If you plan to visit Istanbul in December, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +52°F during the day and approximately 6 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 14 rainy days in the month and around 81 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
December is usually the wettest month of the year in Istanbul;
Average weather
☀️
+52°F
Avg. max. temperature
+28°F
Min.
+75°F
Max.
81 mm
Total precipitation
76%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
6 ☀️
Sunny Days
9 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Istanbul has OK weather in December.
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Average temperature in Istanbul in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Istanbul for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +66°F during the day to a minimum of +39°F during the night, the temperature in December averages around +55°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 27% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +64°F to +57°F.
Is Istanbul warm or cold in December?
Istanbul is typically chill in December.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +59°F to +52°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +50°F to +45°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
Take a look at how December is compared to other months in Istanbul:
Water temperature in Istanbul in December
Water in Istanbul in December is Cold. It varies from +47°F to +56°F, with an average of +51°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +52°F.
In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Istanbul are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +77°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +46°F.
Can you swim in Istanbul in December?
We would not recommend swimming in Istanbul in December, the water is very cold (+51°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Istanbul in December
Istanbul weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+59°F
+52°F
+48°F
Min. temperature
+34°F
+28°F
+18°F
Max. temperature
+81°F
+75°F
+66°F
Rainfall
69 mm
81 mm
65 mm
Wind
3 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+58°F
+51°F
+47°F
Humidity
75%
76%
76%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
Sunny days
9
6
6
Cloudy days
8
9
9
Rainy days
12
14
13
Snowy days
0
1
2
December weather is still as ok as in November.It’s getting colder in December. From +59°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +52°F.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 69 mm to 81 mm.Humidity rises from 75% to 76%.Winds are stronger in comparison to November, going up from 3 m/s to 4 m/s on average.The days becoming less sunny, going from 9 sunny days in November to 6 in December.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Istanbul in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 10 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Istanbul is gradually decreasing during December, going from 5 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Istanbul based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 39% chance of rain on an average day in December, with total rainfall of approximately 85 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 15 mm, which is considered light rain.December is a pretty wet month with over 12 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
December is one of the rainiest months in Istanbul, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Istanbul wettest month is December, where a typical day has a 45% chance of precipitation and 81 mm of rainfall per day. August, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 16% chance of precipitation and 14 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last December in Istanbul?
This is the weather in Istanbul in December 2023:
1 December
☀️
+64°F
2 December
☀️
+66°F
3 December
☀️
+67°F
4 December
🌧️
+54°F
5 December
☁️
+53°F
6 December
☁️
+54°F
7 December
🌫️
+53°F
8 December
🌧️
+49°F
9 December
🌧️
+47°F
10 December
☁️
+50°F
11 December
☁️
+52°F
12 December
☁️
+53°F
13 December
☀️
+56°F
14 December
☀️
+63°F
15 December
🌧️
+62°F
16 December
🌧️
+49°F
17 December
☁️
+48°F
18 December
☀️
+49°F
19 December
☀️
+53°F
20 December
☀️
+55°F
21 December
🌧️
+55°F
22 December
☁️
+53°F
23 December
☁️
+57°F
24 December
☀️
+57°F
25 December
☀️
+61°F
26 December
☀️
+60°F
27 December
☀️
+60°F
28 December
☀️
+55°F
29 December
☀️
+53°F
30 December
☀️
+57°F
31 December
☀️
+57°F
In December 2023 Istanbul had 16 sunny days, 8 cloudy days, and 6 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +55°F, with an absolute maximum of +66°F and a minimum of +46°F. The average humidity was 82%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 59%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 14 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Istanbul climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Istanbul in December has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1997 (+61°F) and the highest in 2019 (+68°F). The driest year was 1984 with only 361 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2010 with 859 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Istanbul in December:
Is December a good time to visit Istanbul?
It’s always a good time to visit Istanbul, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Istanbul in December?
Not really, December is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Istanbul in December?
Swimming in Istanbul in December is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Istanbul rainy in December?
Istanbul is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Istanbul in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Istanbul in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Istanbul, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
