ClimateForecastDecemberJanuary >>

Istanbul Climate by Month

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.

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

Throughout the year Istanbul is very windy.

Average day and night temperature

In Istanbul, temperatures differ significantly between summer and winter months. On average, daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 29°C in August to a chilly 10°C in February. Nighttime temperatures can drop, with averages reaching 5°C in February.

The mean minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year

Precipitation and rainy days

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

In contrast, the driest month, August, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 24 mm over 5 rainy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year.

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

Sunshine over the year

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.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Daily hours of sunshine

Average water temperature

The mean water temperature over the year in Istanbul ranges from 8°C in February to 25°C in July.

Water temperature over the year

The best time of year to visit Istanbul in Turkey

During the months of May, June, September and October you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20°C and 26°C.

Other facts from our historical weather data:
  • When is summer in Istanbul?
    The hottest season / summer takes place in June, July, August and September.
  • Which is the warmest month in Istanbul?
    August has an average maximum temperature of 29°C and is the warmest month of the year.
  • Which is the coldest month in Istanbul?
    The coldest month is February with an average maximum temperature of 10°C.
  • Which is the wettest month in Istanbul?
    December tops the wettest month list with 103 mm of rainfall.
  • Which is the driest month in Istanbul?
    August is the driest month with 24 mm of precipitation.
  • Which is the sunniest month in Istanbul?
    July is the sunniest month with an average of 318 hours of sunshine.

  • No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

    Forecast for Istanbul

    Sun   Dec 15
    11°C | 8°C
    S 22 km/h
    11 mm
    overcast and heavy rain

    overcast and heavy rain

    Mon   Dec 16
    9°C | 6°C
    N 18 km/h
    partly cloudy and no rain

    partly cloudy and no rain

    Tue   Dec 17
    11°C | 7°C
    SW 18 km/h
    clear and no rain

    clear and no rain