Weather in Istanbul in December
December in Istanbul is cool outdoor weather: usable if you dress for it, not a beach brief.
In Turkey, this is how Istanbul actually wears December, not how a country centroid would. Compared with August and January, December sits in the middle of Istanbul's year.
- Average temp
- 8°C
6–11°C
- Rainfall
- 101 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 2.1 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Cool days in Istanbul: a jumper you can take off, a shell in the bag. Walking is fine. Lingering outside without a layer is optimism.
Mornings and evenings are colder than the postcard. Pack for both, especially if you leave the built-up centre.
Rain
December is the wet side of the year in Istanbul, the wettest stretch on these averages. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip Istanbul if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Istanbul
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for Istanbul
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Istanbul
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about Istanbul
Climate averages for Istanbul, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Istanbul is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
August is the hottest month, with an average around 25°C.
December is the wettest month, with about 101 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
