What is the hottest month in Istanbul?

August, with average daytime highs of about 30 °C and lows of about 23 °C. July is close at 29 °C.

What is the coldest month in Istanbul?

January, with average highs of about 9 °C and lows of about 5 °C.

When does it rain most in Istanbul?

January is the wettest month at about 84 mm, followed by December (76 mm) and November (74 mm). August is the driest at about 23 mm.

Which months are comfortable for sightseeing?

May (22 °C), June (26 °C), September (26 °C) and October (21 °C) have mild to warm highs without the peak heat of July and August.

How far are Istanbul's airports from the centre?

Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is about 31 km away in a straight line and Istanbul Airport (IST) about 35 km.

Best time to visit Istanbul: weather by month

Istanbul has warm, fairly dry summers and cool, wet winters. Average daytime highs run from about 9 °C in January to 30 °C in August, based on NASA POWER data for 2014–2023 at sea level. Annual rainfall is about 659 mm. Most of it falls in winter, from November to January (74 to 84 mm a month), while July (28 mm) and August (23 mm) are the driest months.

For long days on foot, from Sultanahmet across to Beyoğlu, late spring and early autumn are the comfortable windows. May averages 22 °C and June 26 °C; in September highs are back at 26 °C and in October at 21 °C, with 53 to 55 mm of rain. April (17 °C) is cooler but drier than any month from September to March.

July and August are the warmest months, with highs of 29 to 30 °C and nights of 22 to 23 °C. Winter, from December to February, brings highs of 9 to 12 °C, lows of 5 to 7 °C and the wettest weather of the year, so pack layers and a rain jacket. Istanbul has two airports: Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is about 31 km from the centre in a straight line, and Istanbul Airport (IST) about 35 km.

Updated: 2026-10-12

Weather month by month

Month	Average daytime high	Rain
January	9 °C	84 mm
February	11 °C	66 mm
March	12 °C	57 mm
April	17 °C	46 mm
May	22 °C	49 mm
June	26 °C	48 mm
July	29 °C	28 mm
August	30 °C	23 mm
September	26 °C	53 mm
October	21 °C	55 mm
November	16 °C	74 mm
December	12 °C	76 mm

Daily averages 2014–2023, NASA POWER, adjusted to the city centre's elevation. A guide, not a forecast.

Use this table on your site

Free to reuse on blogs and travel sites. Paste this HTML; keep the source link.

<table dir="ltr">
<caption>Istanbul weather by month</caption>
<tr><th>Month</th><th>Average daytime high</th><th>Rain</th></tr>
<tr><td>January</td><td>9 °C</td><td>84 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>February</td><td>11 °C</td><td>66 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>March</td><td>12 °C</td><td>57 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>April</td><td>17 °C</td><td>46 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>May</td><td>22 °C</td><td>49 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>June</td><td>26 °C</td><td>48 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>July</td><td>29 °C</td><td>28 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>August</td><td>30 °C</td><td>23 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>September</td><td>26 °C</td><td>53 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>October</td><td>21 °C</td><td>55 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>November</td><td>16 °C</td><td>74 mm</td></tr>
<tr><td>December</td><td>12 °C</td><td>76 mm</td></tr>
</table>
<p><a href="https://www.ofaqworld.com/en/destination/istanbul/best-time-to-visit">Istanbul weather by month</a> · OFAQ WORLD (NASA POWER 2014–2023)</p>

Questions travellers ask

What is the hottest month in Istanbul?: August, with average daytime highs of about 30 °C and lows of about 23 °C. July is close at 29 °C.
What is the coldest month in Istanbul?: January, with average highs of about 9 °C and lows of about 5 °C.
When does it rain most in Istanbul?: January is the wettest month at about 84 mm, followed by December (76 mm) and November (74 mm). August is the driest at about 23 mm.
Which months are comfortable for sightseeing?: May (22 °C), June (26 °C), September (26 °C) and October (21 °C) have mild to warm highs without the peak heat of July and August.
How far are Istanbul's airports from the centre?: Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is about 31 km away in a straight line and Istanbul Airport (IST) about 35 km.

Weather month by month

Questions travellers ask

Share this page