Weather in Istanbul in January
January in Istanbul is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In Turkey, this is how Istanbul actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is the cold side of the year in Istanbul. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.
- Average temp
- 7°C
4–9°C
- Rainfall
- 74 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 2.5 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in Istanbul in January, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
January is the wet side of the year in Istanbul. 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 January.
Travel guides for Istanbul
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Istanbul
TemperatureRainfall
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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.
