Istanbul weather in May
Istanbul in May averages 18°C (64°F), 29 mm of rain and 8.6 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Istanbul, May is the fifth warmest and the fourth sunniest.
- Average temp
- 18°C (64°F)
13–22°C · 56–72°F
- Rainfall
- 29 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
hours per day
What is Istanbul like in May?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Istanbul in May?
High-factor sun cream
With 8.6 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
A layer for the evening
Evenings cool off noticeably once the sun is down.
May compared with April and June
May in Istanbul is 4.7°C warmer than April and 18 mm drier than it, which averages 13°C (55°F).
May in Istanbul is 4.8°C cooler than June and about as wet as it, which averages 22°C (72°F).
Daylight in Istanbul in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 14 hours 29 minutes in Istanbul, rising about 05:45 and setting about 20:15 local time.
May ends 56 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 38 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Istanbul
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Istanbul
What to read before you book.
Istanbul weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May 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 May
May climate averages for Istanbul, 1991–2020.
Istanbul averages 18°C (64°F) in May, ranging from about 13°C (56°F) at night to 22°C (72°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. May sees only about 29 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. May averages 18°C (64°F) against 22°C (72°F) in June — 4.8°C cooler.
May is 4.7°C warmer than April, and 18 mm drier.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, May to October, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 8.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 14 hours 29 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 15 hours 7 minutes in June and 9 hours 15 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:45 and sunset about 20:15 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 56 minutes longer than it starts.
