Our verdict
The best time to visit Istanbul is April
In the summer months, temperatures can reach as high as 30℃ (86℉) in Istanbul. In the colder months such as January, temperatures usually get down to an average minimum of 5℃ (42℉).
If you’re keen to see the sights of Istanbul during the day, the sun stays up the longest around July. You don’t want to get wet on your holiday, do you? Well if you’re trying to avoid the rain, then steer clear of Istanbul in December. Head over there in August instead if you want to increase your chances of not being rained on.
Continue reading to find out loads more about when to travel to Istanbul, then use the handy tools below to search for the best flight and hotel options that are right for you.
Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / Monthly climate / FAQs / Map
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Istanbul seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Istanbul as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Istanbul is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Istanbul
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Istanbul for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Istanbul climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Istanbul for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Istanbul in January
- Average temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
- Average high temperature: 9℃ (47℉)
- Average low temperature: 5℃ (42℉)
- Average humidity: 77%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 49mm (2") over 13 days
- Average snow days: 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in January, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Istanbul in February
- Average temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average high temperature: 10℃ (49℉)
- Average low temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average humidity: 78%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 37mm (1") over 12 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in February, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Istanbul in March
- Average temperature: 10℃ (49℉)
- Average high temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
- Average low temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
- Average humidity: 73%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 38mm (1") over 14 days
- Average snow days: 1 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in March, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Istanbul in April
- Average temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
- Average high temperature: 15℃ (60℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average humidity: 70%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 29mm (1") over 13 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in April, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Istanbul in May
- Average temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
- Average high temperature: 21℃ (69℉)
- Average low temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average humidity: 70%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 38mm (2") over 12 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in May, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
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Istanbul in June
- Average temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
- Average high temperature: 26℃ (78℉)
- Average low temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
- Average humidity: 67%
- Average sunny days: 19 days
- Average rainfall: 26mm (1") over 8 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in June, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Istanbul in July
- Average temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
- Average high temperature: 28℃ (82℉)
- Average low temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
- Average humidity: 67%
- Average sunny days: 23 days
- Average rainfall: 14mm (1") over 6 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in July, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.
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Istanbul in August
- Average temperature: 25℃ (78℉)
- Average high temperature: 28℃ (82℉)
- Average low temperature: 23℃ (74℉)
- Average humidity: 68%
- Average sunny days: 25 days
- Average rainfall: 11mm (0") over 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in August, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.
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Istanbul in September
- Average temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
- Average high temperature: 24℃ (76℉)
- Average low temperature: 20℃ (69℉)
- Average humidity: 68%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 26mm (1") over 10 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in September, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.
Istanbul in October
- Average temperature: 18℃ (63℉)
- Average high temperature: 19℃ (67℉)
- Average low temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
- Average humidity: 73%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 42mm (2") over 13 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in October, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.
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Istanbul in November
- Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
- Average high temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
- Average low temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
- Average humidity: 73%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 33mm (1") over 11 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in November, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.
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Istanbul in December
- Average temperature: 9℃ (49℉)
- Average high temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
- Average low temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average humidity: 74%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 52mm (2") over 14 days
- Average snow days: 1 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Istanbul in December, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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