Public Holidays, Bayram and Ramadan: How They Affect Istanbul Traffic and Your Transfer

Istanbul traffic follows the calendar. A few days a year the city is unusually quiet; on others, everyone seems to be on the road at the same time. If your trip falls around a holiday, a little planning helps.

Bayram: the religious holidays

Türkiye celebrates two religious holidays, Ramazan Bayramı (at the end of Ramadan) and Kurban Bayramı. Their dates move about 11 days earlier each year. Many residents leave the city for family visits, so:

• the day before Bayram and the first morning are very busy on roads out of the city and at the airports;
• during the holiday itself, city roads are often much quieter than usual;
• the last day brings heavy return traffic, especially in the evening.

Ramadan

During Ramadan, traffic builds up in the hour before the evening meal (iftar), as people hurry home, and roads then become quiet while everyone eats. Restaurants and cafés stay open for visitors. If your flight or appointment is around sunset, allow extra time for the ride before iftar.

National holidays

On days such as 23 April, 19 May, 30 August and 29 October, some central roads may be closed for ceremonies or celebrations, while general traffic is lighter because offices are closed. New Year's Eve can be very busy around Taksim and the Bosphorus shore.

How we plan around it

We know these patterns and set pick-up times with them in mind. When you book a transfer around a holiday, add your flight time and we will suggest a pick-up that leaves enough margin. The fare stays the same – holiday traffic never changes the price you agreed. Questions? Contact us.