Istanbul in March
The weather in March
In March, Istanbul averages daytime highs of 12° and night-time lows of 5° — cool weather by day. Expect around 70 mm of precipitation spread over about 10 wet days, with average cloud cover near 41%.
Days are 2.5° warmer than in February on average, and April is warmer again by about 4.2°. The sea averages 9°, too cold for most swimmers.
March scores 40/100 — mixed conditions for sightseeing — and ranks 9th of the twelve months for Istanbul. For the most comfortable weather, consider May, June and September instead.
Around the middle of the month the sun rises at 07:17 and sets at 19:11 local time, giving 11 h 53 min of daylight. Days lengthen by 82 minutes over the month.
Why 40/100?
How the score for March is builtBeach score this month: 19/100 (adds sea temperature and heat).
Comfort peaks for daytime highs between 18° and 25°C (64–77°F).
Festivals in Istanbul in March
- BaklahoraniCarnival · Feb–MarIstanbul
Only the month is given: the exact dates change from year to year.
Around Istanbul this month
Zeytinburnu
Türkiye's best in March
Istanbul in March: quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Istanbul?
March scores 40/100 for Istanbul, which we rate as mixed. Average highs are 12°C with 10 wet days.
How warm is Istanbul in March?
Daytime highs average 12°C and night-time lows 5°C in March.
Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in March?
Istanbul receives about 70 mm of precipitation in March, falling on around 10 days.
Can you swim in Istanbul in March?
The sea averages 9°C in March, cold for most swimmers.