It’s always a good idea to check out Turkey’s and Istanbul’s official, public, national, regional and religious holidays before planning a trip or a sightseeing excursion. To make it easier for you I created this nice overview. Please pay special attention to the religious holidays since they change yearly.
Most popular tourist atrractions and shops open their doors during national holidays, but are closed until 13:00 on the first day of religious holidays. Both the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar are closed for the full duration of religious holidays, and also on October 29th. Banks are closed during all holidays — national and religious.
Avoid road trips during both religious holidays, especially the Feast of the Sacrifice, because traffic intensifies dramatically. This is because during these holidays Turks visit their relatives all over the country. Also please note that May 1 demonstartions in and around Taksim often end quite agitated. Don’t take unnecessary risks, and avoid crowded areas such as Taksim, Nişantaşı, Beşiktaş and Kadıköy on May 1st.
Public & Religious Holidays in 2013
Tuesday, 1 January
New Year’s Day (Yılbaşı) – National Holiday – First day of the new year.
Tuesday, 23 April
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Eğemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) – National Holiday – Commemoration of the first opening of gthe Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara (1920). Dedicated to the children.
Wednesday, 1 May
Labor and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü) – National Holiday.
Sunday, 19 May
Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth & Sports Day (Atatürk’ü Anma Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) – National Holiday – The arrival of Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, the beginning of the War of Independence. Dedicated to the youth.
Wednesday, 7 August
Sugar Feast’s Eve (Ramazan Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Thursday, 8 August – Saturday, 10 August
Sugar Feast (Ramazan Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Three-day festival to celebrate the end of fasting (Ramadan) where plenty of sweets are eaten.
Friday, 30 August
Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı) – National Holiday – Victory over the allied forces during the final battle in Dumlupınar in 1922, ending the War of Independence. Dedicated to the armed forces.
Sunday, 6 October
Liberation of Istanbul (İstanbul’un Kurtuluşu) – Regional Holiday – Anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul by Turkish armed forces during the War of Independence.
Monday, 14 October
Feast of the Sacrifice’s Eve (Kurban Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Tuesday, 15 – Friday, 18 October
Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Four-day festival where sheep are sacrificed/slaughtered and their meat is distributed to the poor.
Monday, 28 October
Republic Day’s Eve (Cumhuriyet Bayramı Arifesi) – National Holiday – ½ day.
Tuesday, 29 October
Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) – National Holiday – Anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Public & Religious Holidays in 2014
Wednesday, 1 January
New Year’s Day (Yılbaşı) – National Holiday – First day of the new year.
Wednesday, 23 April
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Eğemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) – National Holiday – Commemoration of the first opening of gthe Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara (1920). Dedicated to the children.
Thursday, 1 May
Labor and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü) – National Holiday.
Monday, 19 May
Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth & Sports Day (Atatürk’ü Anma Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) – National Holiday – The arrival of Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, the beginning of the War of Independence. Dedicated to the youth.
Sunday, 27 July
Sugar Feast’s Eve (Ramazan Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Monday, 28 – Wednesday, 30 July
Sugar Feast (Ramazan Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Three-day festival to celebrate the end of fasting (Ramadan) where plenty of sweets are eaten.
Saturday, 30 August
Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı) – National Holiday – Victory over the allied forces during the final battle in Dumlupınar in 1922, ending the War of Independence. Dedicated to the armed forces.
Friday, 3 October
Feast of the Sacrifice’s Eve (Kurban Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Saturday, 4 – Tuesday, 7 October
Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Four-day festival where sheep are sacrificed/slaughtered and their meat is distributed to the poor.
Monday, 6 October
Liberation of Istanbul (İstanbul’un Kurtuluşu) – Regional Holiday – Anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul by Turkish armed forces during the War of Independence.
Monday, 28 October
Republic Day’s Eve (Cumhuriyet Bayramı Arifesi) – National Holiday – ½ day.
Wednesday, 29 October
Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) – National Holiday – Anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Public & Religious Holidays in 2015
Wednesday, 1 January
New Year’s Day (Yılbaşı) – National Holiday – First day of the new year.
Wednesday, 23 April
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Eğemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) – National Holiday – Commemoration of the first opening of gthe Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara (1920). Dedicated to the children.
Thursday, 1 May
Labor and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü) – National Holiday.
Monday, 19 May
Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth & Sports Day (Atatürk’ü Anma Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) – National Holiday – The arrival of Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, the beginning of the War of Independence. Dedicated to the youth.
Thursday, 16 July
Sugar Feast’s Eve (Ramazan Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Friday, 17 – Sunday, 19 July
Sugar Feast (Ramazan Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Three-day festival to celebrate the end of fasting (Ramadan) where plenty of sweets are eaten.
Saturday, 30 August
Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı) – National Holiday – Victory over the allied forces during the final battle in Dumlupınar in 1922, ending the War of Independence. Dedicated to the armed forces.
Tuesday, 22 September
Feast of the Sacrifice’s Eve (Kurban Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Wednesday, 23 – Saturday, 26 September
Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Four-day festival where sheep are sacrificed/slaughtered and their meat is distributed to the poor.
Monday, 6 October
Liberation of Istanbul (İstanbul’un Kurtuluşu) – Regional Holiday – Anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul by Turkish armed forces during the War of Independence.
Monday, 28 October
Republic Day’s Eve (Cumhuriyet Bayramı Arifesi) – National Holiday – ½ day.
Wednesday, 29 October
Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) – National Holiday – Anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello -
I will be in Istanbul October 28th to November 2nd. Due to the holiday the 28th and 29th, I understand museum sites, banks….will be closed or closed half day. I assume 1/2 day means that those locations are open in the morning but close around noon?
