Mardin is at its best in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). Spring brings mild temperatures (15-20°C) and the surrounding plateau flowers with wild poppies and anemones, while autumn has clear skies and the best visibility for the views across the plain. Summer is hot — temperatures regularly exceed 40°C in July and August — and the old city, despite its stone, retains heat; early morning and evening are the best times to walk.
Winter can be cold and occasionally snowy, though less extreme than the Anatolian interior. Mardin is in the same latitude band as Crete and the Lebanese mountains, and the winters are generally manageable. A moderate winter day in the old city, with the limestone glowing in low sun and the Mesopotamian plain hazed with mist below, has its own particular quality.