Istanbul weather in December (Marmara Region, Turkey)

Curious about the December weather in Istanbul? This guide provides all the details you need.

In December, Istanbul generally has low temperatures and high rainfall. December falls within the winter season. Anticipate daytime temperatures around 12°C, while night temperatures can drop to 7°C.

Istanbul in December usually receives high rainfall, averaging around 103 mm for the month. It is the wettest month of the year, so an umbrella might come in handy. When we look at the climate data from the last 30 years, we can expect around 17 days of rain.

The city usually sees around 61 hours of sunlight, indicating fewer sunny days.

If you prefer dry days with pleasant temperatures, December may not be the ideal month to visit Istanbul. May, June, July, August, September and October typically offer the most optimal weather. In contrast, January, February and December tend to have less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Istanbul climate page with graphs.

 

Istanbul, monthly averages in December

Min TemperatureMin Temperature 7°C  
Max TemperatureMax Temperature 12°C  
Water TemperatureWater Temperature 11°C  
Chance of RainChance of Rain 56%  
PrecipitationPrecipitation 103 mm  
Rainy daysRainy days 17 days  
SunshineSunshine 61 hours  
Percentage SunshinePercentage Sunshine 22%  

Where to go in Turkey in December

Find out more about the weather in Turkey in December and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

Map not visible? Whoops sorry! Please refresh the page.
Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor
Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Istanbul in December?

Plan on layering your clothes. Some days or part of the day it will be nice and warm and some moments it can be a bit chilly. Bring a rain jacket in case it rains during your stay. With a water temperature of around 11°C there is no need to bring your swimwear.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in December.

Swimming
4/10
Cycling
5/10
Walking
5/10
Camping
3/10
Outdoor sports
5/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Istanbul.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to Turkey? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in Turkey. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.