Climate in Istanbul — Annual Weather Overview
Istanbul has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The hottest month is August (average high 30.0°C) and the coolest is January (10.0°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 20.0°C swing between August highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 748mm. November is the wettest month at 103.4mm, while August averages just 16.1mm. Average daily sunshine is 9.3 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 15.8°C, 216mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 28.2°C, 95mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 21.1°C, 192mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 11.0°C, 245mm rain.
Istanbul — Monthly Temperatures
Istanbul — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Istanbul stays reasonable all year.
Istanbul weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.0°C | 4.8°C | 94.4mm | 5.7h | 12 | 10/10 |
| February | 10.2°C | 4.3°C | 82.4mm | 7.1h | 10 | 10/10 |
| March | 11.0°C | 4.9°C | 82.1mm | 7.1h | 13 | 10/10 |
| April | 15.5°C | 8.2°C | 78.5mm | 9.3h | 12 | 10/10 |
| May | 21.0°C | 12.9°C | 55.5mm | 11.6h | 8 | 10/10 |
| June | 25.1°C | 17.8°C | 58.4mm | 12.7h | 9 | 10/10 |
| July | 29.4°C | 21.1°C | 20.1mm | 13.6h | 2 | 10/10 |
| August | 30.0°C | 22.1°C | 16.1mm | 12.6h | 3 | 10/10 |
| September | 25.9°C | 18.7°C | 40.8mm | 11.2h | 5 | 10/10 |
| October | 20.9°C | 14.7°C | 47.5mm | 8.5h | 6 | 10/10 |
| November | 16.6°C | 10.8°C | 103.4mm | 7.0h | 9 | 9/10 |
| December | 12.9°C | 7.9°C | 68.6mm | 5.6h | 10 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Istanbul. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Istanbul have?
Istanbul has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. Average highs range from 10.0°C in January to 30.0°C in August.
What is the hottest month in Istanbul?
August is the hottest month in Istanbul, with average highs of 30.0°C and lows of 22.1°C.
What is the coldest month in Istanbul?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 10.0°C and lows of 4.3°C.
What is the wettest month in Istanbul?
November is the wettest month, averaging 103.4mm of rainfall over around 9 rainy days.
How much rain does Istanbul get per year?
Istanbul receives around 748mm of rain per year. The driest month is August (16.1mm).
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
The best time to visit Istanbul is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Istanbul
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.