The biggest temperature swing occurs between September and October, as typical highs shift from 24.4°C / 76°F to 19.3°C / 66.7°F (about 5.1°C / 9.3°F).
| Month | Low Temperature | High Temperature | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.3°C | 8.6°C | COOL |
| February | 4.4°C | 9.3°C | COOL |
| March | 5.5°C | 11.2°C | COOL |
| April | 8.9°C | 15.4°C | MILD |
| May | 13.6°C | 20.3°C | MILD |
| June | 18.4°C | 25.2°C | WARM |
| July | 21.3°C | 28.1°C | WARM |
| August | 21.9°C | 28.3°C | WARM |
| September | 18.6°C | 24.4°C | WARM |
| October | 14.4°C | 19.3°C | MILD |
| November | 10.1°C | 14.8°C | COOL |
| December | 6.6°C | 10.6°C | COOL |
July has the warmest typical feels-like highs (29.5°C / 85°F), while January is coolest (4.9°C / 40.9°F).
| Month | Low Feels Like | High Feels Like | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.2°C | 4.9°C | COLD |
| February | 0.2°C | 5.7°C | COLD |
| March | 1.7°C | 8.1°C | COOL |
| April | 6.1°C | 13.9°C | COOL |
| May | 12.4°C | 20.4°C | MILD |
| June | 19°C | 26.5°C | WARM |
| July | 22.6°C | 29.5°C | WARM |
| August | 23.2°C | 29.3°C | WARM |
| September | 18.4°C | 24.2°C | WARM |
| October | 12.7°C | 18°C | MILD |
| November | 7.4°C | 12.4°C | COOL |
| December | 2.7°C | 7.4°C | COLD |
December is wettest at 97.6 mm / 3.84 inches, while July is driest at 20.3 mm / 0.8 inches.
| Month | Baseline | Rainfall | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -10.7 mm | 89 mm | MODERATE |
| February | -10.7 mm | 71.8 mm | MODERATE |
| March | -10.7 mm | 74.4 mm | MODERATE |
| April | -10.7 mm | 49.1 mm | LIGHT |
| May | -10.7 mm | 36.5 mm | LIGHT |
| June | -10.7 mm | 35.7 mm | LIGHT |
| July | -10.7 mm | 20.3 mm | LIGHT |
| August | -10.7 mm | 20.9 mm | LIGHT |
| September | -10.7 mm | 47.8 mm | LIGHT |
| October | -10.7 mm | 71.8 mm | MODERATE |
| November | -10.7 mm | 76.4 mm | MODERATE |
| December | -10.7 mm | 97.6 mm | MODERATE |
June has the strongest peak UV (around index 7.8).
| Month | Baseline | UV Index | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 2.8 | LOW-MOD |
| February | 0 | 4.4 | MODERATE |
| March | 0 | 5.9 | MODERATE |
| April | 0 | 6.8 | HIGH |
| May | 0 | 7.5 | HIGH |
| June | 0 | 7.8 | HIGH |
| July | 0 | 7.8 | HIGH |
| August | 0 | 7.4 | HIGH |
| September | 0 | 6.3 | HIGH |
| October | 0 | 5 | MODERATE |
| November | 0 | 3.6 | MODERATE |
| December | 0 | 2.4 | LOW-MOD |
Daylight ranges from 9.3h in December to 15.1h in June.
| Month | Baseline | Daylight Hours | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0h | 9.6h | SHORT |
| February | 0h | 10.6h | BALANCED |
| March | 0h | 12h | BALANCED |
| April | 0h | 13.3h | LONG |
| May | 0h | 14.5h | LONG |
| June | 0h | 15.1h | LONG |
| July | 0h | 14.8h | LONG |
| August | 0h | 13.8h | LONG |
| September | 0h | 12.5h | BALANCED |
| October | 0h | 11.1h | BALANCED |
| November | 0h | 9.9h | SHORT |
| December | 0h | 9.3h | SHORT |
January is most humid (78.5%), while July is driest (69.3%).
| Month | Baseline | Humidity (avg) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66.1% | 78.5% | MUGGY |
| February | 66.1% | 77.6% | MUGGY |
| March | 66.1% | 76.5% | MUGGY |
| April | 66.1% | 76.1% | MUGGY |
| May | 66.1% | 75.6% | MUGGY |
| June | 66.1% | 72.6% | HUMID |
| July | 66.1% | 69.3% | HUMID |
| August | 66.1% | 69.8% | HUMID |
| September | 66.1% | 70.2% | HUMID |
| October | 66.1% | 75.6% | MUGGY |
| November | 66.1% | 77.2% | MUGGY |
| December | 66.1% | 78% | MUGGY |
February has the strongest typical average wind (16.7 km/h / 10.4 mph), while May is calmest (12.9 km/h / 8.0 mph).
| Month | Baseline | Wind (avg) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.3 km/h | 16.6 km/h | CALM |
| February | 11.3 km/h | 16.7 km/h | CALM |
| March | 11.3 km/h | 15.6 km/h | CALM |
| April | 11.3 km/h | 13.5 km/h | CALM |
| May | 11.3 km/h | 12.9 km/h | CALM |
| June | 11.3 km/h | 13 km/h | CALM |
| July | 11.3 km/h | 15.3 km/h | CALM |
| August | 11.3 km/h | 16.5 km/h | CALM |
| September | 11.3 km/h | 15.1 km/h | CALM |
| October | 11.3 km/h | 15.2 km/h | CALM |
| November | 11.3 km/h | 15.1 km/h | CALM |
| December | 11.3 km/h | 16.7 km/h | CALM |
January is windiest by P95 gust signal (60.1 km/h / 37.3 mph).
