Istanbul Climate: Sunshine Hours, Temperature & Best Time to Visit

Istanbul climate month by month: sunshine hours, temperature, rain and day length from weather station data 1991–2020. Best time to visit: June, July, August. Sunniest month: July.

  • 2,199 hours of sunshine a year – 1.3 times as much as London. Warmest is July at 30 °C by day.
  • Best time to visit: June, July, August

Sunshine and temperature in Istanbul month by month

  • January: 2.1 h Sun/day (64 h), Daytime high 12 °C, Night 0 °C, Rain 79 mm, Holiday score 16
  • February: 2.7 h Sun/day (76 h), Daytime high 12 °C, Night 1 °C, Rain 67 mm, Holiday score 19
  • March: 4.7 h Sun/day (145 h), Daytime high 15 °C, Night 2 °C, Rain 53 mm, Holiday score 29
  • April: 6.8 h Sun/day (205 h), Daytime high 18 °C, Night 6 °C, Rain 42 mm, Holiday score 52
  • May: 8.6 h Sun/day (266 h), Daytime high 23 °C, Night 12 °C, Rain 35 mm, Holiday score 79
  • June: 10.1 h Sun/day (304 h), Daytime high 29 °C, Night 16 °C, Rain 36 mm, Holiday score 93
  • July: 10.8 h Sun/day (335 h), Daytime high 30 °C, Night 20 °C, Rain 20 mm, Holiday score 96
  • August: 9.5 h Sun/day (295 h), Daytime high 30 °C, Night 21 °C, Rain 22 mm, Holiday score 91
  • September: 7.1 h Sun/day (213 h), Daytime high 28 °C, Night 16 °C, Rain 54 mm, Holiday score 79
  • October: 4.5 h Sun/day (141 h), Daytime high 23 °C, Night 11 °C, Rain 70 mm, Holiday score 59
  • November: 3.1 h Sun/day (93 h), Daytime high 18 °C, Night 7 °C, Rain 63 mm, Holiday score 33
  • December: 2.0 h Sun/day (62 h), Daytime high 14 °C, Night 2 °C, Rain 82 mm, Holiday score 15
  • Temperature: NASA POWER model value (grid, ±2–3 °C) · Sunshine: estimated from NASA satellite data (±15 %) · Rain: NASA POWER model value (grid, ±2–3 °C). Averages 1991–2020, source: Deutscher Wetterdienst (CLIMAT station data, CC BY 4.0) and NASA POWER; single years differ.

Questions

  • When is the best time to visit Istanbul? By sunshine, warmth and rain the best months are June, July, August. Sunniest is July with 335 hours of sunshine, warmest July at 30 °C.
  • How many hours of sunshine does Istanbul get a year? About 2,199 hours – 1.3 times as many as London (1,675 hours).
  • When does it rain most in Istanbul? In December, with 82 mm on average. The driest month is July.
  • How warm is Istanbul in January and July? In January the average daytime high is 12 °C, in July 30 °C.