When to go · Istanbul
Istanbul in December
Mixed month. Cold and wet; some sights close early.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 11°C52°F / 6°C43°F
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 15
- Crowds
- Low
- Türkiye (Turkey) overall
- Prices
- Low
- Türkiye (Turkey) overall
Verdict
MixedVoykit month rating for Istanbul
Cold and wet; some sights close early.
Weather in December
- IstanbulHighs around 11 °C, lows around 6 °C, rain on about 15 daysHighs around 52 °F, lows around 43 °F, rain on about 15 days
- Istanbul and Marmara, Türkiye (Turkey) · Istanbul, Bursa, Edirnerainy
Wet, windy winters with occasional snow; humid 30 °C summers; May and September–October are the easy windows.Wet, windy winters with occasional snow; humid 86 °F summers; May and September–October are the easy windows.
Winter season
Few crowds and cheaper beds.
Watch: Cold, wet, short days; occasional snow.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
New Year's Eve
Dec
Big crowds in Taksim; book ahead.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Türkiye (Turkey) overall
- Low
- Prices · Türkiye (Turkey) overall
- Low
Türkiye (Turkey) overall: Cold, wet Istanbul with low hotel rates; snowy Cappadocia; New Year spikes prices.
What to pack
- A warm layer for the evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast