Monthly climate guide
Istanbul weather in May
May in Istanbul is typically warm, with average daytime highs around 21°C (71°F) and night-time lows near 14°C (58°F). The month usually brings about 50 mm of rain (some rain) and is often cloudy. Daytime highs are 5°C warmer than April and 5°C cooler than June.
What stands out in May
- Comfortable temperatures make it easy to walk between Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia.
- Just 180 km apart, but Istanbul runs about 2°C cooler than Balıkesir this month.
- Seasonally, May counts as late spring in Istanbul.
- It warms up quickly from here: by June highs are about 5°C higher.
Avg high
21°C
71°F
Avg low
14°C
58°F
Rainfall
50 mm
some rain
Humidity
75%
relative
Sky
58%
cloud · often cloudy
Istanbul weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 47°F | 4°C / 39°F | 81 mm | 83% | 74% |
| February | 10°C / 50°F | 4°C / 40°F | 60 mm | 82% | 74% |
| March | 12°C / 54°F | 6°C / 43°F | 49 mm | 79% | 64% |
| April | 17°C / 62°F | 9°C / 48°F | 47 mm | 75% | 56% |
| May | 21°C / 71°F | 14°C / 58°F | 50 mm | 75% | 58% |
| June | 26°C / 79°F | 19°C / 66°F | 42 mm | 71% | 42% |
| July | 29°C / 84°F | 22°C / 71°F | 23 mm | 66% | 24% |
| August | 29°C / 85°F | 22°C / 72°F | 20 mm | 67% | 27% |
| September | 26°C / 79°F | 20°C / 67°F | 54 mm | 67% | 40% |
| October | 20°C / 69°F | 15°C / 58°F | 62 mm | 76% | 56% |
| November | 15°C / 60°F | 10°C / 51°F | 53 mm | 79% | 67% |
| December | 11°C / 51°F | 6°C / 43°F | 81 mm | 82% | 69% |
What to pack for May
- T-shirts plus a light layer for the evening
- Comfortable trainers or sandals for long walks
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
Is May a good time to visit Istanbul?
Our Istanbul guide recommends: April to May or September to November, avoiding the summer heat and crowds.
A short Bosphorus ferry ride is one of the easiest ways to see the city from the water and cross between its European and Asian sides.
Best time to visit Istanbul →Other Turkey cities in May
Cite or embed this data
Writing about this destination? Copy a ready-made citation or embed a live widget — free, just keep the link.
Istanbul weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/turkey/istanbul/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/turkey/istanbul/may">Istanbul weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/turkey/istanbul" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Istanbul weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/turkey/istanbul/may">Istanbul weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Istanbul in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Istanbul?
Yes. May is one of the best months for Istanbul, with highs around 21°C and about 50 mm of rain.
How warm is Istanbul in May?
Average highs are about 21°C (71°F) and average lows about 14°C (58°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in May?
Istanbul typically gets around 50 mm of rain in May — some rain.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
April to May or September to November, avoiding the summer heat and crowds.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Istanbul (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.