Best time to visit Istanbul
The best time to visit Istanbul is May–June and September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.7 °C / 48 °F | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | 95 mm / 3.7 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | 5.6 °C / 42 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 11.2 °C / 52 °F | 6.9 °C / 44 °F | 70 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 14.9 °C / 59 °F | 9.7 °C / 49 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| May | 19.8 °C / 68 °F | 14.4 °C / 58 °F | 33 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| June | 25 °C / 77 °F | 19.3 °C / 67 °F | 28 mm / 1.1 in | best month |
| July | 27.6 °C / 82 °F | 21.8 °C / 71 °F | 23 mm / 0.9 in | good month |
| August | 27.9 °C / 82 °F | 22.5 °C / 73 °F | 15 mm / 0.6 in | good month |
| September | 24.3 °C / 76 °F | 19.4 °C / 67 °F | 47 mm / 1.9 in | best month |
| October | 19.2 °C / 67 °F | 15.2 °C / 59 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| November | 15.3 °C / 60 °F | 11.6 °C / 53 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| December | 11 °C / 52 °F | 7.7 °C / 46 °F | 92 mm / 3.6 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–June, September
- Good
- April, July–August, October–November
Istanbul is best from May to June and in September, still good but warmer in July-August and cooler in April, October and November; the wet, cold winter from December through March is a poor time to explore on foot.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, feels like (high) 13.4 °C / 56 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily high 14.9 °C / 59 °F, wet days 7.9 days, average daily low 9.7 °C / 49 °F.
Against: relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Istanbul Film Festival, National Sovereignty and Children's Day, Tulip bloom.
Watch out for: National Sovereignty and Children's Day travel disruption.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 6.7 days, average daily low 14.4 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Chill-Out Festival, Sonar Istanbul, Tulip bloom.
Watch out for: Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha), Labour and Solidarity Day (May Day).
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.7 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 25 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 5.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 19.3 °C / 67 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Also on: Istanbul Music Festival, Istanbul Opera and Ballet Festival.
July · good
In its favour: precipitation 23 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, average daily high 27.6 °C / 82 °F, wet days 3 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, relative humidity 71%, average daily low 21.8 °C / 71 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 29.6 °C / 85 °F.
Also on: Istanbul Jazz Festival.
August · good
In its favour: precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, wet days 2.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, average daily high 27.9 °C / 82 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Against: feels like (high) 29.6 °C / 85 °F, average daily low 22.5 °C / 73 °F.
Also on: Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race, Victory Day.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 47 mm / 1.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, wet days 6.6 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 19.4 °C / 67 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Also on: Bosphorus Cup Regatta, Istanbul Biennial.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.3 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in, average daily low 15.2 °C / 59 °F.
Against: wet days 8.6 days, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Filmekimi film festival, Republic Day.
Watch out for: Republic Day travel congestion.
November · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 74%, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.3 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 11.6 °C / 53 °F.
Against: wet days 8.7 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, sunshine per day 7.3 h, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Atatürk memorial moment of silence, Istanbul Marathon.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Uludağ Kayak Merkezi, 102 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 5.2 °C | 5.8 °C | 8.4 °C | 13.4 °C | 20 °C | 26.7 °C | 29.6 °C | 29.6 °C | 24.6 °C | 18.3 °C | 13.2 °C | 8.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3.1 days | 2 days | 2 days | 1.1 days | 0.6 days | 0.8 days | 0.6 days | 0.5 days | 1.6 days | 2.4 days | 2.1 days | 3.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 10 am | 12 pm | 7 am | 8 pm | 10 am | 10 am | 1 pm | 12 pm | 7 am | 8 am | 10 am | 11 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 6.1 h | 7.3 h | 8.7 h | 10.5 h | 12.3 h | 13.3 h | 13.7 h | 12.8 h | 10.9 h | 8.5 h | 7.3 h | 5.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 79% | 79% | 78% | 77% | 77% | 74% | 71% | 72% | 72% | 77% | 78% | 79% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 23.9 µg/m³ | 18.3 µg/m³ | 23.8 µg/m³ | 17.8 µg/m³ | 14.7 µg/m³ | 13.5 µg/m³ | 12.9 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 15.4 µg/m³ | 16.9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 45.4 µg/m³ | 34.5 µg/m³ | 42.5 µg/m³ | 30.9 µg/m³ | 22.6 µg/m³ | 19.5 µg/m³ | 19.1 µg/m³ | 15.4 µg/m³ | 16.7 µg/m³ | 21.7 µg/m³ | 27.1 µg/m³ | 32.1 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Free iftar meals during Ramadan
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Epiphany cross-throwing ceremony
6 January
- Tulip bloom
21 March–10 May
- Newroz festival
March
- Istanbul Film Festival
April
- National Sovereignty and Children's Day
23 April
- Sonar Istanbul
May
- Chill-Out Festival
May
- Istanbul Music Festival
June
- Istanbul Opera and Ballet Festival
June
- Istanbul Jazz Festival
July
- Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race
August
- Victory Day
30 August
- Istanbul Biennial
September
- Bosphorus Cup Regatta
September
- Filmekimi film festival
October
- Republic Day
29 October
- Istanbul Marathon
November
- Atatürk memorial moment of silence
10 November
Worth knowing before you go
- Ramadan travel and cost impact
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Ramadan restaurant closures
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- National Sovereignty and Children's Day travel disruption
23 April
- Labour and Solidarity Day (May Day)
1 May
- Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha)
May, dates vary from year to year
- Republic Day travel congestion
29 October
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Hagia Sophia
3 km away