ISTANBUL: BEST TIME TO VISIT!

When choosing a new destination to travel to, we always try to find the best time to visit that place, taking into account the best weather, the low tourist season and the most affordable prices, especially on accommodation and plane ticket. In this article, we will tell you when is the best time to visit Istanbul so that you can make the most of your vacation.

What’s the weather like in Istanbul?

In Istanbul we have the 4 seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

In the winter months from December to February we can expect to have mostly cloudy days, also the chances of rain are higher, and the temperature can be between -2C (28F) and 10 degrees Celsius (50F). Snowy days in Istanbul are not common today, but sometimes snow surprises us especially in January and early February, these 2 months are usually the coldest in the city.

As for summer (June-August) sometimes we can have those days that we can't even leave home, humidity makes it very difficult to go out especially during the day. The temperature usually reaches a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius (89F), but with humidity, we sometimes feel it as 40C (104F). In our experience, the hottest month in Istanbul is July and early August. Also keep in mind that Istanbul is a city where you will have to walk a lot, therefore, you will be more exposed to fatigue. If you decide to come in summer, be sure to bring light clothes, sunscreen, hat/cap and drink plenty of water.

During the autumn season, which runs from September to November, and spring from March to May, the weather is fantastic and, in my opinion, either of these two seasons is ideal for a trip to Istanbul. We can have a temperature between 8 degrees Celsius (46F) and a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius (68F).

When is high and low season in Istanbul?

Remember that Istanbul is one of the most visited cities in the world, but there are certain months in which the city fills even more than it normally is.

During the summer months, many more tourists arrive, in fact, it is the high season in the country, also because local tourism begins after the second week of June, when the school year ends.

Museums, restaurants, transport and most attractions are much busier, sometimes people need to wait in line for more than 30 minutes to visit certain places such as the Galata Tower or the Dolmabahçe Palace.

In my opinion, the city can be better enjoyed without the crowd during October-November or March-April.

When can I find better prices in Istanbul?

When it comes to finding cheaper prices on accommodation and airline tickets, it is definitely during the low season, whether spring, autumn and especially winter. In these seasons we can find great offers that you will surely want to take advantage of.

Now that we know what the weather is like in the city throughout the year, when it is high season and when we can find the best deals in Istanbul, we can conclude that the BEST TIME to visit this beautiful city is from March to May or October to November, during these months you can enjoy good weather, tourist attractions and other beautiful places without lines and almost empty, especially during the weekdays. You will also have a greater chance of finding better deals on hotels and flights.

However, keep in mind that in March and April there may still be rainy days before entering the summer, just be sure to pack appropriate clothes for rainy days, especially water resistant shoes and jackets.

Just for advice, we suggest you check the national holidays in Turkey, because usually during that time also places are more frequented by locals, accommodation prices increase and even flights to other cities in Turkey are more expensive, especially in the last days of the holy month of Ramadan and the sacrifice feast.

So you already know when is the best time to visit Istanbul.

This is a city that is beautiful all year round and you will surely enjoy it, but in certain months you will have some extras that will make your trip even better.