When to go · Istanbul

Istanbul in January

Mixed month. Cold and damp; fewer visitors.

Key facts

Verdict: Mixed
Temperature: 9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C) / 4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C); average high / low
Rain days: 15
Crowds: Low; Türkiye (Turkey) overall
Prices: Low; Türkiye (Turkey) overall

Plan around it

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Istanbul

Cold and damp; fewer visitors.

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

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Long-term averages

IstanbulHighs around 9 °C (48 °F), lows around 4 °C (39 °F), rain on about 15 daysHighs around 48 °F (9 °C), lows around 39 °F (4 °C), rain on about 15 days
Istanbul and Marmara, Türkiye (Turkey) · Istanbul, Bursa, Edirnecool
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.

Winter season

Few crowds and cheaper beds.

Watch: Cold, wet, short days; occasional snow.

Türkiye (Turkey) overall: Cold and wet in Istanbul, snow in Cappadocia; low prices, short days, coast mostly shut.

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

First month

Second month

January: Cold and damp; fewer visitors.

May: Warm; long days; crowds building.

Istanbul: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.