How do Turkish public holidays affect car rental and driving?
They tighten availability and slow intercity roads. Around the religious Bayram holidays, many residents travel at once, cars in popular categories sell out, rest areas fill up and traffic leaving major cities is heavy at the start and end of the holiday. booking early and avoiding peak travel days helps most.
Dates change every year, so check the official calendar rather than relying on a date in an article.
Which holidays matter most?
The two religious Bayram holidays, Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, follow the lunar calendar and move earlier each year. The government sometimes extends them into longer breaks. National holidays such as 23 April, 19 May, 30 August and 29 October are shorter but can create long weekends.
| Holiday type | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Religious Bayram | Longest breaks, heaviest intercity travel, high demand |
| National holidays | Long weekends, busy roads near resorts |
| New Year | Peak travel and higher demand |
How does it change availability and price?
Demand rises, so popular categories and automatic cars can sell out, and prices can rise. Book early, confirm your car category in writing and ask what happens if your dates change. Our peak season guide and cost guide cover how to book smart.
How does it change the roads?
The start and end of the holiday are the worst days for intercity roads, especially those leaving Istanbul. Rest areas fill, queues form at toll gates and fuel stations get busy. Travel on the day before or a few days after when you can, leave very early, and plan breaks. Our motorway guide and road trip cost guide help you plan.
What about shops, offices and handovers?
Some shops and offices close for the first days of a religious holiday, and services can run on reduced hours. Confirm your pickup and return times, the person meeting you and how to reach support before you travel. For airport handovers, see our meet and greet guide.
How can you shorten the journey out of Istanbul?
Leave before dawn or in the middle of the night before the holiday rush builds, and avoid Friday evening. Fill the tank the day before, carry water and food, and plan rest stops away from the busiest service areas.
For a one-way trip, a train or flight may beat a long holiday drive. If you drive, share the driving and expect delays at toll gates and around big junctions.
What should you confirm at booking?
- Availability for your exact dates and car category.
- Pickup and return times, including any holiday hours.
- Mileage: Auris publishes 150 km per day and 3,500 km per month, and holiday trips can be long.
- Deposit method and release time.
- Support contact during the holiday.
Online bookings need at least 3 rental days. The rental conditions list current terms, and the support page lists contact details. For a longer stay across a holiday, see the long-term car rental page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to rent a car in Turkey during Bayram?
Often, yes. Demand rises, popular and automatic cars can sell out and prices can go up. Book early and confirm your category in writing.
What is the worst time to drive during a Turkish holiday?
The start and end of the holiday, especially on roads leaving major cities. Travel outside those days and leave very early if you can.
Do the Bayram dates change each year?
Yes, the religious Bayram holidays follow the lunar calendar and move earlier each year. Check the official calendar for current dates.
Do shops and offices close during Bayram?
Some do for the first days, and services can run on reduced hours. Confirm pickup, return and support arrangements before you travel.
How does the mileage limit affect a holiday road trip?
Auris publishes 150 km per day and 3,500 km per month, so a long holiday trip can use a lot of it. Ask whether it is per day or pooled.
Ready to plan your trip? Check the fleet and the published rental conditions, then book online or confirm the details with Auris first.
Book Your Car NowRelated Posts
Police Checks in Turkey: Documents and Equipment in a Rental Car
What to carry and what to check in a Turkish rental car before a police stop: your documents, the car’s papers, the mandatory equipment and what to do if you are stopped.
Do You Need an International Driving Permit to Drive in Turkey?
A direct answer for visitors: when your home licence is enough in Turkey, when an IDP is genuinely needed, what rental companies ask for, and what happens at a police check.
How to Choose a Car Rental Company in Turkey: 10 Checks
A neutral checklist for comparing car rental companies in Turkey, local or international: total price, deposit, mileage, insurance, support, cancellation and what to get in writing.