Holidays
National Public Holidays:
January 1: New Year’s Day.
April 23: National Sovereignty and Children’s Day
May 19: Ataturk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day
August 30: Victory Day
October 29: Republic Day
Religious Public Holidays:
March 5-8: Kurban Bayram (Eid al Adha)
December16-18: Ramazan Bayram or Seker Bayram (Eid al Fitr)
Principal Turkish International Culture and Art Festivals
Traditional Manisa Mesir Festival
Manisa, April 1-7
International Istanbul Film Festival
Istanbul, May 2 – April 17
International 23 April Child Festivity
Ankara, April 23
International Ankara Film Festival
Ankara, April 26 – May 9
International Ankara Music Festival
Ankara, April 27 – May 20
Yunus Emre Culture and Art Week
Eskişehir, May 6 – 10
International Ankara Cartoon Festival
Ankara, May 7 – 11
Denizli International Amateur Theaters Festival
Denizli, May 7 – 14
International Istanbul Theater Festival
Istanbul, May 19 – June 3
Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
Antalya, June
International Istanbul Music Festival
Istanbul, June 9 – July 4
International Bursa Festival
Bursa, June 12 – July 12
Bilkent International Theater Meeting
Ankara, June 15 – 25
International Izmir Festival
Izmir, June 15 – July 15
International Pamukkale Music and Culture Festival
Denizli, July 22 – 27
International Commagene Festival
Adıyaman, June 25 – 27
Alaçatı International Child and Youth Theaters Festival
Izmir, June 28 – July 3
Nasrettin Hodja Festival
Konya, July 5 – 10
Traditional Kırkpınar Oil-Wrestling Festivies
Edirne, July 5 – 11
International Istanbul Jazz Festival
Istanbul, July 7 – 18
Çeşme Sea Festivity and International Song Contest
Izmir, July 20 – 25
Bilkent International Anatolia Music Festival
Ankara, August 14
International Hacı Bektaş Veli Memorial Celebrations
Nevşehir, August 16 – 18
Izmir Fair International Folk Dances Festival
Izmir, September 4 – 12
International Istanbul Biennial
Istanbul, September 17 – November 8
International Atatürk Dam Water Sports Festival
Şanlıurfa, October 2 – 3
Alanya International Culture and Art Festival
Alanya, October 3 – 5
Şanlıurfa International Culture and Art Week
Şanlıurfa, October 14 – 26
Demre International Noel Baba (St. Nicholas) Memorial Celebrations
Antalya, December 3 – 7
Mevlana Memorial Celebrations
Konya, December 10 – 17
Weather
Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts:
These coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The swimming season becomes shorter as one travels north:
Marmara and North Aegean:
June to September
South Aegean and Mediterranean:
April to October
Black Sea Coast:
Temperate climate with warm summers, mild winters and relatively high rainfall.
Central Anatolia:
These areas have a steppe climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters.
Eastern Anatolia:
Long snowy, cold winters with mild summers.
Southeast Anatolia:
These areas have a hot summer with mild, rainy winters.
Average air temperatures for major cities in celsius:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| ANTALYA | 10 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 12 |
| IZMIR | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 10 |
| ISTANBUL | 5 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 8 |
| TRABZON | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 9 |
| ANKARA | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 2 |
| ERZURUM | -9 | -7 | -3 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 2 | -5 |
| DIYARBAKIR | 2 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 4 |