Christmas in Turkey: Where to Go, St Nicholas and New Year

Christmas in Türkiye is not what most European visitors expect, and that is a large part of its appeal. There are no national Christmas holidays, the shops are open on 25 December and the big night of the season is New Year's Eve. Yet the country also holds the church of the bishop whose story became Santa Claus, Istanbul's old churches fill up for Christmas Eve, and the south coast is mild enough in late December for long walks in the sun between showers. Here is how Christmas actually works in Türkiye, where to spend it and what the December weather really looks like.

Is Christmas celebrated in Turkey?

Not as a public holiday. Most people in Türkiye are Muslim, so 25 December is an ordinary working day: offices, banks, markets and museums keep normal hours. Christian communities in Istanbul and elsewhere do celebrate it in their churches, and you will find Christmas services in several languages.

What surprises many visitors is how festive the streets look anyway. Decorated trees, lights and Noel Baba (Father Christmas) figures appear in shopping streets and malls from December. In Türkiye these belong to New Year rather than Christmas. Families give gifts and often sit down to a special dinner on New Year's Eve, and supermarkets stock whole turkeys for the occasion. If you want a tree and lights, you'll find them. If you want a Christmas Day off, you'll need to make it yourself.

Is Christmas a holiday in Turkey?

No. 25 and 26 December are normal working days. The public holiday is 1 January, New Year's Day. Public offices are closed that day and some businesses close or open late after the night before.

Two more dates are useful to know:

• 24 December: Christmas Eve services at Istanbul's Catholic churches, usually in the evening.
• 7 January: Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on this date.

Most hotels that welcome many European guests organise their own Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinners. They're run by each hotel, so ask yours before you travel if a festive meal matters to you.

December weather in Turkey, region by region

Where you spend Christmas changes the weather a lot. These are the official long-term December averages from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM). They come from the 1991–2020 normals, apart from Istanbul, which uses MGM's long-term 1950–2025 series.

A few things stand out. Antalya is the mildest place on the list, with an average of 4.7 hours of sunshine a day in December, but December is also its wettest month. The rain tends to come in heavy bursts rather than all-day drizzle, so plan outdoor days flexibly. Istanbul is cool and damp, with rain on about half the days of the month. Cappadocia is properly cold, and nights below freezing are normal.

How warm is the sea at Christmas?

MGM's long-term (1970–2025) sea temperature averages for December are 18.5 °C in the Mediterranean, 15.6 °C in the Aegean and 12.0 °C in the Sea of Marmara around Istanbul. In January the Mediterranean drops to about 16.7 °C. A Christmas Day swim on the Antalya coast is possible for the hardy on a calm, sunny day. It's bracing, not balmy.

Short days: plan around the light

December has the shortest days of the year, so a late breakfast can cost you a good part of your daylight. Sunrise and sunset times (local time, UTC+3, calculated for 2026):

It's fully dark by about 18:00 everywhere. Start sightseeing early and keep museums, food and the hammam for the evening.

Where to spend Christmas in Turkey

Demre: the church of St Nicholas

If one place in Türkiye belongs in a Christmas guide, it's Demre, the ancient Myra, on the Lycian coast west of Antalya. Nicholas was born in nearby Patara and became bishop of Myra in the 4th century. Over the centuries the generous bishop of the legends became Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas and, eventually, Santa Claus.

The Church of St Nicholas in Demre, now a museum, was built over his tomb. Inside you can see a Roman-era sarcophagus traditionally believed to be his and wall paintings showing scenes from his miracles. In 1087 merchants from Bari, in southern Italy, carried part of his remains to the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari. Some relics believed to be his are on display today at the Antalya Museum.

Nicholas's feast day, 6 December, is the best-known date at the church. In recent years a liturgy has been held there on that morning with permission from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. A cleric of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul leads it, and it draws pilgrims from abroad. In 2024 it ran from about 09:00 to 12:00 with several hundred people attending. Each year's arrangements are announced shortly beforehand, so don't plan a trip around it without checking.

The rest of Demre is worth the drive too:

• Myra: the rock-cut Lycian tombs climb the cliff above a large Roman theatre.
• Andriake: the old harbour of Myra, home to the Lycian Civilisations Museum.
• Kekova: a short way along the coast, boats pass over the ruins of the Sunken City.

Opening hours: the Ministry's 2026–27 winter timetable (from 1 November) lists the St Nicholas Church Museum and the Lycian Civilisations Museum as open 08:30–17:30, and the Myra and Andriake sites as open 08:00–17:00. Older Ministry material gives slightly different winter hours, so check the official museum site (muze.gov.tr) before you go.

Demre is a long day out from the Antalya coast, so leave early and plan to be back before dark. In December, boat trips to Kekova depend on sea conditions and may not run, so treat a boat over the Sunken City as a bonus rather than the point of the day. If St Nicholas Church is the reason you're going, check the Ministry's current opening hours before you set off.

The Antalya coast: mild days and a slow pace

For many visitors, Christmas in Antalya simply means escaping a northern winter. Daytime highs in the mid-teens are normal, and many restaurants and town centres stay open all year. Some coastal resort hotels close for the winter, but the ones that stay open, especially in Antalya city and the larger resort towns, often lay on Christmas and New Year dinners for their guests. Ask your hotel what it plans and what is included.

