Yes, Istanbul is a good city to visit during Ramadan: in Nişantaşı (Nisantasi) most restaurants and cafés stay open during the day, evenings are festive around iftar, and shops open as usual. The busiest times are the Eid holidays, when hotels and flights fill up. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 March and Eid al-Adha around 16 May.
Istanbul is a rewarding city to visit during Ramadan and the Eid holidays. Evenings take on a festive mood, mosques are lit up, and the city fills with visitors from across the Muslim world. At the same time, daily life carries on much as usual, so non-fasting travellers will find restaurants and shops open.
Dates to know
The Islamic calendar moves about 11 days earlier each year. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 March and Eid al-Adha around 16 May. Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs confirms the official dates, and they can differ by a day from other countries, so check before you book.
In Turkey the two holidays are called Ramazan Bayramı (also known as Şeker Bayramı, the “sugar holiday”) and Kurban Bayramı. Both are national public holidays: the first lasts three days and the second four, each with a half day beforehand.
Ramadan in the city
- Iftar: at sunset the call to prayer signals the breaking of the fast. Many restaurants in Nişantaşı offer a set iftar menu (see our food guide), often starting with dates, soup and a spread of starters. Tables are in high demand, so book ahead.
- Pide: bakeries make a special round Ramadan bread, sold warm in the hour before iftar, and the queues are part of the experience.
- Mahya: illuminated messages strung between the minarets of the big mosques, an Ottoman tradition you can still see across the city.
- Evenings: the areas around Sultanahmet and Eyüp Sultan are especially atmospheric after iftar, with families out late.
- Sahur: in many neighbourhoods drummers walk the streets before dawn to wake people for the pre-dawn meal.
Teşvikiye Mosque, in the centre of Nişantaşı, holds the nightly tarawih prayers. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times.
For visitors who are not fasting
Istanbul is relaxed about eating in public during Ramadan, and in Nişantaşı most cafés and restaurants open as usual during the day. It is polite to be discreet about eating, drinking and smoking near mosques, and to be patient in the hour before iftar, when traffic peaks as everyone heads home.
Eid in Istanbul
- Opening hours: government offices and banks close. Most shops, malls and restaurants in Nişantaşı stay open, though some smaller shops close on the first day.
- Eid prayer: held shortly after sunrise on the first day. Mosques overflow, so arrive early if you plan to attend.
- Hotels: Eid is one of the busiest times of year for visitors from the Gulf, and Nişantaşı is a favourite area. Book early and expect higher rates.
- Travel: many Istanbul residents leave the city, so roads out of town and the airports are very busy at the start and end of the holiday. Allow extra time and consider pre-booking your airport ride.
- Kurban Bayramı: sacrifices take place at designated sites on the edge of the city, not in the streets of Nişantaşı.
Frequently asked questions
Are restaurants open during the day in Ramadan?
Yes. In Nişantaşı and the central districts most restaurants and cafés open as usual. Some traditional places in more conservative neighbourhoods close until iftar.
Do I need to book iftar in advance?
For popular restaurants, yes, ideally a few days ahead and especially at weekends. Iftar menus usually have a fixed price.
Is Eid a good time to shop?
Shops are generally open and the streets are festive, but also crowded. Weekday mornings just before or after the holiday are calmer.