National Holidays

National holidays are great opportunities for locals to go on holidays and keep up with the relatives.

This makes these days a big challenge about handling traffic jam and reaching your flight on time after that long line of passport control. All banks, offices and businesses are close and traffic intensifies on these days.

Here's a list of Turkish national holidays:

• December 31:
New Year’s Eve.

Banks and public offices are closed afternoon.

• January 1:
New Year’s Day.

Banks and public offices are closed.

• April 23:
National Independence & Children's Day.

This day celebrates the anniversary of the first Grand National Assembly, which met in Ankara in 1920 and was later decreed by Atatürk as Children's Day.

The day is marked by parades and processions by schoolchildren.

Banks and public offices are closed.

• May 19:
Atatürk Commemoration & Youth & Sports Day.

This day signifies the beginning of the Independence War with the arrival of Atatürk to Samsun on May 19 in 1919.

Students nationwide participate in athletic games, gymnastic events and parades.

Banks and public offices are closed.

• August 30:
Victory Day.

Banks and public offices are closed.

• September 19-22, 2009:
Ramazan Feast.

This is the 1 day preparation (Turkish: Arife) and 3-day celebration of the end of Ramadan. (Total 4 days)

Banks and public offices are closed.

• October 28:
Republic Day’s Eve.

Banks and public offices are closed afternoon.

• October 29:
Republic Day.

This event celebrates the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Don’t miss the fireworks displays on the Bosphorus Strait if you’re in town.

Banks and public offices are closed.

• November 10:
Anniversary of Atatürk's Death.

People pay their respects nationwide to the founder of the Turkish Republic.

• November 26-December 1, 2009:
Kurban Feast.

This is the 1 day preparation (Turkish: Arife) and 4-day celebration of the Kurban Festivities. /Total 5 days)

Banks and public offices are closed.

Back to Top

Some basic info about religious feasts:

The dates of the Ramadan Feast and Kurban Feast change every year, so it is wise to check out before your trip.

And be aware that during the 5-day Kurban Feast and 4-day Ramadan Feast not only banks but nearly all stores (except for the shopping malls and stores in Beyoglu of course) are closed.

And keep in mind that the airports can be overcrowded because of these holidays.

• Ramadan Month and Ramadan Feast:

Ramadan is the Muslim fasting month.

During Ramadan the Sultanahmet Region, mostly the Hippodrome transforms into a street fair. Colorful booths selling food and sweets take on the scene and the area becomes full of picnickers.

So it is not possible to move freely and apply your own agenda during this time of the year.

There is a significant difference between a normal time of the year and Ramazan month. Expect that;

- Holy places will be over-crowded

- Some restaurants might be closed during daytime

- Traffic before the dinner will give you a hard time

- Attitude of people will alter depending on the low blood sugar. Some locals can be in an angry mood, because of the fasting.

- business hours can be chaotic.

• Kurban Feast:

This feast is the celebration of prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God.

A lot of animals are sacrificed during this feast. I personally don’t recommend you to be around on these days.

Back to Top

These are all national holidays in Turkey.

Please consider these dates while you are planning your trip to Istanbul and ...

Get the most of your stay!

Back to Top

Back to "Fast Facts" from "National Holidays"

Back to Homepage