Istanbul vs Burgas: which is sunnier?
🇹🇷 Türkiye vs 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · 176 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Istanbul and Burgas are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,201 vs 2,238 hours a year. Burgas has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Istanbul in 2 (5 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Istanbul | Burgas | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,201 | 2,238 |
| Sunniest month | July (87/100) | August (87/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 13/100 | 11/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 86/100 | 84/100 |
| Rain / year | 719 mm | 586 mm |
| Warmest sea | 27°C / 81°F | 28°C / 82°F |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 7 (high) |
Istanbul vs Burgas month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Burgas | Istanbul | Burgas | Istanbul | Burgas | Istanbul | Burgas | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 8° | 6° | 94 | 64 | 10° | 9° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 8° | 8° | 75 | 47 | 9° | 8° |
| March | 7 | 28 | 9° | 12° | 60 | 45 | 9° | 10° |
| April | 28 | 57 | 12° | 16° | 43 | 34 | 13° | 14° |
| May | 64 | 84 | 17° | 22° | 31 | 45 | 16° | 17° |
| June | 85 | 83 | 22° | 27° | 35 | 49 | 23° | 24° |
| July | 87 | 83 | 25° | 30° | 26 | 47 | 27° | 28° |
| August | 87 | 87 | 25° | 30° | 23 | 26 | 27° | 28° |
| September | 80 | 82 | 23° | 25° | 62 | 52 | 25° | 25° |
| October | 63 | 73 | 18° | 19° | 87 | 68 | 20° | 20° |
| November | 39 | 42 | 14° | 14° | 77 | 46 | 16° | 15° |
| December | 12 | 0 | 10° | 8° | 106 | 63 | 13° | 11° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Burgas · Apr Burgas · May Burgas · Jun even · Jul Istanbul · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Burgas · Nov Burgas · Dec Istanbul.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Istanbul averages 13/100, Burgas 11/100. Daytime highs are similar (10°C vs 9°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Burgas (average score 56/100 vs 33). Burgas is the warmer, around 17°C daytime highs vs 13°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Istanbul averages 86/100, Burgas 84/100. Burgas is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 24°C.
- September–October: Burgas (average score 78/100 vs 72). Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 22°C).
Sea temperature
Burgas's sea gets warmer: 28°C / 82°F at its peak vs 27°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Istanbul about 4 months a year, Burgas about 4 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Istanbul weather by month · Burgas weather by month · Best time to visit Türkiye.
More comparisons: Istanbul vs Varna · Istanbul vs Mytilene · Burgas vs Bucharest · Burgas vs Varna · all head-to-heads