Istanbul in November is charming. With the advent of autumn cold weather, the tourist crowd subsides. The city is covered with bright foliage and enters the usual business rhythm of life.

Average temperatures: Mid-40s to low 50s Fahrenheit (7-11 degrees Celsius)

Precipitation: Occasional light rain showers

Comfortable for outdoor activities

Air and water temperature in Istanbul in November

Istanbul’s weather in November is generally dry with partly cloudy skies. Average temperatures range from 15-16°C during the day to 8°C at night. The sea temperature drops from 15°C to 11°C by month’s end. While most seaside hotels close in October, in Istanbul hotels open all year round.

The weather in Istanbul in November is changeable and extremely deceptive. For a week and even a day, it can change several times, please with the warmth of 21 ° C and upset with dankness with dull rains.

At the beginning of the month, walks in the air are still comfortable, but coolness is already felt. Closer to the last decade, dampness and wind with gusts up to 25-30 m/s increase. Clouds cover the sky, and a penetrating wind blows from the Bosphorus.

Wear windbreakers – the humidity at this time of the year reaches 80%

How to dress

If you have planned a trip to Istanbul in November, you should put waterproof things in your suitcase.

What to bring with you from clothes and shoes:

Daytime

Windbreaker or light synthetic winter jacket, leather jacket, scarf, a warm sweater, long sleeve, shirts and t-shirts (for a daytime), boots or sneakers

Evening time

For evening walks and cruises along the Bosphorus or the Golden Horn, a hat or scarf needed. The weather is not stable, you need to take both warm clothes and light clothes. Layering your wardrobe is the best choice for November in Istanbul.

Shoes

The central streets and sidewalks in the city are paved with paving stones, so you should take care of comfortable shoes. Replace heels with sneakers.

Holidays in Istanbul in November

While the city’s bustling energy may have subsided compared to the peak tourist seasons, there’s still plenty to see and do. November is a great time to visit shopping centers, the Sapphire skyscraper, coffee houses and museums and palaces. But long walks on bridges, hills, embankments and near the walls of the Rumeli fortress should be postponed until spring.

Excursions in Istanbul in November

November in Istanbul is conducive to trips to museums and palaces, relaxation in hamams (for example, the historical Hürrem Sultan hammam) and cozy coffee houses in the Beyoglu quarters.

Don’t forget to use the Museum Pass Istanbul to get into museums without queues and save on entrance tickets.

The BigBus tours are operating in November as usual, and you can take a hop-on hop-off tours to see main tourist places in 2-3 days.

In addition to self exploration of historical sights in Istanbul, you can order unusual excursions on English from local residents. Among them, gastronomic excursions with tastings of wine, cheeses and traditional Turkish dishes stand out.

Shopping in Istanbul in November

Numerous shops, shopping centers, bazaars and shops have always attracted travelers. But at the end of autumn, when local tourism is on the decline, walking between the shopping windows of the city is much calmer. You can wander without haste through the endless labyrinths of local stalls. Read our detailed article about where you can shop in Istanbul.

Don’t leave Istanbul without gifts and memorable souvenirs! To avoid standard and non-original purchases, look first of all at “authentic things”. The full guide to choose best souvenir and gift is available on our website.

The Grand Bazaar is located very well, in the very center of Istanbul, in Sultanahmet district. On its territory there are 61 streets, 12 mosques, warehouses, studios, baths, cafes and even one school. Impressive, isn’t it?

We recommend walking through the second-hand bookstore Çukurjuma (near Galatasaray Square) or the Sahaflar Book Bazaar (between the Beyazit Mosque and the Grand Bazaar Gate). Connoisseurs of old books can find here manuscripts about Islam and the history of Turkey, old editions of world classics.

More info about November in Istanbul

Weather

Even local meteorologists do not recommend relying on their forecasts. The weather at the end of autumn in the city of two continents is so unstable that you have to be ready for anything.

Temperature

Although we must pay tribute, the temperature in Istanbul in November is quite comfortable for residents of our latitudes, down jackets and fur coats are not needed here.

What to wear

But shorts with T-shirts will not be too appropriate at this time of the year. The traveler’s luggage will be useful if it includes a windproof jacket, jeans, raglans or thin sweaters. Be prepared for the fact that the city may suddenly get warmer, and you will have to remove some of your outerwear.

Shoes

Choose comfortable shoes for the trip so that it is comfortable to roam the streets of paving stones. Sneakers, low-cut closed shoes or demi-season boots are fine.

Additional things

If you are planning a tour to Istanbul in November, do not forget to put useful little things in your suitcase: an umbrella, a camera, a map of the city’s attractions and a good mood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hotel prices in Istanbul in November

Hotels in Istanbul in November traditionally reduce prices by about half, and November shares the championship with February in terms of cheapness. Then in December the tourist period starts again and prices grow by the new year.

So, booking a hotel in the center of Istanbul on Booking.com in November costs approximately:

• From $24/day for an apart-hotel or apartment in the Fatih area
• From $28 for a 3⭐ hotel in Sultanahmet or Taksim
• From $43 for a 4⭐ hotel in Sultanahmet or Taksim
• From $67 for a 5 ⭐ hotel in the Fatih or Beyoglu area
• From $19 for a hostel in the central Fatih area.

Given the minimum prices for accommodation in November, we recommend choosing a hotel closer to the Sultanahmet area. The main attractions are concentrated in the historical center of the city, so you won’t have to spend time on transportation.

Transfer from the airport to the city

How to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Laleli, Beyoglu, Fatih and other areas):

• Transfer bus (go to Taksim and to the Yenikapı area)
• Yellow taxis at the airport, the most preferred option is a private transfer with a fixed rate. You will be met with a sign at the airport by a English-speaking driver. Waiting is free.
• A popular international service for ordering transfers in Istanbul is GetTransfer. The cost here is an order of magnitude lower than that of competitors.
• You can also order a transfer online in advance on a trusted Kiwitaxi.

Holidays and events in November

10th of November. Every November, Istanbul celebrates the Day of Remembrance of the leader of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Ataturk.

His heart has stopped at 9:50 am on November 10, so mass flash mobs and commemorative events are held annually on this day. For example, fan clubs arrange performances at football stadiums. A moment of silence passes throughout the country. Even transport stops. Departures from Istanbul airports are not scheduled for 9:05. There are almost no entertainment shows and concerts on TV screens.

October 22-November 20 – International Festival of Theater Arts and Acting Istanbul Theater Festival, or IKSV Theatre. The event takes place in dozens of different locations. There are paid performances, free productions and online screenings. You can get acquainted with the program on the official website tiyatro.iksv.org/en.

Pros and Cons

The doubts of inexperienced tourists are completely understandable whether it is worth going to Istanbul in November. Holidays off the coast of Turkey at this time of the year implies a certain discomfort:

• Unstable weather, with sudden changes in temperature
• cold sea

But this, perhaps, is all the inconvenience. Summing up, we can note several advantages of the autumn tour to Istanbul:

• low flow of tourists;
• lack of queues in museums and sights;
• busy schedule of cultural events;
• calm leisurely shopping tour of local shops;
• low prices for housing and food.