When planning a short holiday visit, a longer stay of a few months or if you’re fortunate enough to be in the position of considering buying a property in Turkey, then you’ll need to know when the country’s official holidays are to help you plan your trip better.
Here at Oceanwide properties, we found that the Turkish citizens take their national holidays very seriously and you’ll find schools, public buildings and businesses close down with most people having the day free for leisure activities.
Official holidays involve both national and Islamic celebration dates (although the dates for the latter change on an annual basis due to the fact they are regulated by the Lunar Calendar (ie based on the phases of the moon). They are always coordinated and announced by the Government’s Presidency of Religious Affairs department.
Often large non-Turkish and non-Islamic celebrations (such as Easter, Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Day) are usually referred to as Bayram.
The national dates are based on the Gregorian calendar following are both the national and regional holidays in Turkey for 2014:
Official Holidays Turkey 2014
- Jan 1 (Wed) New Year’s Day
- April 23 (Wed) National Holiday of the Sovereign and his Children
- May 1 (Thurs) Labour and Solidarity Day
- May 19 (Mon) Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day
- July 25 (Fri) Bank Holiday (from 13:00)
- July 28 (Mon) End of Ramadan (possibly changed to nearest day)
- July 29 (Tues) End of Ramadan (as above)
- July 30 (Wed) End of Ramadan (as above)
- August 30 (Sat) Victory Day
- October 3 (Frid) Bank Holiday (from 13:00)
- October 5 (Sun) Eid-ul-Adha – Feast of the Sacrifice (possibly changed to nearestday)
- October 6 (Mon) Eid-ul-Adha – Feast of the Sacrifice (as above)
- October 7 (Tues) Eid-ul-Adha – Feast of the Sacrifice (as above)
- October 8 (Wed) Eid-ul-Adha – Feast of the Sacrifice (as above)
- October 28 (Tues) Bank Holiday (from 13:00)
- October 29 (Wed) Republic Day
Victory Day (local name: Zafer Bayramı) on August 30 commemorates the Turkish victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar. This was towards the end of the Turkish War of Independence in 1922 and was the battle which more or less secured the final outcome.
During Ramazan Bayrami many restaurants in Turkey close down for the entire day and most Muslim citizens won’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset.
Republic Day is celebrated in both Turkey and Northern Cyprus and commemorates the announcement (in terms of public recognition) of the republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal on October 29, 1923. The holiday lasts for 35 hours, starting at 1:00 pm on October 28. Ataturk became the very first president of the republic.
If you’re planning to come to Turkey to look at Turkish property such as property for sale in Kalkan, Fethiye or other resort areas then please get in touch with the team at Oceanwide Properties Turkey where we’d be happy to act as your property guides.
