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Best time to visit · Turkey
For the most comfortable weather in Istanbul, aim for May – October. June tops our comfort score at 96/100, with highs around 79°F (26°C) and 1.4 in (36 mm) of rain. April is a good shoulder-season month. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cloud cover.
Highs run from 47°F to 84°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 24.6 in (624 mm) of rain.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high | 47°F8°C | 49°F9°C | 53°F12°C | 60°F16°C | 70°F21°C | 79°F26°C | 84°F29°C | 84°F29°C | 77°F25°C | 68°F20°C | 59°F15°C | 50°F10°C |
| Avg low | 38°F4°C | 39°F4°C | 42°F6°C | 47°F9°C | 57°F14°C | 66°F19°C | 71°F22°C | 72°F22°C | 66°F19°C | 58°F14°C | 50°F10°C | 42°F6°C |
| Rain | 3.1 in79 mm | 2.7 in68 mm | 2.1 in53 mm | 1.7 in42 mm | 1.4 in35 mm | 1.4 in36 mm | 0.8 in20 mm | 0.9 in22 mm | 2.1 in54 mm | 2.8 in70 mm | 2.5 in63 mm | 3.2 in82 mm |
| Humidity | 83% | 82% | 79% | 76% | 74% | 69% | 66% | 66% | 68% | 76% | 80% | 82% |
| Cloud | 76% | 75% | 67% | 61% | 55% | 42% | 28% | 30% | 46% | 59% | 68% | 74% |
| Comfort | 51 | 55 | 68 | 83 | 92 | 96 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 87 | 75 | 57 |
Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. The grid cell sits at about 60 m (197 ft), close to Istanbul's own ~38 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.
The cold peaks here: highs of 47–50°F (8–10°C), and nights reach 38°F (4°C). It's the wettest season, with about 9.0 in (229 mm) of rain, 37% of the year's total. Comfort scores bottom out in December – February; the season averages 54/100.
Temperatures climb through the season, from 53°F highs in March to 70°F by May. About 5.1 in (130 mm) of rain falls across these months, 21% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 42°F (6°C). May is among the best-scoring months (season average 81/100).
Peak warmth: highs of 79–84°F (26–29°C). It's the driest season, with only about 3.1 in (78 mm) of rain, 13% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 66°F (19°C). Comfort peaks here: June – August rank with the year's best, and the season averages 93/100.
Temperatures slide from 77°F highs in September to 59°F by November. About 7.4 in (187 mm) of rain falls across these months, 30% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 50°F (10°C). September & October are among the best-scoring months (season average 85/100).
By comfort score: 8 Great, 1 Good and 3 Fair. Great months: April – November. Tap a month for its own guide.
For the most comfortable weather in Istanbul, aim for May – October. June tops our comfort score at 96/100, with highs around 79°F (26°C) and 1.4 in (36 mm) of rain. April is a good shoulder-season month. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cloud cover.
December is the wettest month, averaging about 3.2 in (82 mm) of rain. July is the driest, with about 0.8 in (20 mm). The yearly total is around 24.6 in (624 mm).
January is the coldest, with average lows of 38°F (4°C) and highs of 47°F (8°C). The warmest is August, with average highs of 84°F (29°C).
Not very: summer (June – August) humidity averages 67%, and highs peak around 84°F (29°C), so heat matters more than mugginess.
Not on average: even in January, the coldest month, lows average 38°F (4°C). Individual cold snaps can still dip lower.
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