere. it's not cold cold, more like… persistently chilly. like, you'll regret not bringing a scarf, but a full winter coat feels dramatic. it's the kind of weather that makes you crave strong tea and questionable life choices. which, as a freelancer, i'm pretty familiar with.
let's break it down, because i've been here long enough to see the whole cycle. spring (march-may) is… optimistic. it tries. there's a lot of rain, which turns the streets into reflective puddles, which can be good for photos if you're into that moody aesthetic. temperatures creep up, but it's still unpredictable. you'll have days where you're sweating and days where you're questioning your life choices again.
summer (june-august) is brutal. like, seriously. dry heat, hitting around 35-40°C (that's like, 95-104°F for my american friends). it's the kind of heat that makes you actively avoid being outside between noon and 4pm. everyone retreats indoors, or heads to the coast. which, thankfully, isn't far. you can get to antalya in a few hours by plane, or drive to the black sea for a slightly less scorching experience. i overheard someone at a cafe saying the air conditioning in the shopping mall is the best thing about etimesgut summers, and honestly? i'm inclined to agree. Check out reviews of the Armada Shopping Mall on Yelp.
autumn (september-november) is… my favorite. it's that sweet spot where the heat breaks, the light gets softer, and everything feels a little more melancholic. it's perfect for wandering around and taking photos of crumbling buildings (which etimesgut has in abundance). it's also when the local markets are overflowing with fresh produce, which is always a win.
winter (december-february) is cold. properly cold. it snows, sometimes. not like, a blizzard, but enough to make things slippery and picturesque. temperatures can dip below freezing, so you'll need a proper winter coat, hat, and gloves. it's also the time of year when everyone seems to stay indoors, which can be a bit isolating. but hey, it's a good excuse to drink a lot of tea and edit photos.
okay, let's talk practicalities. i was chatting with a guy at a çay bahçesi (tea garden) the other day, and he told me rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around ₺8,000-₺15,000 a month (that's roughly $250-$500 usd, depending on the exchange rate). it's definitely cheaper than istanbul, but it's not exactly a bargain basement. the job market is… okay. a lot of government jobs, some manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. i've seen a few postings on linkedin for photographers, but nothing that's really grabbed my attention yet. Here's a link to the Etimesgut subreddit - it's not super active, but it's a good place to get a feel for the local vibe.
*safety: honestly, i've felt pretty safe here. it's not a bustling tourist hotspot, so you don't get the same level of petty theft you might find in other cities. but you should still be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
local quirks: people are really into tea. like, seriously. you can't walk five minutes without passing a çay bahçesi. and everyone seems to know everyone else. it's a small-town vibe, even though etimesgut is technically part of a larger city. TripAdvisor has some restaurant recommendations.
drunk advice:* don't try to haggle at the supermarkets. it won't work, and you'll just look silly. but at the markets? go for it.
so, yeah. etimesgut. it's not glamorous, but it's got a certain charm. and the weather? well, you've been warned. it's a bit of a rollercoaster, but that's life, right? Here's a link to a local weather forecast.
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