Month guide · Istanbul · Turkey
Istanbul in March
What March is really like in Istanbul: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
March is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 5°C (41°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Changeable weather with mild sunny spells; the first spring blossom appears and crowds are still light.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 9°C (48°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 9th-warmest month in Istanbul: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 5°C (41°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with February (10°C (50°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:16
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:11
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea
- 9°C (48°F)
Spring (March–May). Mild and increasingly sunny, with the Tulip Festival in April; the most comfortable season for walking the hills, though Easter and May holidays bring crowds.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
March has no major recurring festival in Istanbul, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Market · Beyazıt
Grand Bazaar
Enter through the Beyazıt or Nuruosmaniye gates, browse first and compare prices, and haggle politely; the hans on the outer edge are quieter and more authentic.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Sultanahmet
Basilica Cistern
This 6th-century underground reservoir held water for the Great Palace of Constantinople.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
- Photo spot
Market · Eminönü
Spice Bazaar
Walk the outside lanes towards Tahtakale for everyday shopping, and buy Turkish coffee freshly ground from the long-established roasters nearby.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- History
Palace · Beşiktaş
Dolmabahçe Palace
Completed in 1856 when the sultans moved out of Topkapı, Dolmabahçe mixes European baroque and Ottoman styles along 600 metres of Bosphorus waterfront.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 5°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Istanbul?
A good-value shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Istanbul in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Istanbul?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Changeable weather with mild sunny spells; the first spring blossom appears and crowds are still light.
+How warm is Istanbul in March?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in March?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.