March is the coolest of the spring months in Istanbul, and with an average temperature of 11°C and precipitation 72 mm. It snows in the recent years, but it rarely gets below freezing in Istanbul.
City Life & Weather
Although March is the start of the spring months, it passes cold and you should precaution before traveling to Istanbul in March. You can enjoy more sunny and clear days compared to winter months.
We recommend you to take the most attractions at the indoor places like museums, shows, exhibitions, concerts, movies and more. We also recommend you to bring a medium coat and portable umbrella. Also take sweater for some warmer days.
The days are started to get longer than the winter months, the sun set around 18:45. (Average Max Temp.: 11°C – Average Max Temp.: 4°C)
Public holidays, Festivals & Events
- Akbank Short Film Festival (film)
Top Venues
You can follow the calendar of exhibitions and events of our pick of top Istanbul venues from below.
- Istanbul Museum of Modern Art in Beyoglu (art, exhibition, film)
- Pera Museum in Taksim (art, exhibition, film)
- Sakip Sabanci Museum in Emirgan (art, exhibition, film)
- Salon IKSV in Beyoglu (concert)
- Bomontiada in Sisli (concert, theater)
- Akbank Sanat in Taksim (art, exhibition, film, concert)
- Zorlu PSM in Besiktas (concert, musical)
Istanbul’s March Top 10 Attractions
Things to do in Istanbul are endless and it is not possible to mention all the best attractions in Istanbul. We just put together below the most fascinating ones that best suit for March.
We also recommend you check out our Istanbul attractions opening hours & admissions, one day Istanbul itinerary or 3 day Istanbul itinerary to have a better idea before you plan your days in Istanbul.
1. Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern Trio
Hagia Sophia Museum
This place is what every Istanbul itinerary has for sure. If you had just one day in Istanbul the world-famous Hagia Sophia Museum would be the first stop.
Dating back to 325, it is a former church and mosque and declared as one of the world’s greatest architectural works and accepted as the 8th wonder of the world.
It’s like stepping into the holy world of Christianity and Islam, merged on the shell-like apse and under an impressive dome, in a mysterious and mystical ambiance, and a wide range of architectural and art works coming from thousands of years. Such as the golden Christian mosaics and colorful frescoes from the Byzantine era.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Hagia Sophia Fast Track Entry Ticket with Audio Guide App in 10 Languages plus guidance with certified guide
- Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Historian Guide inc. fast track entry ticket
Wanna learn more about Hagia Sophia?
Topkapi Palace Museum
You’ll admire Topkapi Palace Museum and its famous Harem section and have a detailed look at the rooms, gardens, galleries, collections and the decoration from the past and today.
It is a magnificent oriental palace and one of the world’s greatest architectural works. Once a residence of the Ottoman Sultans, it is also one of world’s richest museums.
It houses the finest samples of seal, book binding, jewelry and box craftsmanship as well as inscriptions, as well as the finest collection of Chinese porcelain in the world.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Topkapi Palace Fast Track Entry Ticket with Audio Guide App in 10 Languages plus guidance with certified guide
- Topkapi Palace & Harem Guided Tour with Historian Guide inc. fast track entry ticket
Wanna learn more about Topkapi Palace?
Basilica Cistern
Basilica Cistern Museum is one of the most impressive and mystical buildings in the city.
The two Medusa Heads, which are used as supports under the two columns at the northwest edge of the cistern, take the most interest and attracts the visitors.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Basilica Cistern Fast Track Entry Ticket plus guidance with certified guide
Wanna learn more about Basilica Cistern?
We highly recommend you to visit and see all these three museums at once. It would take about 3 hours total. And you should get Skip-the-line-tickets to save yourself from the long queues.
Combo Tickets: Hagia Sophia + Topkapi Palace + Basilica Cistern
This is a great combo ticket. Our favorite. You can visit the above top 3 most visited sights in Sultanahmet with this combo ticket, with skip the lines access. Great value for money. Book your tickets online in advance as they are selling out quickly.
Buy Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern Combo Ticket
Click the red button to buy Combo online tickets and skip the lines.
Our website visitors will get 5% extra discount.
