Istanbul in December

Cold and wet; some sights close early.

All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatWarm; long days; crowds building.
• SeptemberGreatWarm; best light.
• OctoberGreatBest month for walking; 29 Oct holiday.
• MarchGoodCool; tulip season starts.

• IstanbulHighs around 11 °C (52 °F), lows around 6 °C (43 °F), rain on about 15 daysHighs around 52 °F (11 °C), lows around 43 °F (6 °C), rain on about 15 days
• Istanbul and Marmara, Türkiye (Turkey) · Istanbul, Bursa, Edirnerainy

  Wet, windy winters with occasional snow; humid 30 °C (86 °F) summers; May and September–October are the easy windows.Wet, windy winters with occasional snow; humid 86 °F (30 °C) summers; May and September–October are the easy windows.

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 · 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.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Istanbul, side by side.

• A warm layer for the evenings
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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