Turkey
Istanbul in January: weather & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Istanbul in January is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 8 °C. With about 12 rainy days it is wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
35/100 · #12
Warmth
#12
Dryness
#11
Sun
#11
Published best categories: none
Istanbul · JanuaryPhoto: Bosphorus_Istanbul_2007.jpg: Gryffindor derivative work: Stegop · Public domainClimate facts
- Average high
- 8 °C
- Average low
- 4 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 12 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 2 h/day
- Humidity
- 84 %
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 10 | 6 | 13 | 83 | 1.6 | 83 | 4.3 | 36 |
| January (selected) | 8 | 4 | 12 | 71 | 1.9 | 84 | 4.3 | 35 |
| February | 9 | 4 | 11 | 66 | 2.7 | 82 | 4.3 | 39 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (35/100)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | +1 | +2 °C | +2.2 °C | +0.6 | +11.7 mm | -0.3 h | -0.7 % | +0.1 m/s |
| February | +4 | +0.6 °C | ±0 °C | -0.9 | -5.4 mm | +0.8 h | -1.8 % | +0.1 m/s |
All twelve months in context

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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Istanbul in January?
The average daily high is around 8 °C, with an average daily low of about 4 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in January?
The curated estimate is about 12 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 71 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. January is not among them.