Istanbul Weather & Climate: Best Time to Visit

During winter months (January and December) Istanbul can experience heavy snowfall, but most of winter it has a pleasant average temperature temperature of around 15°C (59°F).

Istanbul can best be visited in spring (May and June) or autumn (September and October) with temperatures between 22°C (72°F) and 30°C (86°F). During summer it tends to be to hot to visit the city with average temperatures between 30°C (86°F) and 35°C (95°F).

Throughout the year Istanbul is very windy.

Monthly Temperature in Istanbul

In Istanbul, temperatures differ significantly between summer and winter months. On average, daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 29°C (84°F) in August to a chilly 10°C (50°F) in February.

Nighttime temperatures range from 22°C (72°F) in August to 5°C (41°F) in February.

Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Rainfall in Istanbul

On average, Istanbul receives a reasonable amount of rainfall, with an annual precipitation of 730 mm (29 in). The seasons in Istanbul bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, December, receives high rainfall, with an average of 103 mm (4.1 in) of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 17 rainy days.

In contrast, the driest month, August, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 24 mm (0.9 in) over 5 rainy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year. For more details, please visit our Istanbul Precipitation page.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail, and snow

The average number of days each month with precipitation

Sunshine Hours in Istanbul

In Istanbul, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 10.6 hours in July. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. December sees a soft sun for only 2.0 hours per average day.

Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Daily hours of sunshine

Daily percentage of sunshine

Water Temperature in Istanbul

The mean water temperature over the year ranges from 8°C (46°F) in February to 25°C (77°F) in July.

Water temperature over the year

Istanbul 3-Day Forecast

10-Day Forecast

Select a Month

Check the conditions for any month of the year.

Best Time to Visit Istanbul

The best time to visit Istanbul is during May, June, July, August, September and October, when the weather provides comfortable temperatures between 20°C (69°F) and 29°C (83°F). With rainfall of 24 mm (0.9 in) to 79 mm (3.1 in), you can expect pleasant weather during your visit in these months.

Looking for inspiration on where to travel this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.