WHEN TO VISIT ISTANBUL

Summer (June to August) in Istanbul is hot, with daytime temperatures averaging around 30 degrees Celcius (and often reaching 40) in July and August but generally feeling hotter due to the stifling humidity – not a good time to be bartering in the enclosed surroundings of the Grand Bazaar. A significant number of the city’s population up sticks for the coast, replaced by large numbers of tourists; expect long queues at the main sights. Despite all this, summer is high season, with accommodation at its most expensive. This is, however, a good time to be out on the Bosphorus.

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Istanbul, with warm weather, plenty of daylight hours for exploring sights such as the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, and – with the possible exception of the last week in May – far fewer crowds. Spring, in particular, can be a lovely time to visit, with the outdoor terrace cafés having opened and, in April, the city’s tulips (Turkey’s national flower) in full bloom for the month-long International Tulip Festival. As a bonus, these fall in Istanbul’s shoulder season (April, May, September and October), meaning the Easter holidays and the May and October half terms are a great time for an extended stay in the city – though rain showers can be fairly regular in October. Check dates for religious festivals such as Ramazan (Ramadan) and Kurban Bayrami, roughly two and a half months after Ramazan, when museums and shops can close and public transport can get seriously congested.

You’ll need warm clothes and an umbrella if you want to visit Istanbul in winter – thanks to the city’s maritime climate, winters (December to February) here are cold and wet, even more so when an icy wind whips off the Bosphorus. This marks the middle of Istanbul’s low season (November to March) when, aside from Christmas and New Year, rates are at their cheapest. Expect fog, even snow, though a steaming hamam should help warm you up!