December in Istanbul at a glance
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 is a normal working day in Türkiye. Shops, museums and transport run as usual. |
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January 2027 is a public holiday. |
| Weather | About 11°C in the day and 6°C at night, with rain on around one day in three. |
| Sunset | About 17:35 to 17:45, so the lights are on in the early evening. |
| Festive spots | İstiklal Avenue, Nişantaşı, Bağdat Avenue, Galataport and the big shopping centres. |
| Busy dates | The last ten days of December, and above all 31 December. |
Is Christmas celebrated in Istanbul?
Most people in Istanbul do not celebrate Christmas itself, and 25 December is an ordinary working day. What the city celebrates is the New Year. From late November the streets fill with lights, trees and decorations, many of them the same symbols you know from Christmas, and in Turkish the New Year tree and Santa Claus are often simply called "Noel". So a visitor in December gets the festive feeling, the lights and the markets, without the closed shops of a Christmas holiday at home.
Istanbul also has old Christian communities, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Catholic and Protestant, and their churches hold services at Christmas.
Winter markets and festive lights
In recent years Istanbul has had a busy season of winter and New Year markets, with stalls, hot drinks, food, music and decorations. Locations and dates change every year, so check before you go, but these places have hosted them:
- Galataport. The cruise port on the Bosphorus in Karaköy has held a winter village by the clock tower square through December.
- KüçükÇiftlik Park in Maçka, with a New Year village and market.
- Tersane İstanbul in Kasımpaşa, on the Golden Horn.
- Shopping centres such as Zorlu Center and Kanyon, with New Year villages and stalls.
- Cultural institutes, such as the French Institute in Taksim, often hold a weekend Christmas market in early December.
For lights, walk İstiklal Avenue in the evening, then the streets of Nişantaşı, or cross to the Asian side for Bağdat Avenue.
Christmas Eve services
Churches across Istanbul hold Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, some in several languages. The best known is the Catholic Church of St Anthony of Padua on İstiklal Avenue, whose midnight mass draws a big crowd every year; arrive early. Other churches with Christmas services include the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Harbiye and All Saints Church in Moda. Service times are announced by each church in December.
Things to do in December
- Museums and palaces without the summer queues. Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and Dolmabahçe Palace are much calmer. See our guides to Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia.
- A hammam. The perfect answer to a cold, wet afternoon.
- Winter food. Salep and boza, roasted chestnuts on every corner, hamsi (anchovies) from the Black Sea in season, and hot soup at an esnaf lokantası. See what to eat in Istanbul.
- The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar for gifts, lamps, ceramics and Turkish delight. See our Grand Bazaar guide.
- A guided day in the old city. Our old city tour covers Sultanahmet in one day, mostly indoors when it rains.
A festive evening on the Bosphorus
A dinner on the water is one of the best things to do in Istanbul in December. With sunset at about half past five, the palaces, mosques and bridges are lit for the whole evening.
- A shared dinner cruise with a Turkish dinner and a show in a warm indoor saloon: see our Bosphorus dinner cruise, from €30 per person.
- A private yacht for your group, decorated for the season, with your own menu and music: a Christmas dinner for the family, a birthday or a proposal under the lit bridge. See the private dinner cruise and yacht celebrations.
- A company year-end party on the water: see company parties on a yacht and our guide to a corporate New Year party.
Is it too cold? Not on a yacht with a closed saloon. Read our guide: is a Bosphorus cruise worth it in winter?
The run-up to New Year's Eve
From Christmas week on, the city is building up to 31 December. Hotels, restaurants and cruises fill up, so book your New Year's Eve plans early in December at the latest. Read our complete New Year's Eve guide, see where to watch the fireworks, or join our New Year's Eve cruise with dinner, shows and hotel transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas a holiday in Istanbul?
No. 25 December is a normal working day in Türkiye, so shops, museums and transport run as usual. New Year's Day, 1 January, is a public holiday.
Does Istanbul have Christmas markets?
Istanbul has winter and New Year markets in December, in recent years at places such as Galataport, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Tersane İstanbul and large shopping centres. Dates change every year, so check before you go.
Where can I go to Christmas Eve mass in Istanbul?
The best known is the midnight mass at the Church of St Anthony of Padua on İstiklal Avenue. Other churches, such as the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Harbiye and All Saints in Moda, also hold Christmas services. Each church announces its times in December.
What is the weather like in Istanbul in December?
Cool and changeable: about 11°C in the day and 6°C at night, with rain on around one day in three. Bring a warm coat, layers and an umbrella.
Is Istanbul worth visiting in December?
Yes. The big sights are much quieter, the city is lit for New Year, and winter food like salep and roasted chestnuts is everywhere. An evening on the Bosphorus is beautiful, as the lights are on from half past five.
Can we have a Christmas dinner on a yacht in Istanbul?
Yes. We arrange private dinners on the Bosphorus for families and groups, with decoration, your own menu and music. Tell us your date and group size and we send a written quote.
A festive night on the Bosphorus
Dinner on a private yacht, decorated for the season, with the lit bridges outside the window. Tell us your date and group size.
More guides
- Is a Bosphorus cruise worth it in winter?Weather, sunset times and the best cruise for the cold months.
- New Year's Eve in Istanbul 2026: the complete guideWhere to celebrate, weather, transport and tips.
- Where to watch the New Year's fireworks in IstanbulThe best views of midnight over the Bosphorus.
- Istanbul travel tipsPractical advice for your first visit.