Istanbul in October

When to go

In the Turkish State Meteorological Service's Istanbul table, October's average precipitation and number of rainy days are both higher than June's and July's, so check the figures here and plan for wet weather. GoTürkiye lists the Turkish Grand Prix at TOSFED İstanbul Park for the first days of October, so compare your dates against it. Late in the month the Republic Day holiday begins in the afternoon of the day before, and private workplaces must close on the day itself, so check opening hours for the places on your list.

Trip facts

• The Turkish State Meteorological Service's official climate statistics for İstanbul (measurement period 1950–2025, using measurements made at Kadıköy, Florya and Sarıyer as the centers representing İstanbul) list an average highest temperature of 20.6 °C and an average lowest temperature of 13.7 °C for October. (www.mgm.gov.tr, checked 2026-10-15)
• The Turkish State Meteorological Service's official climate statistics for İstanbul (measurement period 1950–2025) list an average monthly total precipitation of 66.3 mm and an average of 9.48 rainy days for October. (www.mgm.gov.tr, checked 2026-10-15)
• The text of Law No. 2429 on National Holidays and Public Holidays, published at mevzuat.gov.tr, says October 29, the day the Republic was proclaimed in 1923, is a National Holiday, that the holiday begins at 13.00 on October 28 and continues on October 29, and that private workplaces must close on October 29. (www.mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 2026-10-15)
• GoTürkiye lists the Formula 1® Turkish Grand Prix 2027 at TOSFED İstanbul Park, İstanbul, for 01 - 03 October. (goturkiye.com, checked 2026-10-15)
• The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa page says of the United States of America: 'Official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Türkiye. Ordinary passport holders are exempted from visa up to 90 days in any 180-day period.' (www.mfa.gov.tr, checked 2026-10-15)
• The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs says foreigners wishing to enter Türkiye should carry a travel document (passport) with an expiration date at least 60 days beyond the 'duration of stay' of their visa, e-Visa, visa exemption, or residence permit, and kindly advises a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Türkiye. (www.mfa.gov.tr, checked 2026-10-15)
• iGA Istanbul Airport's transportation page says Havaist offers 11 different routes between the airport and the city center, and that İETT offers 5 different routes between the airport and the city center. (www.istairport.com, checked 2026-10-15)
• iGA Istanbul Airport's transportation page says the Halkalı – Arnavutköy section, the continuation of the (M11) Gayrettepe – Istanbul Airport Metro Line, was opened on 20 June 2026. (www.istairport.com, checked 2026-10-15)
• Sabiha Gökçen Airport's metro page (in Turkish) says the airport's metro station opened for service with the extension of the M4 Kadıköy-Tavşantepe metro line, and that passengers using it can transfer to the Marmaray line from Ayrılık Çeşmesi station and to the Metrobus line from Ünalan station. (www.sabihagokcen.aero, checked 2026-10-15)
• Metro İstanbul's FAQ (in Turkish) says you can travel on its rail system lines using an İstanbulkart, and that you can obtain a card by paying its deposit at the Biletmatik machines in stations and load new value onto your cards there. (www.metro.istanbul, checked 2026-10-15)