Istanbul in January: a seasonal travel plan
Istanbul, Turkey. In january, the average daytime high is 8.9 °C and the night-time low is 4.1 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Istanbul
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 8.9 °C
- Nighttime low
- 4.1 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 92.4 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 13.7
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| Days 11–20 | 8.9 | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| From day 21 | 8.5 | 3.7 | 4.4 |
What this month is like
Istanbul, Turkey. In january, the average daytime high is 8.9 °C and the night-time low is 4.1 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 13.7 wet days on average, with about 92.4 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 9.6 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 11.4 °C, January — 8.9 °C, next month — 10.4 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.3, 13.7 and 11.4.
Things to do
Istanbul is split by the Bosphorus into a European and an Asian side, and the Golden Horn divides the European half once more. The historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Grand Bazaar sits apart from Beyoglu, so trams and ferries shape the day more than walking.
Sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace with its harem stand a few minutes apart. Arrive at opening while the queues are short, then give the afternoon to the Basilica Cistern and the Hippodrome square.
The Bosphorus by ferry
City ferries from Eminönü run to Kadıköy and Üsküdar past Dolmabahçe Palace and the Rumeli Hisarı fortress. Take a seat on deck, step off on the Asian shore and come back towards evening when the water turns dark.
Beyoglu and Galata
Walk Istiklal from Taksim Square down to Galata Tower, turn towards Karaköy and finish at the Galata Bridge. Anglers line the bridge rail, and the Karaköy waterfront has fish shops, coffee and ferries below.
Where to stay
Sultanahmet
Sultanahmet puts the main monuments within a short walk of each other. The quarter goes quiet after dark, restaurants aim at visitors, and the bars of Beyoglu need a tram ride.
Beyoglu
Beyoglu suits travellers who want cafés, galleries and live music at the door. The streets climb steeply and stay loud until late, but the tram and metro link both shores of the city.
Kadıköy
Kadıköy on the Asian side runs on its own rhythm: a food market, fish restaurants, bookshops and bars along Kadıköy street. Ferries reach the historic peninsula in about half an hour and the crossing is part of the day.
Getting to and around Istanbul
Metro line M11 links Istanbul Airport with Gayrettepe, where you change to M2; Havaist buses run to Taksim and Sultanahmet. Within the city, tram T1 on the historic peninsula, the metro and the Bosphorus ferries do most of the work. Sabiha Gökçen airport on the Asian side connects to Kadıköy by bus and metro.
Three days in Istanbul
The historic peninsula
Begin at Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, then walk into Topkapı Palace and its harem. After lunch descend into the Basilica Cistern and close the day on the Hippodrome and at the Grand Bazaar.
Beyoglu and the Bosphorus
Climb Galata Tower, follow Istiklal up to Taksim and drop down to Karaköy. Later, take a ferry to Kadıköy and return from the Asian shore as the light fades over the water.
The Asian shore
Head to Üsküdar in the morning for the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque and the waterfront, then move on to Kadıköy. The market, fish restaurants and Moda street fill the rest of the day at an easy pace.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.9 | 4.1 | 92.4 | 13.7 | 9.6 |
| February | 10.4 | 4.9 | 66.3 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
| March | 12.0 | 6.0 | 57.9 | 10.7 | 11.9 |
| April | 16.6 | 9.2 | 45.1 | 7.8 | 13.3 |
| May | 21.0 | 13.9 | 45.7 | 8.1 | 14.5 |
| June | 26.1 | 19.0 | 41.5 | 8.9 | 15.1 |
| July | 29.1 | 21.7 | 28.7 | 4.4 | 14.8 |
| August | 29.6 | 22.7 | 17.9 | 2.7 | 13.8 |
| September | 26.2 | 19.8 | 43.3 | 6.7 | 12.5 |
| October | 20.7 | 14.9 | 48.9 | 7.2 | 11.1 |
| November | 16.2 | 10.9 | 74.5 | 9.9 | 9.9 |
| December | 11.4 | 6.8 | 76.3 | 12.3 | 9.3 |
Frequently asked questions
Istanbul: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is 8.9 °C and the night-time low is 4.1 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 13.7 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 92.4 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in January?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 9.3 °C; 11–20 — 8.9 °C; 21 to month-end — 8.5 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 9.6 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Istanbul worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 8.9 °C and nights around 4.1 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Istanbul on a wet day in January?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Istanbul in January?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 9.6 hours.