February in Istanbul tends to be somewhat cloudy and cold with rainy periods and even some snow is possible.
Temperatures
Daytime high temperatures will tend to me around 7-8 C (45-46 F) early in the month, warming slowly to near 10 C (50 F) by the end of the month.
A few of the warmer afternoons, especially late in the month, can reach up near 14 C (57 F). The record high temperature during February during the past 2 decades was 18 C (64 F).
Late night and early morning lows will tend to be -1 C to 0 C (30-32 F) early in the month, warming to near 3-4 C (37-39 F) near the end of the month.
A few of the colder mornings, especially early in the month, can dip down near -4 C (25 C). During the past 2 decades, the record low temperature in Istanbul during February was -8 C (18 F).
Sky and Rain
You can expect about 12-13 sunny, or at least partly sunny days this month with 15-16 mostly cloudy days. Measurable precipitation (mostly rain) occurs on about 7-8 days.
Measurable snow, however, does fall on a couple of days during each winter (mainly in January and February) accumulating about 3 cm (about 1 inch) but normally melts quickly.
Windspeed
Wind speeds during this month will be mostly gentle to moderate at 12-28 kph (8-18 mph) but can briefly be fresh at 29-38 kph (19-24 mph).
Ocean Temperatures
The beaches near Istanbul lie mostly along the shores of the Sea of Marmara and along the Bosphorus Strait. The sea temperatures during February are cold, averaging around 8 C (about 46 F).
What to Wear in Istanbul during February?
During February you should pack clothes for cold weather.
Best to bring along a coat, jacket, a few sweaters, jeans, a winter hat, scarf and gloves plus jeans and leggings and some warm socks.
Don’t forget to pack some comfortable walking shoes as well.
Things to Do in Istanbul in February
It's always a good time to take one of our free Istanbul walking tours, and if you manage to visit during a snowy day, you can even experience all of the landmarks blanketed in snow!
Another nice thing about visiting during the last days of winter is that there won't be a lot of crowds, so you'll pretty much have free reign of most attractions and museums.
If it's an especially cold night, consider heading to one of the many cozy rooftop cafes and restaurants in Istanbul for great views and warm drinks.
For even more ideas, make sure to read our post covering things to do in Istanbul.
Fred Pickhardt
Ocean Weather Services
