Turkey
Istanbul in September
🍂 AutumnPleasant and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why September scores 9.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.7
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (26°C highs / 17°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 15.8°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~45 mm rain)
- Air quality8.7
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~13 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Sep | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.3 Excellent | 9.3 Excellent |
| Season | 🍂 Autumn | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 26° / 17° | 22° / 13° |
| Rain | 45 mm | 30 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 16° | dew pt 13° |
| PM2.5 | 13 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Istanbul Florya weather-station normals. Rainfall: Florya, Istanbul weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsSeptember 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in Turkey this month.
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Istanbul
- Snowy daysTypical datesSnow likely Dec–Feb (most in Feb: ~4 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Istanbul Florya.
Source: Istanbul Florya weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore IstanbulEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyTurkey's largest city, spanning Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, with Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, bazaars and a famous food scene.
No major events on our calendar for September.
Coming up later
Republic DayEvery year29 October every year
Marks the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923, with flags, ceremonies and fireworks.
Why go: A public holiday; some offices close.
Where: Citywide
Istanbul MarathonDate variesUsually early November
A marathon whose course crosses from Asia to Europe over the 15 July Martyrs Bridge.
Why go: Bridge and road closures affect traffic on race day.
Where: Starts on the Asian side and crosses the Bosphorus
RamadanDate variesIslamic calendar - moves about 11 days earlier each year
Daytime fasting is followed by lively evenings and iftar gatherings.
Why go: Restaurants stay open, but evenings around mosques are crowded.
Where: Citywide, especially Sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia
A 6th-century Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque, museum and again a mosque, with a vast dome.
💡 Dress modestly; women need to cover their hair. Visiting is restricted during prayer times.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
An early 17th-century mosque with six minarets and blue Iznik tiles inside.
Topkapı Palace
The main residence of Ottoman sultans for centuries, with courtyards, treasury and the harem.
💡 Allow at least half a day.
Basilica Cistern
A huge underground Byzantine water reservoir with columns and Medusa-head bases.
Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
Historic covered markets selling carpets, ceramics, jewellery, spices and sweets.
💡 Bargaining is expected in many shops.
Bosphorus cruise
Boat trips along the strait between Europe and Asia, passing palaces, mansions and fortresses.
💡 Public ferries are a cheap alternative to tour boats.
Balık ekmek
Grilled fish sandwiches.
💡 Eminönü waterfront near the Galata Bridge
Simit
Sesame-crusted bread rings sold from street carts.
Meze and rakı
Small cold and hot dishes shared with aniseed spirit.
💡 Meyhanes (taverns) in Beyoğlu and Kumkapı
Baklava
Layered filo pastry with pistachios and syrup.
💡 Karaköy and traditional pastry shops
Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı)
A spread of cheeses, olives, eggs, honey, jams and bread with tea.
Turkish delight (lokum)
Soft gel sweets in flavours such as rose and pistachio.
💡 Spice Bazaar and confectioners
Iznik-style ceramics
Hand-painted plates and tiles in Ottoman patterns.
💡 Grand Bazaar and ceramic shops
Kilims and carpets
Hand-woven rugs from across Turkey.
💡 Specialist carpet dealers
Turkish coffee and tea
Finely ground coffee and black tea with traditional pots and glasses.