- Sunshine hrs/yr
- 2,200
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: climatestotravel.com, en.wikipedia.org
Good to know
Good to Know
- Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most comfortable weather for exploring the city—temperatures in the 15–25°C (59–77°F) range with pleasant daylight.
- Winter months are cloudy and wet; bring an umbrella and waterproof jacket. Snowfall is possible but rarely accumulates or lasts long.
- Summer can feel hot and humid, especially in July–August. The sea remains cool even in summer (19–22°C (66–72°F) / 66–71°F), so it's swimmable but not warm.
- Istanbul's size and topography create microclimates within the city—you may experience different weather in different neighborhoods on the same day.
- Northeastern winds (Poyraz) blow regularly year-round; dress in layers, especially in winter and autumn.
Rainfall
- Pattern
- Most rainfall occurs in autumn and winter; summer is very dry.
- Annual Total Mm
- 787
Monthly Range
- Lowest
- July, ~35 mm (1.4 in)
- Highest
- November, ~100 mm (4 in)
Seasonal Breakdown
- Autumn
- 28% of annual rainfall
- Spring
- 23% of annual rainfall
- Summer
- 14% of annual rainfall (driest season)
- Winter
- 35% of annual rainfall (wettest season)
Snowfall
- Timing
- Primarily December–February, with January the snowiest month (~24 mm / 0.94 in on 3.7 days).
- Frequency
- Occasional but regular; occurs more than once most years.
- Accumulated Days
- Typically 10–15 days of snow per year, though this varies significantly year to year.
- Notes
- Some winters see substantial accumulation; others may have little to none. Snowfall is not uncommon but rarely persists long.
Sunshine
- Annual Hours
- 2200
- Sunniest Months
- June, July, August (~300 hours each)
- Least Sunny Months
- December, January (~90–100 hours each)
- Winter Note
- Persistent cloud cover and occasional fog limit sunshine in winter; fog has declined significantly since the 1970s.
Temperature
Peak Months
- Season
- Summer (June–August)
- Average Low Celsius
- 19
- Average High Celsius
- 26
- Average Low Fahrenheit
- 66
- Average High Fahrenheit
- 79
- Notes
- Warm and humid; July and August are the hottest, averaging 24°C (75°F). Heat can occasionally reach 35–37°C (95–99°F).
Off Peak Months
- Season
- Winter (December–February)
- Average Low Celsius
- 5
- Average High Celsius
- 9
- Average Low Fahrenheit
- 41
- Average High Fahrenheit
- 48
- Notes
- Cool and cloudy; January is the coldest month, averaging 6°C (43°F). Temperatures rarely drop below freezing but occasional cold spells can reach −8 to −9°C (16–17°F).
Shoulder Seasons
Autumn
- Months
- September–November
- Average Celsius
- 15–24°C (59–75°F)
- Average Fahrenheit
- 15–24°C (59–75°F)
- Notes
- Initially warm in September, cooling gradually through November.
Spring
- Months
- March–May
- Average Celsius
- 12–20°C (53–68°F)
- Average Fahrenheit
- 12–20°C (53–68°F)
- Notes
- Gradually warming; April is noticeably milder than March.
Best Months To Visit
Best Months To Visit
- May and June (spring)
- September and October (autumn)
Worst Months To Visit
Worst Months To Visit
- December and January (cold, cloudy, wet)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this climate & weather research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Istanbul
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.