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2024 public holidays and travel tips

Turkish Airlines Blog

8 April 2024

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2024 New Year’s holiday

Much to our delight, January 1 – New Year’s Day and the first public holiday of 2024 – falls on a Monday, giving us an extra-long weekend and a great opportunity to plan a New Year’s getaway! We’ve listed some suggestions for domestic and international trips below.

Domestic New Year’s Eve destinations

For the 2024 New Year’s Holiday, you might like these addresses:

• A ski vacation at one of Türkiye’s unique ski resorts offers a fine start to the new year. Ski resorts in Uludağ, Erciyes, Palandöken and Ilgaz feature well-equipped facilities for winter sports enthusiasts.
• Welcome 2024 in Cappadocia’s fairy tale atmosphere. Especially evocative when it snows, Cappadocia is a terrific winter destination, offering stunning sunrises and sunsets, as well as activities like pottery making, and simply relaxing in front of the fireplace. 
• With its beautiful seasonal colors, Abant is an ideal New Year’s holiday destination due to its proximity to major cities like İstanbul and Ankara.
• The Republic of Northern Cyprus, the pearl of the south, is home to wonderful hotels and resorts –  enjoy a warm start to the new year!

New Year’s routes abroad

For a 2024 New Year’s holiday abroad, the following cities have fantastic celebrations.

• On New Year’s Eve, Amsterdam’s famous Dam Square and the Leidsplein are centers of action, with hundreds of people gathering to celebrate.
• On New Year’s Eve, London’s most famous streets and neighborhoods sparkle, including Oxford, Regent, Carnaby and Piccadilly. London is renowned for its spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks displays.
• Prague, the capital of Czechia and one of the world’s most romantic cities, appears even more picturesque on New Year’s Eve, illuminating a history that dates back over a thousand years to Bohemia.
• Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is also quite picturesque, with scenic views from its bridges over the Danube River. This fun, colorful and historic Central European city offers majestic architecture and an east-west synthesis.
• With its Christmas markets and glittering streets, Berlin, Germany’s cosmopolitan capital, is one of the best European cities to visit during the New Year’s holiday. Promising a dynamic metropolitan experience, Berlin is known for its diversity and contrasts.

Eid al-Fitr holiday

Eid al-Fitr, the conclusion of Ramadan, ranks second among the 2024 official holidays in terms of chronological order. Eid al-Fitr begins in the evening of April 9, which is a half-day holiday, and continues through Friday, April 12, giving celebrants an extra-long weekend of joy.

2024 Ramadan Eid holiday recommendations

We do have suggestions for readers seeking to observe Eid al-Fitr away from home, but please note that this holiday is traditionally spent with loved ones.

• Bodrum, one of Türkiye’s most beloved vacation spots, is a popular destination for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, especially in April. While the sea is still too chilly for swimming, you can enjoy other daytime activities and, in the evenings, attend special concerts and other events. The area’s major tourist attractions include the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; 19^th-century windmills on the lovely hills in Yalıkavak; the famous Bodrum Castle, dating from the 15^th and 16^th centuries; and the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, winner of a “Certificate of Special Commendation” in the European Museum of the Year Award in 1995. In addition to the region’s ancient cities, other attractions in Bodrum include the Zeki Müren Art Museum, which contains many items related to the artist.  
• Cappadocia is a great destination for any holiday in Türkiye. The Cappadocia region and the nearest city, Nevşehir, offer many attractions. Cappadocia is sure to enchant you with its mystical atmosphere, lovely valleys, fairy chimneys, and rock-carved underground cities and settlements.
• If you plan to visit Europe, April is a wonderful month to visit Southern Europe. Mediterranean cities such as Barcelona, with its surreal Gaudi-designed architecture, and Lisbon, featuring beautifully tiled buildings, are appealing destinations for 2024’s Eid al-Fitr celebration. In Barcelona, Spain’s second largest city, visitors can relish the bustling streets and tour iconic addresses like La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Lisbon, like İstanbul, is built on seven hills and  will always hold a special place in our hearts for that similarity. This gracious city is renowned for its beauty, cuisine, music and mild climate.

April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day 

In a year filled with bridge holidays, April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day falls on a Tuesday. Take Monday off and pamper yourself with a four-day break. Getaway suggestions for April 23 include Sapanca, Abant, Edremit, Mount Ida and other destinations near major cities. For those seeking solitude, Mount Ida, in particular, offers opportunities for long walks and camping.

May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day 

This year, May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day falls on a Wednesday. While combining this mid-week public holiday with the rest of the week might be a stretch, it’s worth a try! And, May brings the arrival of spring and warmer weather. Here are some suggestions for your bridge holiday.

