Istanbul, Turkey is a gorgeous city along the Black Sea. Its climate makes for wonderful travel year-round. There are certain benefits to some seasons and drawbacks to others. Here is some information regarding what you should plan for when deciding on a trip to Istanbul.

Spring

Spring in Istanbul is lovely. The temperatures range from 14 - 25 degrees Celsius (59 - 77 degrees Farenheit) with about one-quarter of the city’s rainfall happening between March and the beginning of June. Spring is one of the best times for an adults only visit to Istanbul. The museums and religious sites will be less crowded than the summer months due to families on school schedules. March is cool but during the month of April things start warming up in the beautiful city.

Summer

Summer time in Istanbul is great for making use of the wonderful beaches. Temperatures are great for swimming between June and September. It is warm and sunny with temperatures averaging around 30 C (86F). The summer months also only account for about fourteen percent of the city’s rainfall for the year. Summer is generally the busiest season for tourism in Istanbul. At the end of the season, the Muslim population of Istanbul observes the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking or succumbing to sexual thoughts or activity. This holy month will affect any kind of tourism due to the fact that many places that are normally open will be closed including shops and restaurants. The restaurants that are open may not be carrying a full menu do to the decreased demand and traffic before the early evening meal will take you longer than any other time of year.

Fall

Fall is another great time for that “adults only” trip to Istanbul. The tourism season is mostly over and the children are back in school making it the perfect time to visit museums. The temperature range for the fall in Istanbul is not all too different than the spring with average highs being around 19 C (66 F) and average lows being around 13 C (55 F). It starts cooling down in October and you may need a light jacket before the end of the month.

Winter

Winters in Istanbul are cool and wet. January is the coldest month of the year with the average high only being 8 C (46 F). While you may get lucky and get to enjoy some snow while you are traveling during the winter season do not count on it. Istanbul only averages seven days of snow a year and very rarely are any of those days extreme. Istanbul receives the majority of its rain during the winter with thirty five percent of rain occurring during the season. Be sure to bring your heavy coat and umbrella.