Month guide · Istanbul · Turkey
Istanbul in May
What May is really like in Istanbul: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Maurice Flesier, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Istanbul. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 14.5 hours of daylight. Warm, sunny and long days, ideal for Bosphorus ferries and walking the hills before summer humidity arrives.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 14.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Istanbul: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with April (17°C (63°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:46
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:14
- Daylight
- About 14.5 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°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, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Conquest of Istanbul anniversary celebrations (29 May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Palace · Sultanahmet
Topkapı Palace
Head straight to the Harem and the Treasury on arrival, before tour groups reach them, then finish on the fourth-courtyard terraces.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
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Religious site · Süleymaniye
Süleymaniye Mosque
Mimar Sinan built this mosque for Süleyman the Magnificent in the 1550s on the third of the city's seven hills.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
Viewpoint · Galata
Galata Tower
The queue is longest at sunset; go at opening time instead, or simply admire the tower from the surrounding lanes, which are free.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Experience · Eminönü
Bosphorus by ferry
The best way to see the Bosphorus is from the water.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 13°C and 5 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Istanbul?
One of the best months to visit Istanbul, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and September–October. Compare every month.
Istanbul in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Istanbul?
It is one of the best months to visit Istanbul. Warm, sunny and long days, ideal for Bosphorus ferries and walking the hills before summer humidity arrives.
+How warm is Istanbul in May?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in May?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.