Eid al-Fitr 2027 Holiday: When, How Many Days, and Where to Go?

In 2027, Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) and the second-term school mid-term break fall in the same week. For families who want to travel together, that makes it one of the year’s easiest windows to plan. But do not take the “9-day holiday” claim at face value: schools are off that week; for working adults the picture is a bit different. Below we gather the official calendar, a realistic leave plan, and routes you can consider in Turkey or on visa-free trips abroad.

When is Eid al-Fitr 2027?

According to the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) 2027 religious calendar:

• First day of Ramadan — Monday 8 February 2027 (fasting begins)
• Laylat al-Qadr — Friday 5 March 2027
• Eve (Arefe) — Monday 8 March 2027 (public holiday starts in the afternoon)
• Eid day 1 — Tuesday 9 March 2027 (public holiday)
• Eid day 2 — Wednesday 10 March 2027 (public holiday)
• Eid day 3 — Thursday 11 March 2027 (public holiday)

So the official Eid holiday is 3.5 days including the afternoon of the eve.

Is it 9 days for schools and for employees?

According to the Ministry of National Education’s 2026–2027 working calendar, the second-term mid-term break is 8–12 March 2027. For students, that means an uninterrupted 9 days from Saturday 6 March through Sunday 14 March.

For employees the picture looks like this:

• 6–7 March weekend,
• Monday 8 March morning at work, afternoon off for Arefe,
• 9–11 March Eid,
• Friday 12 March is a normal working day,
• 13–14 March weekend.

In short, if you take half a day for the morning of 8 March and one day for 12 March — that is, 1.5 days of leave — you can also have a 9-day break with the children. As of the date this article was prepared (October 2026), there is no announced decision on administrative leave for 12 March or on extending the Eid holiday. Do not plan on the assumption that such a decision will come; if one is announced, we will update this article.

One more note: Eid is also celebrated in countries such as Egypt and Morocco; the local Eid day there may differ by a day depending on the local announcement. Allow for the possibility that some markets and public offices may be briefly closed during Eid in those countries.

Nine days in Turkey: two quieter routes

Early March is one of the last quieter periods in Turkey before the busy summer season. Instead of the Antalya coast this time, we suggest inland regions and the Marmara area.

Cappadocia: valleys, underground cities, and balloons

In early March mornings in Cappadocia can be cold, and some years there is snow in the valleys. That is a big plus for photography. A basic two-day plan could look like this:

• Day one: Uçhisar Castle, Zelve Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ and Devrent valleys, and the pottery workshops in Avanos. This route is known as the Red Tour.
• Day two: Göreme Panorama, Kaymaklı Underground City, and Ihlara Valley with about a 3 km walk, then Selime Monastery. This route is known as the Green Tour.
• Balloon flight: The sunrise balloon flight depends entirely on weather; if the wind is unsuitable, flights are cancelled. Put the balloon on one of the first mornings of your programme so you can shift it to the next day if it is cancelled.

You can find day tours, balloon options, and transfers together on our Cappadocia tours page.

Istanbul and Bursa: city time plus a historic day

If you are staying in Istanbul or coming to Istanbul, setting aside one of the nine days for Bursa makes a good balance. On a full-day programme by private vehicle and ferry, stops include the Panorama 1326 Conquest Museum, the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), and the centuries-old plane tree at İnkaya. For details, see the private Bursa day trip from Istanbul page.

Airports are busy on the days before Eid and on return days; if you have a flight, plan to arrive at the airport early.

Abroad: visa-free or visa on arrival

The question that stands out most in searches is “where can I go without a visa.” With a Turkish (bordeaux) passport, three realistic options for this week are:

Morocco: visa-free for up to 90 days

According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish citizens can visit Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days if their passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. A 9-day holiday is enough for a route from Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and Majorelle Garden to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, then on to Rabat and Casablanca. You can see programmes departing from Istanbul on our Morocco tours page.

Egypt: Sharm El Sheikh visa-free; visa on arrival for Cairo and the Nile

In Egypt the rule depends on the route. If you enter and exit only via Sharm El Sheikh Airport and do not leave the South Sinai area, no visa is required. If you will join tours outside that area — Cairo, the Giza Pyramids, Luxor, or a Nile cruise — you need a visa on arrival at the airport. If you want a Red Sea–focused Eid with sea and diving, a visa-free Sharm El Sheikh tour is a good starting point. If you also want to see the pyramids and the Nile, programmes that combine Cairo, a Nile ship, and Hurghada are on our Egypt tours page.

Greek islands: a short island break with a gate visa

Some Greek islands in the Aegean can be visited for a short stay with a gate (visa-on-arrival) visa from designated ports, and the scheme has been extended until April 2027. March is pre-season on the islands; ferry sailings may be less frequent than in summer, and some businesses may still be closed. In return, you get a quieter, less crowded island experience. We cover which islands are included, how long you can stay, and the documents usually needed in our Greek islands gate visa guide.

Things to keep in mind when planning

• Decide early. Because the school break and Eid fall in the same week, demand for flights and hotels is high. Google searches also show that interest in “Ramazan Bayramı yurtdışı turları” (Eid abroad tours) peaks every year a few weeks before the holiday.
• Check your passport now. For Morocco the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry; do not forget the children’s passports either.
• Factor in the overseas departure tax. It is usually not included in tour packages; pay it before you travel.
• Confirm departure dates on the tour page. Whether there is a departure for Eid week, and current availability, can be checked on the tour page or by asking us on WhatsApp.
• Get travel health insurance. It is generally recommended for programmes abroad and is mandatory in some countries.
• Consider returning a day early. Sunday 14 March returns are among the busiest; if possible, returning on Saturday 13 March helps you start work or school on Monday rested.

Frequently asked questions

When is Eid al-Fitr 2027?

The eve is Monday 8 March 2027; Eid is Tuesday–Thursday 9–11 March 2027 (Diyanet).

How many days off is Eid al-Fitr 2027?

The official holiday is 3.5 days including the afternoon of the eve. Because schools are on mid-term break 8–12 March, with the weekends it is 9 days for students.

Is Eid al-Fitr 2027 a 9-day holiday?

As of October 2026, no administrative-leave decision that would complete 9 days for employees has been announced. With 1.5 days of leave for the morning of 8 March and Friday 12 March, a 9-day break from 6–14 March is possible.

When is the March mid-term break 2027?

According to the MEB calendar, the second-term mid-term break is 8–12 March 2027.

Where can you go visa-free for Eid?

Morocco can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days. In Egypt, no visa is needed if you stay only in Sharm El Sheikh and the South Sinai area. Some Greek islands in the Aegean can also be visited with a gate visa.

Are Cappadocia balloon flights guaranteed during Eid?

No. Balloon flights depend on weather and wind conditions and are cancelled on unsuitable mornings. We suggest leaving a spare morning in your programme.