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Public Holidays in Turkey

Fixed national holidays

Six dates are fixed to the calendar every year: 1 January (New Year), 23 April (National Sovereignty and Children's Day), 1 May (Labour and Solidarity Day), 19 May (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day), 30 August (Victory Day) and 29 October (Republic Day).

Republic Day marks the founding of the republic in 1923 and is the largest of them. Government offices, banks and schools close on all six.

The two religious holidays move

Ramazan Bayramı (Eid al-Fitr) and Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha) follow the lunar Hijri calendar, so they fall about eleven days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar and cannot be listed as fixed dates.

Both are multi-day public holidays and are the busiest domestic travel periods of the year. Intercity buses and flights sell out well in advance, and coastal resorts fill up. Check the current year's dates before booking anything around them.

What actually closes

Banks, government offices and schools close on public holidays. Shops, restaurants, museums and transport largely keep running, though museum hours can be reduced on the first morning of the two Bayrams.

The government sometimes declares a bridging half-day or full day when a holiday falls near a weekend, usually announced only a few weeks ahead.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest holiday in Turkey?

Kurban Bayramı is the longest, and Republic Day on 29 October is the largest national celebration.

Do shops close on public holidays in Turkey?

Most shops and restaurants stay open. Banks, schools and government offices close.

Why are the Bayram dates different every year?

They follow the lunar Hijri calendar, which is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year, so they shift earlier annually.

More guides

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