Istanbul weather in May (Marmara Region, Turkey)
Looking to travel to Istanbul in May? Here's what the weather might have in store during this month.
In Istanbul, May is characterized by pleasant temperatures and moderate rainfall. Throughout the day, temperatures typically settle at around 21°C. But by evening, they drop to around 14°C.
Istanbul in May usually receives moderate rainfall, averaging around 37 mm for the month. Rain is expected on roughly 8 days.
The city usually sees around 247 hours of sunlight, indicating many sunny days.
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 in May and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
So, what should you wear in Istanbul in May?
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 in May.
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.
