Istanbul weather in May (Marmara Region, Turkey)

What weather conditions can you expect in Istanbul this May? Check out our in-depth weather guide for this month.

Temperatures

Expect perfect weather in Istanbul during May, which means pleasant temperatures and moderate rainfall. Daytime temperatures generally settle around 21°C, while nighttime can see a dip to about 14°C.

Precipitation

Istanbul in May usually receives moderate rainfall, averaging around 37 mm for the month. Analyzing past climate data, one can expect approximately 8 days of rain.

Average sunshine

There are approximately 247 hours of sunshine this month, meaning plenty of sunny days and a vibrant atmosphere.

So this is a great month to visit if you prefer dry days with pleasant temperatures. 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 May

Min Temperature 14°C  

Max Temperature 21°C  

Water Temperature 16°C  

Chance of Rain 28%  

Precipitation 37 mm  

Rainy days 8 days  

Sunshine 247 hours  

Percentage Sunshine 57%  

Where to go in Turkey in May

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

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

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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 this month?

For visitors traveling to Istanbul, we recommend wearing layers. So maybe a skirt, t-shirt, shorts for during the day and jeans and a warm jacket for some days and evenings. Bring a rain jacket in case it rains during your stay. Plan on layering your clothes. With a water temperature of around 16°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.

Cycling

10/10

Walking

10/10

Barbeque

9/10

Camping

10/10

Outdoor sports

10/10

Interested in more climate information?

This site 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 travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.