How hot is Istanbul in March?

Daytime highs in Istanbul in March average 12°C (54°F); nights drop to about 6°C.

Does it rain in Istanbul in March?

Expect around 11 rainy days and 74 mm of rainfall in March.

Is March a good time to visit Istanbul?

March is a fair shoulder-season month in Istanbul — decent conditions with some trade-offs. Overall travel score: 5.5/10. The best months are May–October.

Istanbul weather in March

March is a fair shoulder-season month in Istanbul — decent conditions with some trade-offs. Expect highs around 12°C, lows near 6°C, and about 11 days with rain.

5.5 · Fairtravel score for March

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Avg high

12°C

Avg low

6°C

Rainfall

74 mm

Rain days

Sunshine

7.8 h/day

Daylight

11.7 h

What to pack for Istanbul in March

long sleeves and a warm layer
a medium jacket
a compact umbrella or rain shell — rain is frequent

Humidity averages 78%; max daily wind around 22 km/h.

How March compares

Best months in Istanbul: May–October. See the full best time to visit Istanbul guide.

Istanbul in March: the details

In March, Istanbul sees average daytime highs of 12°C (54°F) and overnight lows of 6°C (42°F). Rainfall totals roughly 74 mm across 11 rainy days, and the sun shines about 7.8 hours per day with 11.7 hours of daylight mid-month. Relative humidity averages 78%.

These figures are climate normals computed from the ERA5 weather reanalysis (2019–2024) for Istanbul, Turkey (41.01, 28.95) — see our methodology. Actual conditions vary year to year.

Where should you go next month?

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