November is when Istanbul empties and gets cheap again. The city cools to about 17°C by day and 11°C at night and turns wet, with roughly 90 mm of rain, the autumn peak ends, and the monuments clear. It is a month of chestnut carts, hammams, long meyhane dinners and the Istanbul Marathon, the only race in the world that crosses from Asia into Europe.
The Istanbul Marathon
Usually held on a Sunday in early-to-mid November, the marathon starts on the Asian side and crosses the Bosphorus bridge into Europe – the only day of the year the bridge is open to people on foot rather than cars. There is a full marathon, a half and a widely attended public fun run across the bridge that anyone can enter.
Two practical consequences: the bridge and large parts of the coastal road close for the morning, which disrupts traffic on both sides; and hotels near the start and finish book up. If you are not running, the crossing is worth watching from Ortakoy.
Weather
November averages about 17°C by day and 11°C at night, with roughly 90 mm of rain – one of the wettest months. The wind returns off the water, the lodos starts suspending ferries on bad days, and it is dark by about 17:30.
It is not cold so much as grey and blustery, and it rewards an itinerary that can move indoors at short notice.
What November is for
- The monuments, emptying. Hagia Sophia, Topkapi and the Basilica Cistern shed the autumn crowds through the month.
- Hammams – Cemberlitas, Cagaloglu, Kilic Ali Pasa. The right weather for them.
- Street food. Roast chestnuts and corn, balik ekmek at Eminonu, and salep and boza in the evenings.
- Meyhane dinners in Beyoglu and Kadikoy – long tables of meze and raki, which is the Istanbul winter at its best.
- Museums and the Biennial, which runs into November in 2027.
10 November
Wednesday 10 November 2027 is the anniversary of Ataturk’s death. At 09:05, the moment he died, the country stops: sirens sound, traffic halts, drivers get out of their cars and people stand still in the street for a minute’s silence. In Istanbul it is genuinely striking, and it is worth knowing in advance rather than being startled by it. Ferries sound their horns.
Prices and crowds
Falling fast. The autumn peak ends in the first days of November and rates drop towards the winter floor through the month. By late November, Istanbul is close to its cheapest, with the monuments quiet and restaurants available.
See the Istanbul travel budget.
What to pack
A windproof waterproof coat – the wind matters more than the temperature – plus layers, shoes with grip for wet cobbles and the steep streets of Galata and Balat, and modest clothing for mosques. See the Istanbul travel guide.
The November 2027 calendar
- Early November – the autumn peak ends; rates begin falling.
- Early to mid November – the Istanbul Marathon crosses the Bosphorus bridge; road closures on both sides.
- Wednesday 10 November – at 09:05 the country stops for a minute’s silence for Ataturk.
- Through November – the Istanbul Biennial continues in this odd-numbered year.
- Through November – chestnut, salep and boza season; hammam weather.
- Any lodos day – Bosphorus ferries may be suspended.
- Sundays – the Grand Bazaar is closed.
Read alongside
- Istanbul in October – the last of the autumn peak.
- Istanbul in December – New Year and the winter floor.
- Best time to visit Istanbul – all twelve months compared.
- Turkey in November – the country-level view.
- Best Turkish hammams in Istanbul – November is their month.
- Istanbul travel budget – falling rates.
- Istanbul food guide – the winter street food.
Frequently asked
Is November a good time to visit Istanbul?
For price and quiet, yes – the autumn peak ends and rates fall towards the winter floor while the monuments empty. The cost is grey, wet, windy weather and dark afternoons.
How wet is Istanbul in November?
Around 90 mm, one of the wettest months, at about 17°C by day and 11°C at night. The wind off the water is what makes it feel raw.
When is the Istanbul Marathon?
Usually a Sunday in early-to-mid November. It starts on the Asian side and crosses the Bosphorus bridge into Europe – the only day the bridge is open to people on foot – and includes a public fun run anyone can enter.
What happens at 09:05 on 10 November?
The country observes a minute’s silence for Ataturk, who died at that moment in 1938. Sirens sound, traffic stops, drivers get out of their cars and ferries sound their horns. It is striking to witness.
Is the Biennial still on in November?
In 2027, yes – the Istanbul Biennial runs in odd-numbered years from roughly September into November, across historic buildings that are otherwise closed.
Is Istanbul cheap in November?
Increasingly so through the month. By late November rates are close to the winter floor, and restaurants that needed booking in September are available the same evening.
Will the ferries run in November?
Usually, but the lodos wind suspends them on some days. Keep a metro or bus alternative if crossing to the Asian side is essential to your plan.
What should I eat in Istanbul in November?
Roast chestnuts and corn from the carts, balik ekmek at Eminonu, salep or boza in the evening, and a long meyhane dinner of meze and raki in Beyoglu or Kadikoy.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
