When to go · Istanbul
Istanbul in October
Great month. Best month for walking; 29 Oct holiday.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C) / 14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 9
- Crowds
- Medium
- Türkiye (Turkey) overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Türkiye (Turkey) overall
Verdict
Best month for walking; 29 Oct holiday.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than October?
No other month rates higher than October for Istanbul in this guide.
Weather in October
- IstanbulHighs around 20 °C (68 °F), lows around 14 °C (57 °F), rain on about 9 daysHighs around 68 °F (20 °C), lows around 57 °F (14 °C), rain on about 9 days
- Istanbul and Marmara, Türkiye (Turkey) · Istanbul, Bursa, Edirnebest weather
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.
Autumn season
The best walking weather and clearer light.
Watch: Rain returns in November; 29 October holiday.
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.
Republic Day
29 October · Citywide
Public holiday; flags and parades.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Türkiye (Turkey) overall
- Medium
- Prices · Türkiye (Turkey) overall
- Medium
Türkiye (Turkey) overall: Clear Cappadocia mornings, sea still warm in the south; Republic Day (29 Oct) crowds.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Istanbul, side by side.
Verdict
Oct: Great
May: Great
Daytime high
Oct: 20 °C (68 °F)68 °F (20 °C)
May: 22 °C (72 °F)72 °F (22 °C)
Night low
Oct: 14 °C (57 °F)57 °F (14 °C)
May: 13 °C (55 °F)55 °F (13 °C)
Rain days
Oct: 9
May: 7 (better)
Crowds
Oct: Medium
May: High
Prices
Oct: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Oct: 1
May: 1
October: Best month for walking; 29 Oct holiday.
May: Warm; long days; crowds building.
Istanbul: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.