Best time to visit Istanbul: month-by-month weather (2026)
The highest-scoring months in Istanbul are Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep.
Best months
Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
Peak season
Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
Off season
Feb, Mar and Dec
Monthly Temperatures (°C)
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Month-by-Month Guide
Temperature, rainfall and sunshine are measured. The visit score below is derived from those three (design spec §5.3)estimate.
Jan
Temp: 5.8°C – 11°C
Rain: 69mm
Sunshine: 5.9h/day
Visit score: 5/10
Feb
Temp: 4.3°C – 9.8°C
Rain: 52mm
Sunshine: 6.9h/day
Visit score: 3.8/10
Mar
Temp: 6.8°C – 14.1°C
Rain: 80mm
Sunshine: 7.6h/day
Visit score: 4.5/10
Apr
Temp: 9.6°C – 17°C
Rain: 69mm
Sunshine: 9.4h/day
Visit score: 5.6/10
May
Temp: 12.8°C – 20.3°C
Rain: 72mm
Sunshine: 11h/day
Visit score: 7.6/10
Jun
BestTemp: 19°C – 27.5°C
Rain: 19mm
Sunshine: 13.4h/day
Visit score: 10/10
Jul
BestTemp: 22°C – 31.2°C
Rain: 14mm
Sunshine: 13.7h/day
Visit score: 8.5/10
Aug
BestTemp: 22.3°C – 30°C
Rain: 6mm
Sunshine: 12.6h/day
Visit score: 8.5/10
Sep
BestTemp: 19.2°C – 26.3°C
Rain: 65mm
Sunshine: 10.6h/day
Visit score: 9.1/10
Oct
Temp: 14.4°C – 20.7°C
Rain: 63mm
Sunshine: 8.7h/day
Visit score: 7.6/10
Nov
Temp: 11.5°C – 16.9°C
Rain: 143mm
Sunshine: 6.9h/day
Visit score: 6.4/10
Dec
Temp: 7.8°C – 12.3°C
Rain: 114mm
Sunshine: 5.3h/day
Visit score: 4/10
When to go, and when not to
The best-rated months to visit Istanbul are June, July, August, and September. June brings high temperatures around 27.5C, low rainfall of 19mm, and strong sunshine of 13.4 hours a day, while July and August are warmer still, with July reaching a high of 31.2C and August seeing the least rain of the year at 6mm. September stays warm with a high of 26.3C and more sunshine hours than the cooler months.
These same peak months draw the largest crowds and the highest prices, and July's average high of 31.2C makes it the hottest time to visit. Rain increases again by November, the wettest month at 143mm, while the off-season months of February, March, and December are cooler and quieter, with December still seeing 114mm of rain and average highs near 12.3C, and February the driest of the three at 52mm.
Season Guide
Spring
March – May
Mild temperatures and blooming gardens. A great time for sightseeing with fewer crowds than summer.
Packing tips
- · Light layers
- · Rain jacket
- · Comfortable walking shoes
Summer
June – August
Warmest months with the longest days. Peak tourist season in most destinations.
Packing tips
- · Sunscreen
- · Hat
- · Light clothing
- · Refillable water bottle
Autumn
September – November
Cooling temperatures and autumn foliage. Shoulder season with good deals on accommodations.
Packing tips
- · Medium layers
- · Sweater
- · Waterproof jacket
Winter
December – February
Coldest months with shorter days. Holiday markets and winter activities in many cities.
Packing tips
- · Warm coat
- · Scarf and gloves
- · Thermal layers
- · Waterproof boots
Keep reading
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.