Should you go to Istanbul in winter? What is the weather like in each of the winter months and what is the best way to dress? What can you do on vacation and what to see?
All travelers agree that the weather in Istanbul is very changeable in winter, and we confirm this: do not believe long-term forecasts, the maximum that can be hoped for is a forecast for 1 or 2 days. There is no winter in our usual sense, there is little snow and it does not last long. Mostly cold wind blows, damp, precipitation is frequent. The average temperature in Istanbul in winter ranges from + 3 ° C to + 9 ° C, there are days when it can drop below 0 ° C.
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What is the weather in Istanbul in winter
December
In December, Istanbul weather is more similar to that in central Russia in the middle and end of October: it is drizzling with rain and a sharp wind blowing. During the day, the temperature is about +8 ... + 10 ° С, but a cold wind blows from the sea. Rainy days prevail, the sun rarely shines. The weather can change several times during the day. Despite this weather, Istanbul is a popular destination for New Year's Eve.
January
The weather in Istanbul in winter is inclement, and January is no exception: there are 18 rainy days, it can snow. The average daytime temperature is +6 ... + 8 ° С, high humidity and cold winds do not allow tourists to walk outside for a long time.
If you are planning to visit not only Istanbul in winter, we recommend reading our article on the weather in Turkey in winter in general - there we are talking about other cities of the country.
February
As we already wrote above, the weather in Istanbul in winter is really changeable and reminded us very much of St. Petersburg: the sun was just shining, and after five minutes clouds came over and sleet began to fall. In different parts of the city, the weather can be dramatically different.
We traveled to Istanbul in February, and before the trip we were glad that the city, according to the forecast, promises sunshine and a comfortable + 15 ° С, no precipitation. No matter how it is: on the second day the weather changed a lot, and almost all the time we were very cold. The temperature during the day was +1 ... + 5 ° С, at night it was about 0 ° С. Often (sometimes for whole days) an unpleasant rain drizzled, sleet and hail fell, and a piercing sea wind blew. I had to move around the city in dashes. For comparison, in Moscow, when we flew back, it was -2 ° C and snow, but it felt much warmer than in Istanbul, since there was no icy wind.
At the same time, according to tourists, some were very lucky with the weather in Istanbul in February. They write that the sun was shining, it was so warm that you could sunbathe, everything was in bloom. Well, one can envy the lucky ones. We found the city gloomy, cold and dull, only three days out of ten were sunny (but they could not be called warm anyway because of the wind).
What to see and do in Istanbul in winter
pros rest in Istanbul in winter:
- The ability to walk around the city without crowds of tourists and see the sights without queues.
- The opportunity to shop while the sales are in progress.
- Prices for air tickets and hotel accommodation are downright pleasing!
Minuses rest in Istanbul in winter:
- Many museums are under reconstruction in winter; it is generally better not to look into the parks. We walked through the Yoldyz and Gulhane parks, their view at this time is deplorable, especially at the first.
- Museums close early at 17:00.
- And in general, if you are not very lucky with the weather in Istanbul in winter, walking around the city is uncomfortable. But you can arrange a full-fledged gastronomic tour, basking in attractive pastry shops and coffee shops!
What to see in Istanbul in winter, where to go? The same as at any other time of the year: museums and architectural monuments, temples and mosques, bazaars and facades of old houses. You can take boat trips along the Bosphorus, if the weather permits, and also visit the hammam. Read our in-depth guide "What to see in Istanbul" - with tips, detailed museum visits and up-to-date ticket prices.
Our Tips
How to dress in winter. Even if, according to the forecast, excellent weather is promised in Istanbul, it is better to play it safe and have an umbrella, warm jacket, windproof jacket, scarf, hat, gloves and warm waterproof shoes. Turks in winter dress like autumn: a coat or jacket, a scarf and a hat, boots.
By the way, about shoes: High heels and stilettos will be completely inappropriate here, as the streets are cobbled. If you plan to walk a lot in the city, wear comfortable shoes that will not corns.
Do not expect that it will be warm in temples, palaces and museums, there you can freeze even stronger. In some, a certain temperature is maintained, while in others, heating is simply not provided, for example, in the Museum of Dervishes.
Hotel pick up with heating or air conditioning. Check out our selection of good budget heated central Istanbul hotels. Look for the best hotels with discounts on the Roomguru.ru service - the site compares prices of various booking systems and finds the best one.
In case of bad weather, it is also better to have a first aid kit with cold medicines.
