Turkey, Middle East

Istanbul in December

Low-season prices with festive lights in Beyoglu and along Istiklal. New Year's Eve is celebrated big; the holiday itself is secular here.

Quiet valueChilly and damp, highs near 52F (11C)

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul — IstanbulPhoto: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Istanbul. Low-season prices with festive lights in Beyoglu and along Istiklal. New Year's Eve is celebrated big; the holiday itself is secular here.

Weather: Chilly and damp, highs near 52F (11C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What December is like in Istanbul

December is chilly and damp, with highs near 52F (11C). Prices are low, crowds are light, and festive lights brighten Beyoglu and Istiklal Avenue. New Year's Eve is celebrated in a big way along Istiklal and the Bosphorus shores. Everything stays open, though ferries run on a winter timetable and rough weather can cancel a crossing.

This month suits couples and budget travelers who want a lively city at low season rates. Families will enjoy the lights and the cats but should pack well for wet days. For warm weather, come back in May.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Istanbul this month.

Lights on Istiklal

Beyoglu and Istiklal Avenue glow with festive decorations all month.

New Year's Eve

December 31 brings big secular celebrations and fireworks along the Bosphorus. Hotels with strait views charge more.

Quiet old city

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are calm on weekday mornings.

What to pack for December

A warm coat and scarf
Waterproof walking shoes
Gloves for ferry decks
A compact umbrella

Our timing tip

For New Year's Eve, book a Bosphorus view room or dinner early, since prices climb fast.

Book Istanbul for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Istanbul
Opens a hotel search for Istanbul in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
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Vacation rentals in Istanbul
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets in Istanbul
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Istanbul for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Ramadan in Istanbul

Dates shift about 11 days earlier each year; check the current window

The city functions fully and tourist restaurants serve all day, but evenings transform: iftar picnics fill the Sultanahmet squares and mosques glow with lighted messages strung between minarets. Museums may shorten hours around the Eid holiday that ends the month.

New Year's Eve

December 31

Big secular celebrations along Istiklal and the Bosphorus shores; hotels with strait views price accordingly.

Things to do in Istanbul

Full guide

Hagia Sophia

A 1,500-year-old dome that redefined architecture, now an active mosque. Visits pause during the five daily prayer times; dress modestly and go early or late in the day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Topkapi Palace

The Ottoman sultans' palace complex, including the Harem, which is worth its separate ticket. Closed Tuesdays; give it a full half day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)

Six minarets and a cascade of domes facing Hagia Sophia across the square. Free entry outside prayer times; evenings when both are lit are the postcard.

Tickets and tours →

Basilica Cistern

A Byzantine underground water palace held up by a forest of columns, including the famous Medusa-head bases. Deliciously cool on a hot day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A Bosphorus ferry or cruise

The public ferries between the European and Asian sides cost pocket change; longer Bosphorus cruises run to the strait's upper reaches. Sunset sailings win.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar

Go with time to get lost. Closed Sundays, and the surrounding han courtyards and rooftop workshops are where the atmosphere hides.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Be at Hagia Sophia or Topkapi at opening; by late morning in season the queues stretch across the square. Save the Blue Mosque for the evening light.
Use prayer times as your scheduler: mosque visiting pauses five times a day, so slot the cisterns, museums, and bazaars into those windows and the mosques between them.
Cross to the Asian side for at least half a day. Kadikoy and Uskudar carry a fraction of Sultanahmet's tourism and most of its flavor.
Museum-pass math usually favors buying online ahead in high season, mostly for the queue-skipping rather than the savings.

Know before you go

Istanbul has no off-season shutdown: the sights, bazaars, and restaurants run year-round, and winter simply means shorter queues and softer prices.
Weekly closures to plan around: Topkapi Palace closes Tuesdays, the Grand Bazaar closes Sundays, and mosques pause visits during the five daily prayer times, longest at Friday midday prayers.
During Ramadan the city stays fully functional for visitors: restaurants in tourist areas serve all day, but some local lokantas open only after sunset, and the Eid holidays at the month's end bring crowded transport and some shortened museum hours. The dates shift about 11 days earlier each year.
On the two major Eid holidays and October 29, Republic Day, banks and some sights close or shorten hours while the streets get festive; check specific museums for holiday schedules.

Istanbul in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Istanbul?

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Istanbul. Low-season prices with festive lights in Beyoglu and along Istiklal. New Year's Eve is celebrated big; the holiday itself is secular here.

What is the weather like in Istanbul in December?

Chilly and damp, highs near 52F (11C).

Is Istanbul crowded in December?

December is one of the quieter months in Istanbul; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Istanbul in December?

Ramadan in Istanbul (dates shift about 11 days earlier each year; check the current window); New Year's Eve (december 31).