Turkey
Istanbul in December: weather & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Istanbul in December is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 10 °C. With about 13 rainy days it is wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
36/100 · #11
Warmth
#10
Dryness
#12
Sun
#12
Published best categories: none
Istanbul · DecemberPhoto: Bosphorus_Istanbul_2007.jpg: Gryffindor derivative work: Stegop · Public domainClimate facts
- Average high
- 10 °C
- Average low
- 6 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 13 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 2 h/day
- Humidity
- 83 %
For your trip planning
December: the wettest month, cooler than November
December is the wettest month of the year in Istanbul in our data, with 83 mm of precipitation against 67 mm in November and 71 mm in January. Average highs drop from 15 °C to 10 °C, and January is colder still at 8 °C. Plan indoor alternatives for the wetter days of your stay.
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 15 | 10 | 10 | 67 | 2.2 | 80 | 4.0 | 57 |
| December (selected) | 10 | 6 | 13 | 83 | 1.6 | 83 | 4.3 | 36 |
| January | 8 | 4 | 12 | 71 | 1.9 | 84 | 4.3 | 35 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: December (36/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | +21 | +4.7 °C | +4 °C | -3 | -15.7 mm | +0.6 h | -3.3 % | -0.3 m/s |
| January | -1 | -2 °C | -2.2 °C | -0.6 | -11.7 mm | +0.3 h | +0.7 % | -0.1 m/s |
All twelve months in context
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Istanbul in December?
The average daily high is around 10 °C, with an average daily low of about 6 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in December?
The curated estimate is about 13 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 83 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
By the climate score, May, June, July and September are the strongest months for Istanbul. December is not among them.