Istanbul Sunshine Hours by Month

The amount of sunshine is fundamental to comprehending a place's climate. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey. These values are calculated using 30 years of data (1990–2020) to ensure accuracy.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Those who love seasonal contrasts will appreciate Istanbul. Expect long, bright days with 318 hours in July and darker periods with just 61 hours in December. The total annual amount of sun is 2182 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

For those who appreciate different seasons, Istanbul serves as an ideal destination. Expect longer, more sun-filled days in July with an average of 10.6 hours of sunshine daily, and embrace the darker days in December, offering only 2.0 hours of daily sunlight.

Average percent of sunshine

On average the sun shines 69% of the time during the day in July, the highest percentage of any month. December has the lowest percentage at 22%.

Istanbul enjoys an average of 2182 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Lisbon, Portugal, there are approximately 2801 hours of sunshine annually, highlighting its warm and sunny Mediterranean climate.

In contrast, Reykjavík, Iceland, receives only about 1330 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

The climate in San Francisco, USA, includes 3072 hours of sunshine annually, thanks to its mild coastal weather.

Melbourne, Australia, has 2380 hours of sunshine annually, with its famous “four seasons in a day” weather pattern.

December, Istanbul’s wettest month, receives 24 mm (0.9 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 12°C (54°F). During the driest month August you can expect a temperature of 29°C (84°F).

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Istanbul Precipitation page.