Istanbul Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Istanbul: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Istanbul month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 42° | 4,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 51° | 40° | 2,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 58° | 43° | 3,2 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 64° | 48° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 71° | 55° | 2,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 84° | 66° | 0,3 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 88° | 71° | 0,9 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 86° | 71° | 0,5 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 79° | 65° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 69° | 56° | 2,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 62° | 51° | 5,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 54° | 45° | 4,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Mediterranean. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Istanbul
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Istanbul compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Istanbul.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 278 mi | 56°F | 37°F cooler | 25 in |
| Bulgaria | 314 mi | 54°F | 38°F cooler | 22 in |
| Mykonos | 314 mi | 67°F | +38°F warmer | 16 in |
| Rhodes | 319 mi | 70°F | +41°F warmer | 18 in |
| Athens International Airport | 342 mi | 65°F | +36°F warmer | 19 in |
Climate by attraction in Istanbul
2 attractions mapped in this atlas
Climate by airport in Istanbul
1 airports mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit Istanbul
Go in June, July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Istanbul
Today is slightly warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 73°F is 3.2°F above the 69°F typical for this month.
A 90% chance means rain is expected over most of the area. Plan indoor alternatives.
Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 65°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Normal seasonal clothing - nothing unusual is needed this week
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Istanbul is a city in Turkey. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, bazaars and the Bosphorus. It has a population of about 15.6 million.
Right now it is 68°F (20°C) in Istanbul with overcast. It feels like 66°F. Today runs from 60°F to 73°F. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Sightseeing conditions score 7.1/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Istanbul is June, July and August. The climate is Mediterranean. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 88°F, while February is the coldest with lows near 40°F.
The closest major airport is Istanbul Airport (IST), about 22 mi away. Nearby highlights include Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 73°F is 3.2°F above the 69°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 1 PM to 4 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Istanbul today at 8.9/10. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Istanbul
Weather map for Istanbul
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Istanbul
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Istanbul?
Istanbul is a city in Turkey. Its coordinates are 41.0082, 28.9784. It lies in Europe.
What is the weather like in Istanbul right now?
It is currently 68°F (20°C) with overcast. Humidity is 69% and wind is 11 mph.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
June, July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Istanbul, which has a Mediterranean climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Istanbul in?
Istanbul observes Europe/Istanbul (UTC+03:00). The local time is 8:04 PM.
How many people live in Istanbul?
Istanbul has a population of approximately 15.6 million.
What is the nearest airport to Istanbul?
The closest airports are Istanbul Airport (IST), 22 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Istanbul?
Popular options include Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
What places are in Istanbul?
Istanbul covers 3 places in this atlas, including Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Istanbul Airport.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-world) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 23, 2026 at 8:04 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
