Istanbul weather in January
Istanbul in January averages 7°C (44°F), 74 mm of rain and 2.5 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Istanbul, January is the fourth wettest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- 7°C (44°F)
4–9°C · 39–49°F
- Rainfall
- 74 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 2.5 h
hours per day
What is Istanbul like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Istanbul in January?
A light rain jacket
About 74 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 4°C (39°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Istanbul is 1.7°C cooler than December and 26 mm drier than it, which averages 8°C (47°F).
January in Istanbul is about the same temperature as February and about as wet as it, which averages 7°C (44°F).
Daylight in Istanbul in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 9 hours 33 minutes in Istanbul, rising about 08:27 and setting about 17:59 local time.
January ends 46 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 5 hours 34 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Istanbul
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Istanbul
What to read before you book.
Istanbul weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C / 44°F | 74 mm |
| February | 7°C / 44°F | 74 mm |
| March | 9°C / 47°F | 66 mm |
| April | 13°C / 55°F | 47 mm |
| May | 18°C / 64°F | 29 mm |
| June | 22°C / 72°F | 29 mm |
| July | 25°C / 77°F | 23 mm |
| August | 25°C / 78°F | 29 mm |
| September | 21°C / 70°F | 43 mm |
| October | 17°C / 62°F | 85 mm |
| November | 12°C / 54°F | 79 mm |
| December | 8°C / 47°F | 101 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Istanbul in January
January climate averages for Istanbul, 1991–2020.
Istanbul averages 7°C (44°F) in January, ranging from about 4°C (39°F) at night to 9°C (49°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 74 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. January averages 7°C (44°F) and February 7°C (44°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
January is 1.7°C cooler than December, and 26 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 2.5 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 33 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 15 hours 7 minutes in June and 9 hours 15 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:27 and sunset about 17:59 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 46 minutes longer than it starts.
