r/istanbul • u/thegreenlorac • 3d ago
Travel First Trip to Istanbul during Republic Day
Forgive our ignorance when we planned the trip, but we didn't know we'd be there during Republic Day when we booked the trip many months ago. None of us have been to Istanbul at all before. We planned out what to see before we realized what would be occurring next week and how that could impact the trip.
How much busier will the city be next week versus normal weeks? Specifically for the typical tourist sites.
Besides government building closures and road closures for parades, are there any other things we need to plan around as tourists?
Are there any local tips for navigating the week you wish tourists knew?
We plan on trying to stay out of the way of residents who want to enjoy their national holiday without foreigners getting in the way. Of course, we are honored to be there and want to respect locals, but we would like to see the Bosphoros light show and other events, if possible. We want to be as respectful as possible of your beautiful city during such a big holiday.