What to do in Istanbul in March: weather, Ramadan and Bayram 2027

March weather: cool, damp and changeable

Source: averages published for Istanbul by the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM), the Turkish weather service; Sea of Marmara temperature over 1970-2025. The temperature rises noticeably towards the end of the month, but swings from day to day are large: a mild, sunny day can be followed by a cold north wind (poyraz) and showers. The sea is too cold for swimming. Keep some indoor options handy with our guide what to do in Istanbul when it rains. For the whole season, see Istanbul in spring.

Crowds and prices in March

Together with February, March is the quietest month of the year: in 2025 Istanbul received about 1.2 million foreign visitors in March, against nearly 1.9 million in July and October (statistics from the provincial directorate of culture and tourism, used in our guide to the best time to visit Istanbul). Queues at Hagia Sophia and Topkapı are shorter than in late spring and hotels, outside holiday dates, are cheaper. Two things can lift demand in 2027: Ramazan Bayramı, which draws Turkish travellers, and Easter, which falls on 28 March in the Western calendar and may coincide with European school holidays at the end of the month (check the calendar for your country). Our guide where to stay in Istanbul compares the neighbourhoods.

Dates for March 2027

1 to 8 March: the last days of Ramadan

According to the calendar of the Diyanet, Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs, Ramadan 2027 runs from Monday 8 February to Monday 8 March. The first eight days of March are therefore the last days of the fast: the city lives normally by day, then comes alive at sunset around the mosques. The mahya, the lit messages strung between minarets, are still visible. The Night of Power (Kadir Gecesi) is on the evening of Friday 5 March, widely observed at Eyüp. Customs, places and tips are in our page on Ramadan in Istanbul.

Monday 8 March: arife

Monday 8 March is the eve of the festival (arife), the last day of fasting; government offices close at midday. On the eve of a bayram, evening journeys are also busier.

Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March: Ramazan Bayramı

The festival that ends Ramadan has three public holidays. The Grand Bazaar closes, as do many shops; national palaces such as Topkapı may close or change their hours, although several major sites opened normally in 2026. Check each site the day before. Many Istanbul residents leave the city, central streets are quieter and roads and stations are packed before and after the festival. Our guide to public holidays and bayrams details what closes.

Thursday 18 March: Çanakkale victory commemoration

18 March is the day of remembrance for the martyrs and the naval victory at Çanakkale (1915), with official ceremonies on the Gelibolu peninsula. It is not a national public holiday, but Istanbul is decked with flags. To see the peninsula you need a long excursion: see Troy and Gallipoli from Istanbul.

What opens, what closes

• Parks begin to turn green at the end of the month. April's tulips are not here yet: see the April guide, what to do in Istanbul in April.
• Bosphorus cruise boats run all year; check the day's timetable before setting out.
• Beaches and seafront terraces stay empty or closed; the Princes' Islands are calm but not yet in full season.
• Museums and hammams are at their best, with few people.

What to wear in March

• A windproof or waterproof coat: the Bosphorus wind is sharp.
• Layers: a sweater under the jacket in the morning, a T-shirt for sunny afternoons late in the month.
• Closed, waterproof shoes: the cobbled, sloping streets of the old city are slippery in the rain.
• A scarf for evenings on the water and, for women, for entering a mosque; see what to wear in mosques.
• A pocket umbrella.

The best ideas for outings in March

• The great monuments, without the crowds: Hagia Sophia, the Süleymaniye Mosque and the palaces, with short queues. See also how to avoid queues.
• A hammam: a good option in cold weather, see our best hammams in Istanbul.
• Art museums: Istanbul Modern or the Sakıp Sabancı Museum for rainy afternoons.
• A Bosphorus cruise on a clear day: see the Bosphorus cruise, with a warm jacket.
• Cafés and pastry shops: see the tea houses and cafés.

March 2027 in Istanbul at a glance

Going further

March follows what to do in Istanbul in February and precedes what to do in Istanbul in April. For the annual calendar, see the festivals agenda.