Istanbul weather in March
Istanbul in March averages 9°C (47°F), 66 mm of rain and 5 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Istanbul, March is the fourth coldest, the sixth wettest and the fifth dullest.
- Average temp
- 9°C (47°F)
5–12°C · 41–54°F
- Rainfall
- 66 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 5 h
hours per day
What is Istanbul like in March?
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 March?
A light rain jacket
About 66 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 5°C (41°F).
March compared with February and April
March in Istanbul is 2.1°C warmer than February and about as wet as it, which averages 7°C (44°F).
March in Istanbul is 4.3°C cooler than April and 19 mm wetter than it, which averages 13°C (55°F).
Daylight in Istanbul in March
On 15 March the sun is up for 11 hours 56 minutes in Istanbul, rising about 07:15 and setting about 19:11 local time.
March ends 1 hour 22 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 3 hours 11 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Istanbul
Dates are a starting point for March.
Travel guides for Istanbul
What to read before you book.
Istanbul weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How March compares with the rest of the year
March 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 |
Similar weather in March
Other destinations whose March averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Istanbul in March
March climate averages for Istanbul, 1991–2020.
Istanbul averages 9°C (47°F) in March, ranging from about 5°C (41°F) at night to 12°C (54°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 66 mm falls across March, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. March averages 9°C (47°F) against 13°C (55°F) in April — 4.3°C cooler.
March is 2.1°C warmer than February, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; March sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 5 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what March is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 11 hours 56 minutes of daylight in mid-March, against 15 hours 7 minutes in June and 9 hours 15 minutes in December.
On 15 March, sunrise is about 07:15 and sunset about 19:11 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 22 minutes longer than it starts.
