Planning a trip to Istanbul in March? You are in luck! The weather is generally good, with an average maximum temperature of +52°F and approximately 9 sunny days. Just be prepared for some rain, as there are usually around 12 rainy days and 54 mm of precipitation. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+52°F
Avg. max. temperature
+25°F
Min.
+77°F
Max.
54 mm
Total precipitation
73%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
9 ☀️
Sunny Days
8 ⛅️
Cloudy
12 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Istanbul has good weather in March.
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Average temperature in Istanbul in March
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Istanbul for March based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +64°F during the day to a minimum of +37°F during the night, the temperature in March averages around +54°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 27% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +48°F to +55°F.
Is Istanbul warm or cold in March?
Istanbul is typically chill in March.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +48°F to +52°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +39°F to +43°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
March is one of the coolest months in Istanbul, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Istanbul in March
Water in Istanbul in March is Cold. It varies from +44°F to +51°F, with an average of +47°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +52°F.
The water temperature in March is one of the coldest of the entire 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 March?
We would not recommend swimming in Istanbul in March, the water is very cold (+47°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 March
Istanbul weather looks like this, on average, in March and the surrounding months.
February
March
April
Avg. temperature
+48°F
+52°F
+59°F
Min. temperature
+23°F
+25°F
+34°F
Max. temperature
+73°F
+77°F
+82°F
Rainfall
50 mm
54 mm
41 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+46°F
+47°F
+51°F
Humidity
75%
73%
69%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1016 HPa
1013 HPa
Sunny days
7
9
12
Cloudy days
7
8
7
Rainy days
11
12
10
Snowy days
3
1
0
March often has better weather than February.It’s getting warmer as March arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +48°F to +52°F during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 50 mm to 54 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 75% to 73%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during March, staying around 4 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in March, from 7 to 9.
April brings much the same weather, it remains good.
Wind speed in Istanbul in March based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 8 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 March, going from 8 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during March in Istanbul based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 45% chance of rain on an average day in March, with total rainfall of approximately 97 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 21 mm, which is considered light rain.March is a pretty wet month with over 14 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how March is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, 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.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during March in Istanbul based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 0% chance of snow on an average day in March, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 0 mm.
Here’s how March is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last March in Istanbul?
This is the weather in Istanbul in March 2023:
1 March
☁️
+48°F
2 March
☁️
+47°F
3 March
☁️
+49°F
4 March
☁️
+51°F
5 March
🌧️
+51°F
6 March
☁️
+53°F
7 March
☀️
+57°F
8 March
☁️
+58°F
9 March
☀️
+60°F
10 March
☀️
+60°F
11 March
☁️
+60°F
12 March
☁️
+54°F
13 March
☁️
+49°F
14 March
☀️
+50°F
15 March
☀️
+58°F
16 March
🌧️
+54°F
17 March
🌧️
+47°F
18 March
🌧️
+48°F
19 March
🌫️
+49°F
20 March
☀️
+53°F
21 March
☀️
+57°F
22 March
🌧️
+49°F
23 March
☁️
+50°F
24 March
☀️
+55°F
25 March
☀️
+55°F
26 March
🌫️
+56°F
27 March
☀️
+64°F
28 March
🌧️
+55°F
29 March
🌧️
+44°F
30 March
☀️
+46°F
31 March
☀️
+55°F
In March 2023 Istanbul had 12 sunny days, 10 cloudy days, and 7 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +54°F, with an absolute maximum of +64°F and a minimum of +43°F. The average humidity was 81%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 47%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in March?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Istanbul climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Istanbul in March 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 March:
Is March a good time to visit Istanbul?
March is a really good time to go to Istanbul. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Istanbul.
Can you sunbathe in Istanbul in March?
Not really, March is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Istanbul in March?
Swimming in Istanbul in March is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Istanbul rainy in March?
Istanbul is often rainy in March. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Istanbul in March?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Istanbul in March, 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.
