Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9 °C | 10.1 °C | 13 days | Unfavourable season |
| February | 10.6 °C | 9.3 °C | 11 days | Unfavourable season |
| March | 12.3 °C | 9.8 °C | 11 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| April | 16.8 °C | 12.2 °C | 9 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| May | 21.1 °C | 16.4 °C | 8 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| June | 26 °C | 21.3 °C | 9 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| July | 28.8 °C | 23.9 °C | 5 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| August | 29.1 °C | 24.6 °C | 3 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| September | 25.6 °C | 23.3 °C | 8 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| October | 20.1 °C | 19.8 °C | 7 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| November | 16 °C | 16.3 °C | 9 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| December | 11.5 °C | 12.6 °C | 13 days | Unfavourable season |
Nearby in August
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport valid for at least 6 months. Passport must be valid 150 days after arrival, with 1 blank page; 90 days in any 180-day period.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 22 July 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
Outside the areas advised against
Parts of the country are advised against (the 10 km strip along the Syrian border); Istanbul is not one of them.
Official advice updated 22 July 2026
Health
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. No entry requirement.
Malaria · None.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Istanbul in August?
The sea averages 24.6°C in August — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Istanbul in August?
Expect 29.1°C in the afternoon and 21.6°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Istanbul in August?
Around 3 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 11% of days.