Month guide · Istanbul · Turkey
Istanbul in November
What November is really like in Istanbul: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Robot8A, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
November is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Cool and increasingly damp, with good hotel rates and quiet monuments; the first lodos storms can disrupt ferries.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in November
November is the 8th-warmest month in Istanbul: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 30 days. Compared with October (20°C (68°F)), November is cooler; by December highs drop to around 11°C (52°F).
- Sunrise (15 November)
- About 07:52
- Sunset (15 November)
- About 17:46
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Autumn (September–November). Warm seas and settled weather in September and October, turning cooler and wetter in November when crowds thin and prices drop.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, November rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes November one of the better-value months to book.
Events in November
- Istanbul Marathon — crosses from Asia to Europe over the Bosphorus (usually early November)
- Atatürk Memorial Day — a minute's silence at 9:05am (10 November)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in November
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 15°C, lows near 9°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 November a good time to visit Istanbul?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Istanbul in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is November a good time to visit Istanbul?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Cool and increasingly damp, with good hotel rates and quiet monuments; the first lodos storms can disrupt ferries.
+How warm is Istanbul in November?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in November?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.