| Month | Baseline | Wind (gusts) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 km/h | 60.1 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| February | 0 km/h | 58.3 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| March | 0 km/h | 54.7 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| April | 0 km/h | 51.1 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| May | 0 km/h | 48.2 km/h | WINDY |
| June | 0 km/h | 46.8 km/h | WINDY |
| July | 0 km/h | 50.8 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| August | 0 km/h | 53.3 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| September | 0 km/h | 52.6 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| October | 0 km/h | 53.3 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| November | 0 km/h | 56.9 km/h | VERY WINDY |
| December | 0 km/h | 60.1 km/h | VERY WINDY |
December has the most rain days (~15.2), while July has the fewest (~5.3). Rain days count the average number of days in a month with measurable rain (about 0.1 mm or more).
| Month | Baseline | Rain Days | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.3 days | 14.7 days | FREQUENT |
| February | 1.3 days | 13 days | FREQUENT |
| March | 1.3 days | 13.5 days | FREQUENT |
| April | 1.3 days | 10.3 days | FREQUENT |
| May | 1.3 days | 8.4 days | SOME |
| June | 1.3 days | 7.6 days | SOME |
| July | 1.3 days | 5.3 days | SOME |
| August | 1.3 days | 5.8 days | SOME |
| September | 1.3 days | 8.5 days | SOME |
| October | 1.3 days | 10.6 days | FREQUENT |
| November | 1.3 days | 11.2 days | FREQUENT |
| December | 1.3 days | 15.2 days | VERY FREQUENT |
December has the most heavy rain/washout risk days (~6). Heavy rain days are the average number of days likely to bring stronger downpours that can disrupt outdoor plans.
| Month | Baseline | Heavy Rain Days | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 days | 5 days | FREQUENT |
| February | 0 days | 5 days | FREQUENT |
| March | 0 days | 5 days | FREQUENT |
| April | 0 days | 3 days | FREQUENT |
| May | 0 days | 2 days | OCCASIONAL |
| June | 0 days | 2 days | OCCASIONAL |
| July | 0 days | 1 days | OCCASIONAL |
| August | 0 days | 1 days | OCCASIONAL |
| September | 0 days | 3 days | FREQUENT |
| October | 0 days | 4 days | FREQUENT |
| November | 0 days | 5 days | FREQUENT |
| December | 0 days | 6 days | PERSISTENT |
July has the highest heat-risk day count (~1 days). Heat days are the average number of days that exceed our location-specific heat-risk threshold.
| Month | Baseline | Heat Days | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| February | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| March | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| April | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| May | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| June | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| July | 0 days | 1 days | LOW |
| August | 0 days | 1 days | LOW |
| September | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| October | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| November | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
| December | 0 days | 0 days | LOW |
Daylight varies from 9.3 hours in December (winter) to 15.1 hours in June (summer), which is a difference of 5.8 hours.
Northern Hemisphere seasons shape the weather patterns throughout the year. Here's what to expect in each season:
| Ranking Goal | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest rain risk | Jul 1 risk days | Aug 1 risk days | May 2 risk days | Jun 2 risk days |
| Lowest heatwave risk | Jan 0 risk days | Feb 0 risk days | Mar 0 risk days | Apr 0 risk days |
| Lowest cold risk | Jun 0 risk days | Jul 0 risk days | Aug 0 risk days | Sep 0 risk days |
| Lowest wind disruption risk | Jun 47 km/h | May 48 km/h | Jul 51 km/h | Apr 51 km/h |
| Most comfortable evenings | Sep 90 / 100 | Jun 88 / 100 | Jul 76 / 100 | Aug 73 / 100 |
| Best outdoor reliability | Jun 91 / 100 | May 89 / 100 | Apr 75 / 100 | Sep 73 / 100 |
Click any month for detailed weather information and packing advice.
Get personalized month rankings based on weather comfort, outdoor activity suitability, and seasonal conditions.
View Best Time to VisitThe best months to visit Istanbul depend on your preferences. For warm weather, August is typically the warmest month. For dry conditions, July, August, June tend to have the least rainfall. Consider your priorities, and whether you prefer warmer temperatures, drier weather, or longer daylight hours.
August is typically the warmest month in Istanbul, with average high temperatures reaching around 28°C (82°F). This is peak summer weather, ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
January is usually the coldest month, with average low temperatures dropping to around 4°C (39°F). Pack warm layers if visiting during this time, especially for evening activities.
December typically sees the most rainfall in Istanbul, averaging around 98mm (3.9 inches). It's wise to pack waterproof layers and have some indoor backup plans if you're visiting during this month.
July is typically the driest month, with average rainfall of just 20mm (0.8 inches). This makes it an excellent time for outdoor exploration and activities with minimal risk of rain disruption.
Temperatures in Istanbul range from average lows of 12°C (54°F) to highs of 18°C (64°F). This variation means you'll want to pack differently depending on when you visit, as layers are key for adapting to the seasonal changes.
Yes, sun protection is important in Istanbul. UV levels can reach 8 during peak months, which is considered high. Pack sunscreen (SPF 30+), sunglasses, and a hat, especially if you'll be outdoors for extended periods.