Best time to visit Istanbul

• “The best time to visit Istanbul is during spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October)” gowithguide.com
• “the best time to visit Istanbul, Turkey is during April-May and September-October” radicalstorage.com
• “The best months to visit Istanbul are March to May and between September to November” intrepidtravel.com

5 of the 8 travel guides we read name these months.

1. January48°F / 39°F · 17 rainy daysChecking fares…Usually quiet and cold with a chance of snow.Snow falls about 7 days a year, generally in January.
2. February49°F / 38°F · 15 rainy daysChecking fares…Snow is possible in January and February.Lower prices and fewer crowds in winter, with museums and hammams for warming up.
3. March54°F / 41°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Newroz festival marks the start of spring.Spring begins; some sources count March in the best window.
4. Best timeApril61°F / 47°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Tulip Festival fills parks with blooms through the month.Tulips in parks and an annual film festival.Istanbul Tulip Festival
5. Best timeMay70°F / 55°F · 7 rainy daysChecking fares…Warm and sunny but not yet sweltering; called ideal.Outdoor concerts and waterfront dining return in full swing.
6. June78°F / 63°F · 7 rainy daysChecking fares…Summer festival season starts with the Istanbul Music Festival and Opera and Ballet Festival.
7. July82°F / 69°F · 5 rainy daysChecking fares…Hot and humid, from mid-July to mid-August especially; the Istanbul Jazz Festival runs.Radical Storage advises avoiding July and August for the heat.Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim
8. August83°F / 70°F · 5 rainy daysChecking fares…Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race takes place.
9. Best timeSeptember76°F / 63°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…The cultural calendar fills up again, especially in Biennial years.Istanbul Biennial runs September to November.
10. Best timeOctober68°F / 57°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…Still generally decent weather with cooler evenings; the last stretch for outdoor activities.Republic Day on the 29th brings events across the city.
11. November59°F / 49°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Reasonable weather with significantly lower prices and fewer tourists, though rain is possible.The Istanbul Marathon is held in cooler weather.Istanbul Marathon
12. December51°F / 42°F · 18 rainy daysChecking fares…Surprisingly festive even though Christmas is not widely celebrated; hammams and grilled meat restaurants.Rainy, grey and cloudy most of the time.

Weather: Istanbul averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

• Istanbul Tulip FestivalEmirgan Park, IstanbulEvery April
• Bosphorus Cross-Continental SwimKanlica to Kurucesme, IstanbulEvery July to August
• Istanbul Marathon15 July Martyrs Bridge to Sultanahmet, IstanbulEvery November

What is the cheapest time to visit Istanbul?

Winter is the budget season: prices drop and crowds thin from December to February; November also has lower prices.

How many days are enough for Istanbul?

Conde Nast Traveller India says a shorter five-to-six-day trip should suffice if you only visit Istanbul.

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