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 attractions 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. During these holidays Turks visit their relatives all over the country. Also please note that May 1 demonstrations in and around Taksim and Kadıköy often end pretty agitated. Don’t take unnecessary risks, and avoid crowded areas such as Taksim, Nişantaşı, Beşiktaş, and Kadıköy on May 1st.
Public & Religious Holidays in 2025
Wednesday, 1 January
New Year’s Day (Yılbaşı) – National Holiday – First day of the new year.
Saturday, 29 March
Sugar Feast’s Eve (Ramazan Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Sunday, 30 March – Tuesday, 1 April
Sugar Feast (Ramazan Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Three-day festival to celebrate the end of fasting (Ramadan) where plenty of sweets are eaten.
Wednesday, 23 April
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Eğemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) – National Holiday – Commemoration of the first opening of the 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. It is dedicated to the youth.
Thursday, 5 June
Feast of the Sacrifice’s Eve (Kurban Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Friday, 6 – Monday, 9 June
Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Four-day festival where sheep are sacrificed/slaughtered and their meat is distributed to the poor.
Tuesday, 15 July
Democracy Day – National Holiday – Celebrating foiled coup attempt of 2016.
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.
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.
Tuesday, 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.
Guided Mosque & Basilica Cistern Tours
Public & Religious Holidays in 2026
Thursday, 1 January
New Year’s Day (Yılbaşı) – National Holiday – First day of the new year.
Thursday, 19 March
Sugar Feast’s Eve (Ramazan Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Friday, 20 – Sunday, 22 March
Sugar Feast (Ramazan Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Three-day festival to celebrate the end of fasting (Ramadan) where plenty of sweets are eaten.
Thursday, 23 April
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Eğemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) – National Holiday – Commemoration of the first opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara (1920). Dedicated to the children.
Friday, 1 May
Labor and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü) – National Holiday.
Tuesday, 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. It is dedicated to the youth.
Tuesday, 26 May
Feast of the Sacrifice’s Eve (Kurban Bayramı Arifesi) – Religious Holiday – ½ day.
Wednesday, 27 – Saturday, 30 May
Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) – Religious Holidays – Four-day festival where sheep are sacrificed/slaughtered and their meat is distributed to the poor.
Wednesday, 15 July
Democracy Day – National Holiday – Celebrating foiled coup attempt of 2016.
Sunday, 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, 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.
Wednesday, 28 October
Republic Day’s Eve (Cumhuriyet Bayramı Arifesi) – National Holiday – ½ day.
Thursday, 29 October
Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) – National Holiday – Anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
First of all, I am very grateful for your website.
We are planning to travel to Istanbul from the night of October 28, 2023 to the morning of the 30th. The time we go sightseeing is actually only a whole day on October 29th. I know that the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar are closed on that day. Will it affect other sightseeing spots, restaurants, shopping malls, etc.?
Hi,
Have you had a look at all the opening hours of most of Istanbul’s sightseeing spots? Restaurants, shopping malls, etc will be open on Sunday, no worries.
Hi – we are planning to arrive in Istanbul via overnight sleeper from Bulgaria Friday 27 October and staying 5 nights leaving Wednesday November 1st. After reading your post I wonder how much we will be able to see given the 28-29th October are public holidays and then some are closed Mon-Tuesday?? We have nothing booked as yet.
Would appreciate your recommendations eg should we delay arriving by a day? How far ahead should be we booking accommodation and will the public holidays mean the city is extra busy with visitors?
Kind regards
Hi,
In my opinion there is no need to delay your trip. Here you’ll find an overview of what sightseeing spots that may be affected. Keep in mind that it’s not a religious holiday, but an official one, and that you only have to take into account October 29.
I intend to visit Istanbul from 8-15 April 2023.
Will the Grand Bazar be closed the whole time?
Why would it be closed?
Hi, first of all thank you for your amazing work on this website! I’ve been to Istanbul multiple times but it is still very helpful.
I am coming to Istanbul during Kurban Bayramı (July 9th to July 12th). I know the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar will be closed, but this is not a big deal since I already had the opportunity to visit these two places.
I was wondering if the malls and the markets (Kadıköy salı pazarı especially) will be open or closed during the entire time of Kurban Bayramı?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Al,
Shops and shopping centers will be open, mostly starting after noon on the first day or certainly from the morning onwards the second day. Markets normally do not open during bayrams.
Will you please update these for 2022? Thanks.
Hi, you can find the 2022 dates under the 2021 list. Until I have updated it, then you’ll see 2022 at the top and 2023 below it.
Hi, planning to visit Istanbul from 24th May to 30th May this year, will the places of interest be shut for the sugar feast holidays?
Have you had a look at this overview on opening hours of Istanbul’s places of interest?
Thank you for this list and explanations! Turns out I will be in Istanbul during the 2019 Feast of the Sacrifice and I would have missed visiting the Grand Bazaar without this info.
Glad I could help!