When to go · TR
When to visit Istanbul
May through September is the sweet spot for Istanbul. Days run 14-25°C with under 56mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge.
The year at a glance
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
9°
103mm
Feb
10°
75mm
Mar
12°
80mm
Apr
16°
52mm
May
21°
53mm
Jun
25°
56mm
Jul
29°
31mm
Aug
29°
21mm
Sep
25°
49mm
Oct
20°
62mm
Nov
16°
82mm
Dec
11°
87mm
Best to worst, by weather.
- Excellent
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Good
- March, November
- OK
- January, February, December
- Busy
- July, August
- Quiet
- April, May, September, October
Peak demand in Istanbul starts in March. Lock flights and the room you actually want by November, or you'll pay for what's left.
What's worth timing
Shoulder · Apr-May
Spring shoulder
Istanbul tulip festival in April, Cappadocia balloons fly more days than they cancel. Best weather window of the year.
Peak season · Jul-Aug
Summer peak
Antalya and Bodrum packed and 35C. Cappadocia balloons cancel less but trails and Goreme valleys are oven-hot by 11am.
Shoulder · Sep-Oct
Autumn window
Mediterranean coast still swimming-warm into October. Istanbul drops to a workable 22C; rates ease from mid-September.
Natural event · Dec-Mar
Cappadocia snow
Balloons over snow in January is the iconic shot but flights cancel half the days. Build a three-day buffer.
Month by month
January
9°C, 103mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
February
10°C, 75mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
March
12°C, 80mm rain. Pack a shell.
April
16°C and 52mm rain. Istanbul tulip festival in April, Cappadocia balloons fly more days than they cancel. Best weather window of the year.
May
21°C and 53mm rain. Istanbul tulip festival in April, Cappadocia balloons fly more days than they cancel. Best weather window of the year.
June
25°C days, 56mm rain. The window.
July
29°C and 31mm rain. Antalya and Bodrum packed and 35C. Cappadocia balloons cancel less but trails and Goreme valleys are oven-hot by 11am.
August
29°C and 21mm rain. Antalya and Bodrum packed and 35C. Cappadocia balloons cancel less but trails and Goreme valleys are oven-hot by 11am.
September
25°C and 49mm rain. Mediterranean coast still swimming-warm into October. Istanbul drops to a workable 22C; rates ease from mid-September.
October
20°C and 62mm rain. Mediterranean coast still swimming-warm into October. Istanbul drops to a workable 22C; rates ease from mid-September.
November
16°C, 82mm rain. Pack a shell.
December
11°C, 87mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
Pack for the window
Light layers, with one warm piece for evenings. High-SPF, even when it's cool.
Ready to put it on the calendar?