Istanbul, Turkey: vitamin D, best months and travel guide
Vast city of mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus. Best for: culture travellers, foodies.
The best months for vitamin D in Istanbul are June to September, when a full dose takes about 7 minutes at midday. Too cool from October to May.
Istanbul month by month
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Too cold | 0.2 h | 2.0 | – | 10°C | 15/30 |
| February | Too cold | 2.8 h | 3.0 | 18 min | 13°C | 4/30 |
| March | Too cold | 4.7 h | 4.3 | 12 min | 14°C | 12/30 |
| April | Too cold | 6.7 h | 5.9 | 9 min | 19°C | 6/30 |
| May | Too cold | 7.7 h | 6.4 | 8 min | 20°C | 8/30 |
| June | Excellent | 9.5 h | 7.6 | 7 min | 29°C | 1/30 |
| July | Excellent | 9.4 h | 7.5 | 7 min | 30°C | 3/30 |
| August | Excellent | 8.6 h | 6.9 | 8 min | 30°C | 1/30 |
| September | Good | 6.7 h | 5.4 | 10 min | 26°C | 8/30 |
| October | Too cold | 4.5 h | 4.1 | 13 min | 20°C | 2/30 |
| November | Too cold | 1.3 h | 2.2 | – | 15°C | 5/30 |
| December | Too cold | 0.0 h | 1.6 | – | 12°C | 15/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
What to expect in Istanbul
Vast city of mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus. Hot dry summers, warm seas until October and a big choice of all-inclusive hotels. Beaches are often pebbly and busy in July and August.
In Istanbul afternoon highs average from 10°C in January to 30°C in July. The wettest month is January (about 15 rainy days out of 30) and the driest is August (1). Midday UV peaks at 7.6 in June.
Turkey's largest city, the former capital of both the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires, and the only major city in the world to… (Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Questions about Istanbul
When is the best time to visit Istanbul for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Istanbul are June to September, when a full dose takes about 7 minutes at midday.
What is the weather like in Istanbul?
Afternoon highs average from 10°C in January to 30°C in July. The wettest month is January, with about 15 rainy days out of 30.
Which months should I avoid in Istanbul?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too cool from October to May.