Istanbul weather, month by month
What to expect through the year, and what to wear on a walking tour.
Istanbul has four real seasons and a wind that comes off the Black Sea without warning. Whatever the forecast says, bring a layer.
Spring, April to early June
The best walking weather of the year. Mild days, cool evenings, the judas trees in flower along the Bosphorus. Rain comes in short bursts.
Summer, late June to August
Hot and humid, and busy. We start earlier, stay in the shade and build in more stops. The ferries are the coolest place in the city.
Autumn, September to November
Warm into October, then softening. Our favourite season: the light is long, the crowds thin out and the food markets are at their best.
Winter, December to March
Grey, wet and quiet, occasionally snowy. The old city is beautiful in the rain and you will have the museums almost to yourself. Bring a waterproof and shoes with grip: the cobbles are slippery.
What to wear on a tour
Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else. To enter a working mosque, women cover their hair and everyone covers shoulders and knees. We carry spare scarves if you forget.