• If you’re staying in Türkiye and wish to travel south, Akyaka is a quiet and peaceful destination.
• By the beginning of May, the weather in Antalya and the TRNC will have warmed up significantly. For an early start to the summer, consider a trip to one of these destinations.
• İzmir, the pearl of the Aegean, is not only known for its sea tourism, but also its historical sites and natural beauty. Explore İzmir’s rich cultural heritage at sites like the Clock Tower, Konak Square and Konak Pier, the Kızlarağası Inn and the Kemeraltı Bazaar, or venture outside the city and discover pretty villages such as Alaçatı, Urla, Çeşme and Seferihisar.
• If traveling abroad is appealing, take advantage of this time, when the weather in Europe is gradually warming up. Popular European capitals like Berlin, Paris and Vienna are terrific springtime destinations.

Note: Another May holiday, the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, will be celebrated on Sunday this year.

Eid al-Adha holiday

The summer holidays of 2024 include Eid al-Adha and, this year, Eid al-Adha starts on the evening of Saturday, June 15 and concludes on Tuesday evening, June 18. If you want to spend the holiday outside the city, you can use the last day of the official holiday after Wednesday as a bridge holiday.

2024 Eid al-Adha holiday suggestions

With Eid al-Adha falling in June, many employees are likely to leave the city, possibly for Türkiye’s southern coasts or abroad. A few holiday suggestions are as follows:

• Türkiye is famous for its Blue Flag beaches. As of June 2023, there were 511 Blue Flag beaches in the country; the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, as well as the Marmara region, are already gearing up for this year’s holiday season. Antalya and İzmir are also popular destinations for enjoying sea, sand and sun while learning about culture and history.

• For a relaxing Eid al-Adha seaside holiday, Ayvalık, Cunda and Edremit are options to consider. Ayvalık’s olive groves and soap scents entice visitors seeking respite from city life, while Cunda Island, also known as Alibey Island, offers a range of accommodations, restaurants and beaches.
• Trabzon and Ordu are also options for domestic travel over Eid al-Adha. Offering a respite from summer’s hot weather, Trabzon boasts breathtaking natural beauty and historical sites, along with paragliding for extreme sports enthusiasts; in addition to its magnificent nature, there are excellent surf spots in Ordu.
• If you’re planning an international trip for Eid al-Adha, consider northern Europe. Copenhagen and London, the capitals of Denmark and the United Kingdom respectively, are both vibrant cities offering cooler weather and world-class restaurants. Copenhagen captivates visitors with its bicycle culture and scenic atmosphere, while London, one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities with more than 300 languages spoken, is equally enthralling.

July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day 

Midway through the year is July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. Falling on a Monday, you can combine the day with the weekend for a three-day break. Although the first impulse for a summer vacation is to head to the coast, we recommend a visit to the Black Sea plateaus. In addition to cooler weather – as opposed to the ever-rising summer temperatures, the Black Sea plateaus offer a unique holiday respite away from crowds and heat. We have a long list of favorites: The Ayder Plateau, Elevit Plateau, Pokut Plateau, Gito Plateau, Huser Plateau and Anzer Plateau in Rize; or the Sis Mountain Plateau and Kümbet Plateau in Giresun. The Kafkasör Plateau in Artvin is also lovely, as are the  Hıdırnebi and Sultan Murat plateaus in Trabzon, and Perşembe Plateau in Aybastı, Ordu. 

August 30 Victory Day 

Summer concludes with August 30 Victory Day. Falling on a Friday, this holiday offers a chance to enjoy a long relaxing weekend before starting a busy autumn. Some of our suggestions include the following.

• End the summer with a restful break on the southern beaches.
• End the summer with new adventures! Activities include kitesurfing in Akyaka, paragliding in Fethiye-Ölüdeniz, and diving in Kaş.

October 29 Republic Day 

Republic Day, which falls on Tuesday, October 29, can be considered a bridge holiday. Consider combining the holiday with the weekend for a four-day stay in Bolu, the forested city of the Black Sea Region. Bolu – a center for nature, history and gastronomy – satisfied the yen for a break with oxygen-filled air, beautiful surroundings and convenient proximity to major urban centers. Highlights of the area include the Bolu houses, fine examples of the city’s period architecture, as well as the Yıldırım Bayezit Mosque, and the Bolu Museum, opened to visitors in 1981. Near the city are the Abant Lake and Nature Park, Yedigöller National Park, and Gölcük Nature Park, with fir and pine trees. You can also sample famous local dishes such as Abant-style kebab and Mengen pilaf.