Istanbul, Turkey Climate & Monthly Averages
Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate. August is the hottest month, averaging 84° by day; January is the coldest at 48°.
Sunshine is a defining feature of Istanbul's climate
Istanbul runs on a dry-summer rhythm: the warmest months are also the driest. August averages 20 mm (0.8 in) while the wet season peaks in January at 4.3 inches (109 mm). Highs range from 48°F (9°C) to 84°F (29°C).
How sun, temperature and rain fit together
January sits at the other end of the year: 48°F (9°C) by day, 39°F (4°C) at night. Warmth peaks in August: highs of 84°F (29°C), lows of 71°F (22°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 102°F (39°C) and bottoms at 20°F (-7°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Days and nights are about 7°C apart on average - narrower than about 82% of the cities we track.
July is the brightest month at 13.5 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.4. Snow falls on roughly 6 days a year, mostly December through March.
More climate facts for Istanbul
- Hottest month: August - highs near 84°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 48°F (9°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 102°F (39°C) high · 20°F (-7°C) low
- Wettest month: January (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: Mediterranean
- Annual swing: 19°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
- Snow: about 6 days a year
- Average humidity: 76%
The most comfortable sunny-weather window
Best time to visit Istanbul
April to July and September to October is the sweet spot for Istanbul - the dry season is running but the afternoons are still bearable. Expect 74°F (23°C) in the afternoon and around 8 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
What to pack
Pack for Istanbul with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season, a compact umbrella or rain shell and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Even in August, lows of 71°F (22°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° | 39° | 13 | 4.3 in | 5.5 h/day | 9.5 h | 43% | 79% |
| February | 51° | 40° | 11 | 3.0 in | 6.8 h/day | 10.6 h | 38% | 79% |
| March | 54° | 42° | 11 | 3.0 in | 7.8 h/day | 11.8 h | 36% | 79% |
| April | 62° | 47° | 9 | 2.2 in | 10.2 h/day | 13.3 h | 30% | 75% |
| May | 70° | 56° | 8 | 2.2 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.5 h | 27% | 76% |
| June | 79° | 65° | 8 | 2.0 in | 12.9 h/day | 15.1 h | 28% | 76% |
| July | 84° | 69° | 5 | 1.2 in | 13.5 h/day | 14.8 h | 15% | 71% |
| August | 84° | 71° | 3 | 0.8 in | 12.6 h/day | 13.8 h | 11% | 72% |
| September | 78° | 65° | 8 | 1.9 in | 10.9 h/day | 12.4 h | 26% | 72% |
| October | 68° | 57° | 7 | 2.2 in | 8.4 h/day | 11.0 h | 24% | 78% |
| November | 61° | 50° | 9 | 3.3 in | 7.1 h/day | 9.8 h | 29% | 78% |
| December | 53° | 44° | 12 | 3.5 in | 5.5 h/day | 9.2 h | 40% | 80% |
Istanbul month by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Istanbul's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 5.5 h
- Daylight
- 9.5 h
- Snow
- 3 days
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 6.8 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
- Snow
- 2 days
March
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
April
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 10.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.3 h
May
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
June
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 12.9 h
- Daylight
- 15.1 h
July
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 13.5 h
- Daylight
- 14.8 h
August
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 12.6 h
- Daylight
- 13.8 h
September
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.0 h
November
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 7.1 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
December
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 5.5 h
- Daylight
- 9.2 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Istanbul's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.
Seasonal weather under Istanbul's sunnier skies
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Istanbul stays on the cool side of mild: 62°F (17°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Istanbul brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 82°F (28°C) and nights around 68°F (20°C); rain comes on about 17 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 13.0 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Istanbul brings comfortable warmth: 69°F (21°C) by day, 57°F (14°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Istanbul is chilly, with daytime highs averaging 51°F (10°C) and nights around 41°F (5°C); rain falls on around 37 of the 90 days, plus about 5 snowy days.
How unusual is Istanbul?
- Istanbul sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 60°F (15°C) as an annual average, 29.6 inches (753 mm) of precipitation and 9.4 hours of sun a day.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
Istanbul temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.