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In-person meetings & travel
Istanbul
Turkey · Europe/Istanbul · UTC+3
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and commercial capital, straddling Europe and Asia.
Current time in Istanbul
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Next public holiday
Democracy and National Unity Day
Wednesday, July 15, 2026— in 31 days
Business hours & meeting culture
- Working hours
- 09:00–18:00
- Workweek
- Monday to Friday
- Culture
- Turkish business meetings blend Mediterranean warmth with corporate formality. Relationships matter; meetings often include tea or coffee.
- Meeting tips
- Ramadan affects meeting energy. Republic Day (October 29), Victory Day (August 30), and the two religious holidays (Ramazan Bayramı, Kurban Bayramı) are major windows.
Travel & logistics context
Quick reference for business travelers — climate, currency, and language.Currency and language are country-level. Climate may vary across the country.
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Climate
Transitional Med./continental
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Avoid: Jul–Aug (hot)
🟢 Currently a good month
Istanbul's Bosphorus location moderates summers; Ankara's interior is more extreme.
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Currency
₺
TRY
Turkish Lira
High inflation; check rates close to travel.
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Language
Official
Turkish
In business
Turkish, English in international business
English: Common in international firms
🤝Business etiquette
- Greeting
- Firm handshake; close colleagues exchange cheek kisses.
- Cards
- Standard exchange; no strict protocol.
- Gifts
- Sweets or quality liquor (with non-Muslim hosts) appreciated.
- Tipping
- 10% common where not included.
- Dress
- Smart European business attire.
- Dining
- Tea ubiquitous in business meetings; expect long meals with conversation.
Time difference vs. major business cities
Computed for 2026. Daylight saving will shift these by an hour during transitions.
| City | Time zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | +6h |
| 🇮🇳Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | +2h 30m |
| 🇦🇪Dubai | Asia/Dubai | +1h |
| 🇬🇧London | Europe/London | -2h |
| 🇺🇸New York | America/New_York | -7h |
| 🇦🇺Sydney | Australia/Sydney | +7h |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | America/Los_Angeles | -10h |
| 🇨🇳Shanghai | Asia/Shanghai | +5h |
Public holidays in Turkey, 2026
Commonly observed national holidays. Regional holidays and bridge days are not included. See also the global holiday calendar.
- 2026-01-01
- 2026-04-23
- 2026-05-01
- 2026-05-19
- 2026-07-15
- 2026-08-30
- 2026-10-29
Plan a meeting with Istanbul
Use the meeting planner to compare times across multiple cities, with weekend and holiday awareness.
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