Updated Date : 27.03.2023
Istanbul During Ramadan
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic world. During Ramadan, people support each other, and visit their friends and relatives. During the month of Ramadan, people are ordered to fast. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. Fasting also teaches people to dust off self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy. The main reasons for this are to understand the plight of the poor and to advocate for being healthier. Thus, fasting affects people's daily life.
Ramadan across Turkey is greeted with great enthusiasm and joy. People get up for sahur (a meal before dawn during Ramadan) and have breakfast before the sun comes out in the morning. Noon hours are quiet, but everyone gets together at iftar (evening meal during Ramazan). Only 30 days a year this routine continues. Hakkari city is the first fasting in Turkey. Regarding the sunset fasting starting from the middle of Turkey to Western Turkey. During Ramadan food tastes different, People cook with more care, even dishes that are not cooked throughout the year are cooked at that time. So if you visit Tukey during Ramadan, you will see many varieties of food. Another thing people you must do is taste pide (Turkish flatbread traditionally prepared during Ramadan) and gullac (a sweet made from sheets of gullac soaked in milky syrup, filled with nuts, and flavored with rose water). Pide and gullac are the symbols of the Ramadan period in Turkey.
If you are thinking of traveling to Istanbul during Ramadan, then this is the right time to visit! The month of Ramadan may be good for you as it is the month of abundance and mercy. Even if you are non-Muslim, you can attend iftar and you can explore more about the Ramadan period. By participating in iftar with local people, you will see the hospitality of the people in Turkey. You can catch an unforgettable atmosphere during Ramadan. Don't be afraid if you hear drums on every street in Istanbul before sunrise. This means they’re calling you for the sahur. It would be an exciting experience. Some people even tip the drummers out the window.
It may not be ethical to smoke or eat outside during Ramadan. Also, during Ramadan, restaurants and alcoholic places will be less busy. Especially at noon, restaurants do not have many customers due to people fasting. On the other hand, some non-alcoholic restaurants run out of space at iftar. During Ramadan, some families make reservations at special restaurants for fasting. We can highly recommend to you try it during Ramadan. During Ramadan mosques in Istanbul may become more crowded. Visiting the mosques during Ramadan would gain you a cultural experience.
The last 3 days of Ramadan in Turkey it is called “Seker Bayrami” which means Candy Feast. On these days it would be hard to find taxis, and transportation can be busy than usual. On Candy Feast, people visit their relatives, and people celebrate with each other.