Best time to visit Istanbul
The best time to visit Istanbul for general outdoor activities is from June through September, with the expectation of hot weather during July and August.
Istanbul weather
Istanbul experiences a transitional Mediterranean climate: summers are hot and sunny, while winters are long, cold and partly cloudy.
Summer, from June through August, is hot and sunny, with an average temperature of 26°C (78°F) and a high of 30°C (86°F).
Autumn, from September through November, is initially warm and sunny, before gradually becoming wet and cold.
Winter, from December to March, is chilly and wet averaging 6°C (43°F). December is the wettest month of the year.
Spring, from April through May, is mild, with warm, sunny and drier days becoming more frequent.
What is the best month to visit Istanbul?
June through September are the best months to visit Istanbul – the climate is perfect with warm to hot, sunny weather and minimal rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in Istanbul.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and heat of summer, the months of May and October are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Istanbul?
The hottest month in Istanbul is usually August, with an average high temperature of 30°C (86°F), with high heat and some humidity, and a low of 22°C (71°F)
However, on the warmest days the temperature may reach 35°C (95°F).
The hot season lasts from early-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 25°C (77°F).
What is the humidity in Istanbul?
Istanbul experiences notable seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 63% – 78% over the course of the year.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in Istanbul?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in Istanbul is 10°C (50°F), and varies over the course of the year from dry at 3°C (37°F) to mainly comfortable at 18°C (64°F).
The more humid time of year in Istanbul lasts from mid-June through to mid-September, when you can expect the comfort level to be humid on average 12% of the time.
The month with the highest humidity in Istanbul is August, with 12 days on average that may feel humid.
October through May is comfortable, with no humidity.
Which is the coldest month in Istanbul?
The coldest month in Istanbul is January, with an average high temperature of 9°C (48°F) and low of 4°C (39°F).
The cool season lasts from late-November through March, with an average daily high temperature below 13°C (55°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Istanbul?
The sunniest month in Istanbul is usually July, with an average of 10.5 hours of bright sunshine per day – that's an average of 70% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Istanbul?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Istanbul in August when the water temperature reaches 24°C (75°F), which is pleasant for swimming.
Both July and September average 23°C (73°F), which is considered barely acceptable.
Which month has the most rain in Istanbul?
Rain falls throughout the year in İstanbul. December is usually the wettest month of the year in Istanbul, with on average 84mm (3in) of rainfall, distributed across 12 days.
The rainy season lasts from October through April, with a greater than 19% chance of a given day being a wet day. The heaviest rain in Istanbul falls from November through February.
The dry season lasts from May through September. The months with the least rainfall in Istanbul are July and August.
Which is the windiest month in Istanbul?
The windiest month of the year in Istanbul is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 19 kilometres per hour (12 mph; 10 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from July through March, with average wind speeds of more than 16 kilometres per hour (10 mph; 8.6 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from April through June. The calmest month of the year in Istanbul is May, with an average hourly wind speed of 14 kilometres per hour (8.7 mph; 7.6 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Istanbul.
Istanbul Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 11 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level – heat | |||||||||||
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| Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days) | |||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 11 | 12 | 4 | - | - | - |
| Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 78 | 77 | 73 | 69 | 69 | 65 | 63 | 65 | 67 | 74 | 76 | 77 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 73 | 76 | 66 | 44 | 33 | 31 | 21 | 21 | 40 | 57 | 61 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 11 |
| Istanbul, Turkey | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
Peak season: Lasts from July to mid-September when prices are at their highest, and during Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Shoulder season: The ‘shoulder season’ months of April, May, mid- to late September and October.
Low season: Winter
Source: Meteorological data for Istanbul is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1992 to 2021 by the Turkish State Meteorological Service from the closest weather station: Istanbul International Airport (IST), located 35km (22mi) north of Istanbul, as well as from the older Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST), located 12km (7mi) southwest of Istanbul.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Istanbul: 12 July, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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