Summer (June–August) is the most comfortable time to visit, with long days and warm temperatures on the plateau. The Ani ruins are best experienced in good weather when you can walk the full site without cold or mud. Spring (April–May) is pleasant but can be muddy after snowmelt.
Winter visits are possible and some travellers choose this specifically to replicate the atmosphere of Pamuk's Snow — Kars in December under heavy snowfall is the most Pamuk-appropriate experience. However, temperatures regularly drop below -20°C, and the Ani ruins become a severe cold-weather experience. The Eastern Express journey through the winter landscape is particularly dramatic, and winter package tours combining the train and Kars have become popular.