Istanbul vs Mytilene: which is sunnier?
🇹🇷 Türkiye vs 🇬🇷 Greece · 306 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Mytilene is the sunnier overall: about 2,823 hours of sunshine a year to Istanbul's 2,201. Mytilene has the higher Sunshine Score in 12 of 12 months — a clean sweep.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Istanbul | Mytilene | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,201 | 2,823 |
| Sunniest month | July (87/100) | July (95/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 13/100 | 40/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 86/100 | 94/100 |
| Rain / year | 719 mm | 615 mm |
| Warmest sea | 27°C / 81°F | 25°C / 77°F |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Istanbul vs Mytilene month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Mytilene | Istanbul | Mytilene | Istanbul | Mytilene | Istanbul | Mytilene | |
| January | 0 | 25 | 8° | 12° | 94 | 116 | 10° | 17° |
| February | 0 | 33 | 8° | 13° | 75 | 91 | 9° | 16° |
| March | 7 | 57 | 9° | 16° | 60 | 58 | 9° | 17° |
| April | 28 | 80 | 12° | 19° | 43 | 48 | 13° | 17° |
| May | 64 | 90 | 17° | 24° | 31 | 29 | 16° | 19° |
| June | 85 | 92 | 22° | 29° | 35 | 19 | 23° | 23° |
| July | 87 | 95 | 25° | 32° | 26 | 4 | 27° | 25° |
| August | 87 | 95 | 25° | 32° | 23 | 3 | 27° | 25° |
| September | 80 | 92 | 23° | 28° | 62 | 20 | 25° | 24° |
| October | 63 | 86 | 18° | 23° | 87 | 53 | 20° | 22° |
| November | 39 | 69 | 14° | 18° | 77 | 73 | 16° | 20° |
| December | 12 | 32 | 10° | 13° | 106 | 101 | 13° | 18° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Mytilene · Feb Mytilene · Mar Mytilene · Apr Mytilene · May Mytilene · Jun Mytilene · Jul Mytilene · Aug Mytilene · Sep Mytilene · Oct Mytilene · Nov Mytilene · Dec Mytilene.
When to pick which
- November–February: Mytilene (average score 40/100 vs 13). Mytilene is the warmer, around 14°C daytime highs vs 10°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Mytilene (average score 76/100 vs 33). Mytilene is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 13°C.
- June–August: Mytilene (average score 94/100 vs 86). Mytilene is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 24°C.
- September–October: Mytilene (average score 89/100 vs 72). Mytilene is the warmer, around 26°C daytime highs vs 21°C.
Sea temperature
Istanbul's sea gets warmer: 27°C / 81°F at its peak vs 25°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Istanbul about 4 months a year, Mytilene about 5 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Istanbul weather by month · Mytilene weather by month · Best time to visit Türkiye · Best time to visit Greece.
More comparisons: Istanbul vs Varna · Istanbul vs Burgas · Mytilene vs Izmir · Mytilene vs Samos · Mytilene vs Mykonos · all head-to-heads