Turkey
Istanbul in May: weather & travel advice
This month's data profile
Strong month under the current formula
Istanbul in May is climatically well suited to city breaks, active holidays and hiking and family holidays. The average daily high is around 21 °C. With about 7 rainy days it is moderate.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
86/100 · #3
Warmth
#5
Dryness
#4
Sun
#3
Published best categories: Overall, City break, Active
Istanbul · MayPhoto: Bosphorus_Istanbul_2007.jpg: Gryffindor derivative work: Stegop · Public domainClimate facts
- Average high
- 21 °C
- Average low
- 14 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 7 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 8 h/day
- Humidity
- 74 %
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 16 | 9 | 8 | 47 | 5.9 | 77 | 3.6 | 67 |
| May (selected) | 21 | 14 | 7 | 37 | 7.5 | 74 | 3.4 | 86 |
| June | 26 | 18 | 7 | 34 | 8.5 | 70 | 3.5 | 88 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (86/100)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -19 | -5.1 °C | -4.8 °C | +1.5 | +9.7 mm | -1.6 h | +2.4 % | +0.2 m/s |
| June | +2 | +4.9 °C | +4.9 °C | ±0 | -3.3 mm | +1 h | -4.6 % | +0.1 m/s |
All twelve months in context
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Istanbul in May?
The average daily high is around 21 °C, with an average daily low of about 14 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in May?
The curated estimate is about 7 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 37 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. May is one of them.