Türkiye Istanbul Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Istanbul is Challenging
December is Challenging for Istanbul.
December is Istanbul's wettest month — 116mm rain across 13 days. Cold (10°C days, 5°C nights) + occasional snow. Yearly low tourism + cheaper hotels.
Christmas (Dec 25) is observed by Christian minorities — Greek Orthodox + Armenian + Catholic. Mass at Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church + Taksim Catholic Church. Hotel rates moderate rise Dec 23-Jan 2.
Travel score
Early winter + NYE countdown + rain + NYE hotel surge
December Weather at a Glance
Istanbul in December averages 52°F / 11°C high and 41°F / 5°C low. 3 hours sunshine, 110mm rain, 17 rainy days. Yearly rainfall peak + darkest. Sunrise 8 AM, sunset 4:30 PM — daylight 8h 30m. Occasional snow blanketing Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque is iconic but rare.
December Travel Advice
Heavy coat + gloves + scarf + hand warmers + waterproof boots + umbrella required. December 31 New Year countdown — Galata Tower + Taksim Square + Bosphorus Bridge fireworks + NYE dinner cruises ($80-150). December 25 Christmas (Türkiye is Muslim-majority, so it's limited to some hotels + international neighborhoods).
Flying In from Overseas
Korea year-end holiday (Dec 20-Jan 5) prices peak — Seoul-Istanbul $1,550-2,150. First week of December is the last value window + NYE (Dec 30-Jan 2) sees hotels 2-3× normal.
December Pricing Trends
Off-season + NYE spike — Sultanahmet 4-star $120-225/night (Dec 30-Jan 2 3×). Beşiktaş 5-star $260-515 (NYE 2-3×).
Istanbul December Weather Stats
Avg High
10°C
Avg Low
5°C
Rainy Days
13
116mm total
Sunshine
3.5h
Daily avg
Humidity
76%
Humid
UV Index
2
Low
Wind
17 km/h
Gusts 36
Sea Temp
11°C
Avg water temp
Snow Days
1
Monthly avg
Crowds
Moderate
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Expect about 1 snow days this month. Bring slip-resistant shoes and warm gear.
Air Quality
PM2.5
28 μg/m³
PM10
56 μg/m³
Status
Moderate
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
8°C
Nighttime
3°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
17 km/h
Max gust 36 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Yearly low hotel rates (non-NYE weeks)
- Iconic Hagia Sophia in snow (rare)
- NYE Bosphorus cruise option
Cons
- Yearly rainfall peak
- NYE crowds at Taksim
- Cold + dark (10h daylight)
December Events & Festivals
- Christmas + NYE — moderate hotel rise Dec 23-Jan 2 (NYE itself 2-3× normal)
- Cappadocia winter season — fewer balloons but cozy cave hotels heated + snowy fairy chimneys
- Yearly rainfall peak (116mm across 13 days)
- Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque in occasional snow — rare but iconic Istanbul photo
- Taksim Square NYE fireworks 300,000+ crowd (public transit free that night)
Istanbul in December — Full Picture
December is Istanbul's wettest month — 116mm rain across 13 days. Cold (10°C days, 5°C nights) + occasional snow. Yearly low tourism + cheaper hotels.
Christmas (Dec 25) is observed by Christian minorities — Greek Orthodox + Armenian + Catholic. Mass at Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church + Taksim Catholic Church. Hotel rates moderate rise Dec 23-Jan 2.
NYE Istanbul-style — Taksim Square fireworks (300,000+ crowd, public transit free that night). Bosphorus boat cruises offer NYE dinners. The 'Asian + European New Year' is unique to Istanbul.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Winter coat + sweater + jeans + scarf + hat. Cold + rainy + occasional snow.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
16°C
8°C
9.3/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
27.3°C
18°C
5/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
19°C
12.3°C
9.3/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current9°C
3.7°C
12.7/mo
Istanbul Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8° | 3° | 13d·91mm | 3.5h | 75% | 2 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 9° | 3° | 12d·78mm | 4h | 73% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 11° | 4° | 11d·68mm | 5h | 71% | 4 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| April (Best) | 16° | 8° | 9d·46mm | 7h | 70% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| May (Best) | 21° | 12° | 8d·36mm | 9h | 70% | 7 | Busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 26° | 16° | 6d·35mm | 10h | 67% | 8 | Very busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 28° | 19° | 4d·27mm | 11h | 65% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 28° | 19° | 5d·41mm | 10.5h | 67% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
| September (Best) | 24° | 16° | 6d·50mm | 9h | 67% | 7 | Busy | Shoulder |
| 19° | 12° | 10d·80mm | 6.5h | 71% | 5 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 14° | 9° | 12d·96mm | 4.5h | 75% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 10° | 5° | 13d·116mm | 3.5h | 76% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder |
View Other Months
Istanbul December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Istanbul?
Istanbul in December is Challenging. Tourist crowds are moderate and flight/hotel prices are shoulder.
What's the average temperature in Istanbul in December?
Istanbul December averages a high of 10°C and a low of 5°C.
Does it rain much in Istanbul in December?
Istanbul December averages 116mm of rainfall over about 13 rainy days.
What should I wear in Istanbul in December?
Winter coat + sweater + jeans + scarf + hat. Cold + rainy + occasional snow.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Istanbul in December?
Istanbul December sunrise is 07:15 and sunset is 16:30, with 9h 15m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Istanbul in December?
Istanbul December air quality (AQI) averages 70, rated Moderate. PM2.5 averages 28μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Istanbul in December?
In December, Istanbul is great for NYE Bosphorus cruise, Indoor sights, Hammam + warm dining.
Is December peak season in Istanbul?
Istanbul December crowds are moderate and prices are shoulder. You can travel relatively comfortably without long queues.
Best Months to Visit Istanbul
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.