Last checked: October 28, 2026. Labels: Stated = said by an official source (Diyanet, GoTürkiye, Turkish law, UK government); Reported = news or third-party report; Conflicting = sources disagree; Not checked yet = no official source found.
Short answer: Ramadan in Turkey 2027 starts on Monday, February 8, 2027, according to the official 2027 calendar of Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and Ramazan Bayramı (Eid al-Fitr) runs from Tuesday March 9 to Thursday March 11, 2027. For travelers, Istanbul in Ramadan means iftar menus in restaurants and hotels, mahya lights between minarets and drummers at sahur time. Shops and restaurants may change their hours, and the UK government advises visitors to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in the daytime.
Ramadan in Turkey 2027: official dates
| Day | Hijri date | Date (2027) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| First sahur | Night before 1 Ramazan | Night of February 7 to 8 | Reported (Evrensel, citing Diyanet) |
| Start of Ramadan | 1 Ramazan 1448 | Monday, February 8 | Stated (Diyanet) |
| Kadir Gecesi (Laylat al-Qadr) | 26 Ramazan 1448 | Friday, March 5 (evening) | Stated (Diyanet) |
| Arefe (eve of the bayram) | 29 Ramazan 1448 | Monday, March 8 | Stated (Diyanet) |
| Ramazan Bayramı, days 1 to 3 | 1 to 3 Şevval 1448 | Tuesday, March 9 to Thursday, March 11 | Stated (Diyanet) |
Sources: Diyanet, 2027 religious days list; Evrensel. Türkiye follows this calculated calendar, so its dates can differ by a day from countries that wait for a local moon sighting. Daily sahur and iftar times for Istanbul and Antalya are in our Ramadan 2027 fasting hours planner.
What Ramadan in Istanbul feels like for travelers
GoTürkiye, the official tourism portal, describes the Ramadan traditions you are likely to notice (Stated, GoTürkiye, Ramadan and Ramadan feasts):
- Mahya lights: “mosques are illuminated with roof ridges containing Ramadan messages”, lit strings hung between minarets.
- Ramadan drummers: they “play their drums and inform locals of sahur”, the pre-dawn meal. Light sleepers may want a room away from the street.
- Ramazan pidesi: a round flatbread that “can only be found in bakeries during the holy month”.
- Iftar menus: “many high-end restaurants and luxury hotels in Türkiye offer rich iftar menus”.
A GoTürkiye press release from 2023 also describes communal iftar tables in city squares and traditional Ramadan entertainment in squares, “especially Sultanahmet” (Stated for 2023, GoTürkiye press release). The 2027 program of the Istanbul municipality is not published yet, and its websites did not load when we checked (Not checked yet).
Planning what to see between iftars? Our guides to Istanbul’s Islamic landmarks and Istanbul halal street food help, and halal holidays in Istanbul covers alcohol-free hotels.
Ramadan rules in Turkey for tourists: eating, opening hours, mosques
- Eating in public: the UK government’s travel advice for Türkiye lists behaviour that may cause offence during Ramadan, including to “eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car” (Stated, GOV.UK, Turkey safety and security). This is advice on courtesy, not a law we could find.
- Restaurants and shops: the same page advises you to “check opening hours of shops and restaurants” and says hotels and restaurants that serve food in fasting hours “may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens” (Stated, UK government). We found no Turkish official statement on daytime opening.
- Mosque visits: GOV.UK advises to “dress modestly if you’re visiting a mosque”, and GoTürkiye suggests checking prayer times to plan visits to the great mosques (Stated, GoTürkiye, prayer and mosques). Expect fuller mosques at iftar and at night (tarawih).
Ramazan Bayramı 2027: holiday length and closures
Turkish law sets Ramazan Bayramı at 3.5 days, starting at 13:00 on the arefe (Stated, Law 2429 on national holidays). For 2027 that means from the afternoon of Monday, March 8 to Thursday, March 11. GoTürkiye calls it a four-day national holiday (Conflicting; we follow the law). In some years the government adds administrative leave days to create a longer break; whether that happens in 2027 is not known yet. Domestic travel is busy during bayram, so book transport and coastal hotels early.
Museums and the Grand Bazaar: some guides say they close on the first morning or first day of the bayram, but we could not confirm this on an official site (Not checked yet). Check the venue’s own page shortly before you go.
Which Ramadan trip to Türkiye fits you?
- City and culture: Istanbul in Ramadan, with iftar in a hotel or restaurant that states its menu is halal. Arriving by air? See our Istanbul Airport prayer room and halal food guide.
- Beach and resort: February and early March are off-season on the Antalya coast, and Türkiye’s women-only beach resorts usually open from around April. See our halal holidays in Turkey guide for alcohol-free resorts.
- Eid in Türkiye: compare with other destinations in our Eid al-Fitr 2027 holidays guide.
Questions to ask before you book
- Do you serve sahur (suhoor) in Ramadan, from what time, and is it included in my rate?
- Is your iftar menu halal, and do you serve alcohol in the same restaurant?
- Is the room on a street where the Ramadan drummer passes at night?
- Are restaurants, spa or pool open at different hours in Ramadan or during the bayram? More in our questions to ask before you book.
FAQ
When is Ramadan in Turkey 2027?
Diyanet’s official calendar puts the start of Ramadan on Monday, February 8, 2027, and Ramazan Bayramı from March 9 to 11, 2027.
Is Istanbul good to visit during Ramadan for tourists?
Many travelers enjoy the atmosphere: mahya lights, iftar menus and busy evenings. Expect changed opening hours and fuller mosques, and be discreet with food and drink in public during the day.
Are restaurants open during Ramadan in Turkey?
The UK government says some hotels and restaurants serve food in fasting hours, sometimes behind screens, and advises checking opening hours. We found no official Turkish rule that closes restaurants.
