Climate Overview

Istanbul is located on the Bosporus, at the border between the Mediterranean and Black Sea climates. The climate is temperate-Mediterranean with four distinct seasons: hot, humid summers, mild and wet autumns, cold (sometimes snowy) winters, and fresh, blooming springs.

Month	Temperature	Rainy Days	Sunshine Hours	Sea Temperature
Jan–Feb	3–9°C	12–14	3–4h	8–9°C
Mar–Apr	7–16°C	9–11	5–7h	9–12°C
May–Jun	15–26°C	6–8	8–10h	16–22°C
Jul–Aug	22–30°C	3–5	10–11h	23–25°C
Sep–Oct	17–24°C	5–8	7–8h	21–17°C
Nov–Dec	8–14°C	10–13	3–5h	14–10°C

Important: Summer in Istanbul can be humid — 30°C with high humidity feels hotter than it is. In winter, it can snow — the Bosporus in the snow is spectacular, but the cold surprises many visitors. The Lodos (south wind) brings humid, warm air, while the Poyraz (northeast wind) brings cold, clear days.