Istanbul in November tends to have cool afternoons with cold nights and early mornings. While it might not be the most desirable time to visit, that also means airfare will be affordable.
As your tour guide, I bring extensive experience not only in guiding tours but also from my background as a retired meteorologist.
This allows me to provide accurate weather forecasts for this month, ensuring you are prepared for any weather conditions we might encounter.
If you're trying to decide if a visit in November makes sense, this post will give you an idea of what kind of weather to expect in Istanbul during this month.
Temperatures
Daytime high temperatures tend to average around 15-17 C (59-63 F) early in the month, falling to 11-12 C (52-54 F) by the end of the month.
A few of the warmer afternoons, especially early in the month, can reach up near 20 C (68 F). The highest temperature recorded in Istanbul during recent years is 27 C (80.6).
Late night and early morning low temperatures tend to be about 10-11 C (50-52 F) early in the month, falling to 6-7 C (43-45 F) near the end of the month.
A few of the colder mornings, especially near the end of the month, can dip down around 3 C (37 F). The record low temperature in Istanbul during recent decades is -2 C (28.4 F).
Sky and Rain
November, on average, will have 13-14 sunny, or at least partly sunny days. Mostly cloudy skies are likely on 14-15 days with some rain falls on 7-9 days.
Rain is somewhat more likely near the end of the month than at the start.
Daylight
Daylight hours decrease this month from 10.4 hours on the 1st down to about 9.5 hours by the 30th.
Windspeed
Wind speeds during this month will be mostly gentle to moderate at 12-28 kph (8-18 mph) but can occasionally 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 temperature starts out around 16 C early in the month, falling to around 13 C (F) by the end of the month.
What to Wear in Istanbul during November?
November can be cold and wet, so best to pack layered clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, and a lightweight jacket or coat. Gloves would also come in handy on the colder days.
Consider bringing a waterproof jacket and shoes for rainy days. When visiting a Mosque, women are required to cover their hair, upper arms, shoulders, and knees.
Things to Do in Istanbul in November
While the weather won't be as nice at this time of year, there will still be free walking tours beiing offered in November, so that's always an option!
Towards the end of the month, you'll also see holiday decorations and Christmas markets popping up all over the city, and those are some of the best attractions at this time of year.
Since the weather will be cold more often than not, we don't recommend any activities out on the water, but here are a few places you can visit and things to do to get out of the rain:
- Blue Mosque
- Turkish Baths
- Hagia Sophia
- Istanbul Aquarium
- Madame Tussauds
- Turkish Coffee
- LEGOLAND
For even more ideas, make sure to read our post covering things to do in Istanbul.
Fred Pickhardt
Ocean Weather Services