Also will restaurants be open on the 28th or 29th?
Thank you! Katrin
Hi Kat,
No, just like it says in the article, sightseeing spots that close for half a day should be open again by 13:00.
As for restaurants, they will all be open.
Hello,
First of all I’d like to thank you for the great & awfully helpful site.
I’d like to ask if you mean sight seeing spots will be closed on the feast’s eve (24th) or on the first day of the feast (25th) or both.
And what about the ferries, do they work then…
Any suggestions on hoe to spend this half day when everything’s closed?????
Thanks : )
Hi Julia,
The ferries will be working as usual, since people tend to travel a lot during the Bayrams. They may even be more crowded than usual.
And that’s exactly why a nice trip down the Bosphorus or a trip to the Princes’ Islands may be a good way to cope with most sightseeing spots being closed the first morning/day of Bayram.
Have fun,
Erlend
I will be in Istanbul from the 26th to the 28th. I would like to know if the Grand Bazaar be open at anytime during this period keeping in view the on going holidays?
Hi Zaid,
I’m afraid it will not, but nothing is for sure. The general rule is that they are closed during religious and official holidays, and on Sundays. This year, the last day of the Feast of the Sacrifice is on Saturday. On Sunday, they are usually closed, and Monday is another official holiday, the Republic Day. It’s hard to predict how this unusual turn of events will play out.
Erlend
Hello,
First of all I’d like to thank you for the great & helpful site.
I would like to know what are the weekend days in Istanbul?Are they Thursday and Friday? Or Friday and Saturday?
Thanks a lot
Hello,
Thank you for the helpful site – very much appreciated!
I am travelling to Istanbul on 8-10 August 2013. Does this mean the Grand Bazaar will be closed during my stay?
Thank you again for your help,
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for the compliments. Yes, I’m afraid the Grand Bazaar will be closed at that time. You could give it a try on the third day, but I have little hope on that. Sorry.
Kind regards,
Erlend
Hello everyone, thank yout for this wonderful site. we arrive to IStanbul on MAy 1st and I am wondering if the aya Sofia museum , basilica cistern and all the other sights in sultanahmet are open.we are sstaying on taksim, so we will be dropped of at sultanahmet and we all go to the hotel later in the afternoon. At what time will the demonstrations will end?should we take a take I or use tram? Thank you in advance.
Hi Lenia,
The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar will be closed. Other sightseeing spots will be open, or open their doors only a bit later.
As for the May 1 gatherings in Taksim, due to the ongoing renovations there, the municipality has prohibited gatherings there this year.
Kind regards,
Erlend
Hi,
Planning to visit istanbul from 8th- 11th August. we have heard alot about istanbul night life and tourist attractions. As per your info given above they seem to be religious holidays.
just wanted to know if these holidays would affect our visit to tourist attraction places like the blue mosque etc or the night clubs.?
pleese do let me knw.
Thanks & regards
Nikita
Hi Nikita,
You’ll indeed be here during the Sugar Feast, following the Ramadan. I think that article will answer most of your questions.
Kind regards,
Erlend
I just realized that I made the mistake of not checking your website before buying tickets. We will be in Istanbul on August 8th and 9th
It is a long trip first to Europe and it appears that changing tickets will not be possible.
I realize Grand bazar and Spice bazar will be closed. Can you advice what should I plan on morning of August 8th? I am with three boys, two are teenage and one is tween.
Also what things mus t be covered from the point of view of my boys as they are interested in history and culture.
Any possibility of them getting some gifts for friends or shops will be closed too?
Thanks.
Hi Manisha,
Yes, the bazaars will probably be closed that week, but all other (souvenir) shops and sightseeing spots will open their doors in the afternoon of the first day of the Sugar Feast. And if your sons are into history and culture (as you wrote), then I would take them to the classics: Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Süleymaniye Mosque.
So, why not enjoy an elaborated breakfast in Bebek by the Bosphorus that morning?
Kind regards,
Erlend
Hi,
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful information. If the Sugar Feast is August 8-10, does that mean that Ramadan is the entire month previous to that? So July 8-August 7? If so, is the Grand Bazaar open during that time? Other attractions? I know it’s polite to not eat outside during that time, but what else should I know? Thanks!
Hi Jacquelyn,
Yes, in 2013 Ramadan will start July 9th, followed by the Sugar Feast starting August 7. Please follow both links for more detailed info.
Kind regards,
Erlend
Hello,
thank you for your very helpfull site with a lot of accurate information.
I intend to spend one week in Istanbul from August 3rd till the following sunday, August 11th. I hope that during this week I will be able to enjoy the special atmosphere of Ramazan and Bayram you describe. But one of your answers surprises me: you say to Manisha that “the Bazaars will probably be closed that week” Does that mean that they are closed really all the week? That would be very annoying for me because I have choosen my dates thinking I will have from monday till wednesday noon to visit the Bazaars. I can’t imagine staying in Istanbul without strolling in the grand Bazaar.
Another (connected) question: will Istanbul be empty during the days of Bayram as it goes in the cities of western Europe on August 15th for example? I hope to see the streets full of people and food sellers as it was in my memories. If not, I will seriously consider changing my reservations.
Thank you for your help
Best regards
Régis
Hi Regis,
Let me immediately ease your mind: there is no need to worry.
The Bazaars are closed during the religious holiday, which is the Bayram. The Ramadan is a religious period, but not a holiday. So you’ll have plenty of time to browse the bazaars at the start of your stay in Istanbul.
Also, in Istanbul you never walk alone. And the Bayram will only make it more crowded, because the whole of Turkey will be on the road to visit friends and relatives.
Kind regards,
Erlend