Good December days on the coast are walking days: the ancient city of Side and its harbour, the old town of Antalya, waterfalls swollen by winter rain. On a wet afternoon, a Turkish bath with sauna, salt room and massage near Manavgat is the classic plan. The programme includes a sauna and salt room, the warm marble stone, a scrub with foam massage and an oil massage. Bring a swimsuit, because it's required. For a closer look at the season around Side, including what is open and what isn't, see our guide to Side, Turkey in winter.

Istanbul: churches, lights and New Year's Eve

Istanbul is the place to go if you want both Christmas and a sense of occasion. The Church of St Anthony of Padua on İstiklal Avenue is the city's largest Catholic church. It is open daily and holds a regular English-language Mass on Sunday mornings. In recent years its Christmas Eve programme has started with carols at around 20:00, followed by Mass, with Christmas Day Masses in several languages. Times are published by the parish each December, so check before you go, and arrive early: Christmas Eve services are crowded.

The lights along İstiklal and in the busier shopping districts make the evening walk festive even on a cold night. With highs around 12 °C and frequent rain, though, Istanbul in December rewards a good coat and an indoor plan: covered bazaars, museums, mosques (dress modestly and avoid prayer times) and long lunches.

An evening on the water is a good way to see the city lit up. Our Bosphorus dinner cruise is a three-hour cruise with a set menu, unlimited soft drinks, folk dances, a whirling dervish performance, belly dancing and a DJ, with round-trip group transfers. Alcohol costs extra. Special New Year's Eve programmes and prices vary, so ask about New Year's Eve dates separately.

Cappadocia: a chance of snow

If your idea of Christmas includes snow, Cappadocia is your best chance in central Türkiye, though snow is never guaranteed. With an average December high of 6.2 °C and lows below freezing, the fairy chimneys and valleys can look spectacular under a light covering. Sunrise is just before 08:00, so hot air balloon flights start a little later than in summer. Every flight depends on the weather and on that morning's official flight permission, and winter brings more cancellations from wind, fog or snow. Give yourself more than one morning.

Pamukkale and Ephesus: possible, but keep it flexible

Both are open all year, and winter means fewer people. Pamukkale's travertine terraces are walked barefoot, which is cold in December, and both sites are exposed to rain. Day trips to either from the coast are long and weather-dependent, so keep the day after free in case you need to switch.

New Year in Turkey: the real celebration

If you're choosing between Christmas and New Year, choose New Year. New Year's Eve is the big night out across Türkiye. Restaurants and hotels run special dinners, many venues book up early, and Istanbul and the larger coastal cities hold countdown celebrations. Plan ahead:

• Book New Year's Eve dinners early and ask exactly what the price includes.
• Expect busy streets and traffic in Istanbul on the night, and use public transport where you can.
• 1 January is a public holiday. Shops in tourist areas usually reopen, but some businesses and offices are closed and others start late.

A simple Christmas-to-New-Year plan

One way to combine the highlights without rushing:

1. Christmas on the Antalya coast (4–5 nights): mild weather, a hotel Christmas dinner if yours offers one, a day in Demre for St Nicholas, Myra and Kekova, and a rainy-day hammam.
2. Fly to Cappadocia (2 nights): a valley tour and, weather permitting, a balloon morning.
3. New Year's Eve in Istanbul (3 nights): church visits, the lights on İstiklal, an evening on the Bosphorus and the city's countdown.

Domestic flights link Antalya, Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir airports) and Istanbul. Leave yourself slack in winter, when weather delays happen. For a broader look at the cooler months, our Turkey in November guide covers the regions in more detail.

What to pack for Christmas in Turkey

• A waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with rain: December is wet on the coast and in Istanbul.
• Layers: mild sunny afternoons on the coast give way to cold evenings.
• A warm coat, hat and gloves for Istanbul and especially Cappadocia.
• Swimwear: needed for the hammam, and for the brave, the sea.
• Modest clothing for mosques and churches: covered shoulders and knees, and a scarf for women visiting mosques.

Frequently asked questions

Is Christmas celebrated in Turkey? Christian communities celebrate it in their churches, and Christmas services are held in Istanbul in several languages. It isn't a national holiday, though. Trees, lights and Noel Baba figures are common in December, but they belong to New Year celebrations.

Is 25 December a holiday in Turkey? No. 25 December is a normal working day, and shops, banks and museums are open. 1 January is the public holiday.

Where is St Nicholas buried? His tomb was in his church at Myra, today's Demre in Antalya province. In 1087 merchants from Bari took part of his remains to Italy, where they're kept in the Basilica of San Nicola. The church in Demre is a museum today, and some relics believed to be his are displayed at the Antalya Museum.

Is Antalya warm at Christmas? It's mild rather than warm. The average December high is 16.7 °C and the low 7.5 °C, and December is also Antalya's wettest month. The sea averages about 18.5 °C.

Does it snow in Turkey at Christmas? In central and eastern Türkiye it can. Cappadocia's average December low is below freezing, and snow is possible but never guaranteed. On the Antalya coast snow at sea level is very rare. In Istanbul a cold snap can bring snow, but most December days there are simply cool and wet.

Can you go to church at Christmas in Istanbul? Yes. Several churches hold Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, including the Church of St Anthony of Padua on İstiklal Avenue, which has Masses in several languages. Check the parish's published times each December.

Is New Year bigger than Christmas in Turkey? Yes. New Year's Eve is the main celebration, with family dinners, gifts, parties and countdowns, and 1 January is a public holiday.