2026 Climate Averages

Weather in Istanbul in December

Conditions are pleasant for sightseeing, though you might encounter occasional showers.

👍

Climate Overview

December is a good time to visit Istanbul. Istanbul has a Moderate climate with average yearly highs of 13°C, lows of 8°C, and approximately 7 rainy days per month.

Avg High

13°C

Avg Low

8°C

Rainy days

7days

Daylight

9.2h

Is December a good time to visit Istanbul?

Conditions are pleasant for sightseeing, though you might encounter occasional showers.

Daylight

Sunrise

8:23 AM

Sunset

5:37 PM

Weather by Month
Monthly weather data
Month High Low Rainy days Condition
January 9°C 4°C 11 Good
February 11°C 5°C 13 Wet
March 13°C 7°C 8 Good
April 15°C 7°C 7 Excellent (best)
May 21°C 13°C 9 Excellent (best)
June 25°C 18°C 13 Wet
July 28°C 21°C 2 Good
August 29°C 21°C 1 Good
September 27°C 20°C 5 Excellent (best)
October 23°C 16°C 9 Excellent (best)
November 15°C 10°C 6 Good
December 13°C 8°C 7 Good

Weather data: Open-Meteo Archive (2020-2025) • Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0) • Historical avg. 2020–2025

What to Pack for December

Layers, a light jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and an umbrella.

Climate: Moderate
Travel Context Perfect weather for walking tours and all-day sightseeing.

Planning a trip to Istanbul?

Common Questions

Is December a good time to visit Istanbul? +

December is typically Good for visiting Istanbul, with average highs of 13°C and around 7 rainy days.

What should I pack for Istanbul in December? +

With highs of 13°C and lows of 8°C in {month}, we recommend: Layers, a light jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and an umbrella.

Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in December? +

Istanbul typically sees around 7 rainy days in December.

How many hours of daylight are there in Istanbul in December? +

In December, Istanbul gets approximately 9.2 hours of daylight per day.

Is December peak season in Istanbul? +

No, December is not peak season in Istanbul. Expect better value on accommodation and fewer tourists.

What is the best month to visit Istanbul? +

The best months to visit Istanbul are April, May, September, October, when the weather is optimal for sightseeing.

Weather Data: Based on 2020–2025 historical climate data from Open-Meteo

Solar calculations: SunCalc (timezone: Europe/Istanbul)

Last Updated: January 2026

More Istanbul Guides

Best Time to Visit

Coming soon

Things to Do

Coming soon

Itineraries

Coming soon

Overview

Complete travel guide for Istanbul: top things to do, itineraries, and typical costs.

Read Full Guide

December

13° /
View Full Destination Guide