Istanbul Province · Turkey
Istanbul in May
In May, Istanbul averages a daytime high of 21 °C and a night-time low of 12 °C, with about 39 mm of rain over the month. By the measure used here it is one of the most comfortable months to visit; they run May to September.
- Average high
- 21 °C
- Average low
- 12 °C
- Rain in the month
- 39 mm
- Daylight on 15 May
- 14 h 30 min
- Comfortable month
- Yes
- Places to stay
- 823
When to go
How May compares with the rest of the year in Istanbul
May is the 5th warmest month in Istanbul by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 9 °C to 29 °C and the lows from 3 °C to 20 °C. By day, May is 5 °C warmer than April, and June is 5 °C warmer than May.
May brings 39 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 64 mm (763 mm a year); it is the 9th wettest month.
On 15 May the sun is up for about 14 h 30 min, against 9 h 10 min at the shortest and 15 h 10 min at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9 °C | 3 °C | 96 mm | |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C | 74 mm | |
| March | 12 °C | 5 °C | 71 mm | |
| April | 16 °C | 8 °C | 50 mm | |
| May | 21 °C | 12 °C | 39 mm | Yes |
| June | 26 °C | 17 °C | 37 mm | Yes |
| July | 29 °C | 20 °C | 25 mm | Yes |
| August | 29 °C | 20 °C | 33 mm | Yes |
| September | 25 °C | 16 °C | 53 mm | Yes |
| October | 20 °C | 13 °C | 93 mm | |
| November | 15 °C | 8 °C | 90 mm | |
| December | 11 °C | 5 °C | 105 mm |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is May a good time to visit Istanbul?
Yes, by the measure used here: in May the average high of 21 °C is between 18 °C and 29 °C and the 39 mm of rain is under 80 mm. The comfortable months in Istanbul are May to September.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in Turkey in May
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
When to go
Destinations near Istanbul that are comfortable in May
Within 300 km, nearest first, by the same measure.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Istanbul
This guide lists 823 places to stay in Istanbul: 3 chain properties with their details and own websites, and 820 hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 148; 1–3 km, 455; 3–10 km, 181; 10 km or more, 39.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from python-holidays (MIT); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.