Ramadan in Istanbul 2027: dates, iftar times and tips

Ramadan 2027 dates

Turkey sets religious dates in advance, by astronomical calculation, through the Diyanet, the Presidency of Religious Affairs: they do not depend on moon sighting and may differ by a day from those of other countries.

Ramadan moves forward by about eleven days each year. In 2027 it falls at the end of winter, so days are still cool: see what to do in Istanbul in February and what to do in Istanbul in March.

Iftar and sahur times

Iftar, the breaking of the fast, takes place at the sunset call to prayer. Sahur is the last meal, before dawn. Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year: iftar moves back a few minutes each week.

These times come from an imsakiye timetable for Istanbul calculated with the Diyanet method; differences of a few minutes with the official calendar are possible. Check the day before on the Diyanet website or on the notice at the nearest mosque.

What changes for a visitor

• Sites stay open. Major monuments such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace or the Basilica Cistern keep their usual hours. Only the first day of the Bayram and weekly closing days change things.
• Eating in public is not forbidden. In Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu or Kadıköy, most restaurants and cafés stay open during the day. Be discreet in conservative districts such as Fatih, Çarşamba or Eyüp.
• Daytime hours. Streets are calmer in the morning and livelier from late afternoon.
• Traffic. The hour before iftar is the worst for getting around, by taxi or public transport: see taxis in Istanbul and transport in Istanbul.
• Mosques. They stay open to visitors between prayers, but avoid iftar and the evening prayer, extended by the tarawih: see visiting a mosque in Istanbul.

Where and how to have iftar

• In a restaurant. Many offer a fixed-price iftar menu. Dining rooms are full at sunset: book, or arrive before the call to prayer. See Ottoman cuisine restaurants and what to eat in Istanbul.
• In the street. On Sultanahmet Square, around the Süleymaniye Mosque and in Eyüp, families picnic at iftar time: see the page Eyüp and Pierre Loti Hill.
• With locals. If you are invited to share an iftar, accept gladly: it is a common gesture of hospitality.
• Specialities of the month. Ramazan pidesi, a round bread with sesame seeds, and güllaç, a dessert of milk and rose water.

The Night of Power and the Ramazan Bayramı

The Night of Power falls on the night of Friday 5 March 2027: the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and the major mosques attract a large crowd. The Ramazan Bayramı lasts from 9 to 11 March: three public holidays, preceded by a half-day off on the afternoon of 8 March. Public offices, banks and the Grand Bazaar close, many Istanbulites leave the city and roads are jammed just before and after. Details (museums, transport, hotels) are in public holidays and bayrams in Istanbul. Turkish schools are on break from 8 to 12 March 2027 according to the Ministry of National Education calendar: families travel, which adds to the crowds in hotels and on the roads.

Should you avoid Ramadan?

No. This month offers an atmosphere you do not find the rest of the year, with hotel rates still low in winter. The drawbacks are real but modest: busy evenings around iftar, a few establishments closed during the day in conservative districts, and a very busy end-of-month festival for getting around. Keep the first day of the Bayram, 9 March, as a rest day and avoid planning a national palace or the Grand Bazaar that day.

Going further

For the other dates of the year, see the Istanbul festival calendar and Istanbul in winter. To choose your dates, read the best time to visit Istanbul.