2. Akbank Short Film Festival
Akbank’s Short Film Festival is a 10 days long film festival, organized by Akbank Sanat (Art). One of the leading arts and culture events in Istanbul in March. Highlights include various workshops, interviews, master classes and experience-sharing platform between cinema professionals and visitors. The Festival takes place at the Akbank Sanat Art Venue, in the Beyoglu district. More information on www.akbanksanat.com/en
3. Mystical night out with Whirling Dervishes Show
Whirling Dervishes Show is one of the most visited Istanbul attractions with the tourists. It is because that this ceremony is a very unusual event for the tourists and when they hear about it, majority of them try to catch this one hour show and witness the miracle of the whirling dervishes.
There are two popular venues that you can watch this show. Book your tickets online in advance as they are selling out quickly.
Buy Whirling Dervishes Show Tickets at Hodjapasha Culture Center
Buy Whirling Dervishes Show Tickets at Orient Express Hall
Wanna learn more about Whirling Dervishes Show?
4. Visit Grand Bazaar
Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) is a shopping adventure that you won’t want to miss. Covering an area of 47,000 m2, it is a 550+ years old covered market, also one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. A series of covered streets feature over 4,000 merchants all selling their products and wares.
You are able to find about anything here from the finest silky shawls and scarves in traditional patterns to traditional items, from antiques, leather goods, ceramics to the famous carpets, from spices, beautiful handicrafts to gold and jewelry.
Wanna learn more about Grand Bazaar?
5. Visit Rahmi Koc Transport Museum
The Rahmi Koc Museum in Haskoy, Golden Horn, Istanbul is housed in a former anchor foundry that this science and technology museum is a trove of machines and other eccentric exhibits. Continue reading…
6. Enjoy the lively atmosphere at Istiklal Street
Istiklal Street is probably the most famous street and entertainment area of the city. It is a long colorful pedestrian street full of all kind of shops, restaurants, cafes and street shows.
You can visit the fantastic Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the amazing St. Anthony of Padua Church and Pera Museum there.
In between strolling the Istiklal Street and enjoying the lively atmosphere, you can have a lunch/dinner/snack in one of the pretty restaurants along the way.
Wanna learn more about Istiklal Street?
7. Visit Sakip Sabanci Fine Arts Museum
Located in Emirgan, on the Bosphorus European Side, the Sakip Sabanci Museum is a private fine arts museum in Istanbul that hosts great collections that include Ottoman Calligraphic Art, religious and state documents, paintings of the Ottoman era, archaeological and stone works, collection of furniture and decorative arts and more.. Continue reading…
8. Visit Sea Life Aquarium & Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall
Forum Istanbul is the largest Shopping and Residential Center in Europe. 495.000 m2, 286 domestic & international brands. Cinemaximum Movie Theaters, Funlab Entertainment World, Atlantis Bowling, Tiox Entertainment Center, Flyride Helicopter Simulation and Sand Castle apart from large-scale and tailor-made playgrounds. In addition, the famous Sea Life Istanbul Aquarium, which house the largest shark family in Europe, and the Legoland Discovery Center in Turkey also situated in Forum Istanbul.
Sea Life Istanbul Aquarium is the 5th largest aquarium in the world. Visitors may experience and enjoy the lovely sea creatures, the largest collection of sharks in Europe, the Digital Aquarium, the Turtle Hospital where you may see the injured turtles are getting healed, thematic zones, school trips, birthday parties and much more.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Buy Sea Life Istanbul Tickets Online via Get Your Guide
- Buy Sea Life Istanbul Tickets Online via IWC
Wanna learn more about Aquarium Sea Life Istanbul?
9. Visit Ortakoy and eat baked potatoes by the Bosphorus
Ortakoy is a popular, lively and attractive neighborhood of Besiktas, located just by the Bosphorus and under the Bosphorus Bridge. Strolling around the Ortakoy Sqaure, watching the crowd, having a rest and drinking tea or coffee at the various cafes and restaurants by the Bosphorus are top attractions here.
The lively nights at the weekends are also fantastic. Many locals prefer to buy baked potatoes and enjoy it by the beautiful views of the Bosphorus. Continue reading…
10. Historical Turkish Bath (Hammam) experience
This will is one of the one time experiences on your Istanbul visit. With a Turkish bath, also called Hammam, you can enjoy an authentic experience, relax your muscles, rest in a steam bath, refresh your body. It will a be unique experience, as well as you will be freshened up.
Buy Turkish Bath Tickets
