The anticipation of waiting: Iftar and suhoor rituals
During Ramadan in Türkiye, the day’s rhythm quickens as iftar approaches. Long lines outside bakeries for Ramadan pita are not merely queues for bread; they become neighborhood gathering spots, small spaces for conversation and connection. The scent of warm, sesame-topped pita placed on the counter is the clearest sign that it is almost time to break the fast. With the call to prayer, the streets grow quieter and the city settles into a gentle calm. People gather around their tables to break their fast. Iftar tables serve a purpose far beyond eating; they are about coming together and sharing. This long-standing table culture is recognized on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List under the title “Iftar and Its Socio-Cultural Traditions”. For Türkiye’s other entries on this list, you can explore our article on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Later in the night, suhoor, the pre-dawn meal that brings family members together once more before sunrise, marks another meaningful ritual of the month.
Nostalgia that breaks the silence of the night: Ramadan drummers
The most iconic symbol of suhoor is, without question, the Ramadan drummers. This tradition, dating back to times long before technology and alarm clocks, is still kept alive in many neighborhoods. In the pitch-black of night, drummers walk from street to street, mallets in hand, waking residents with rhythmic beats and mani, traditional rhyming verses. Sometimes humorous, sometimes reflective, these verses carry cultural memory into the streets, giving voice to the night’s silence.
Messages written across the sky: Mahyas
When Ramadan arrives, the skyline of Türkiye, especially in Istanbul, takes on an entirely different aesthetic. The illuminated inscriptions suspended between the minarets of Istanbul’s mosques are called mahya. Once created with oil lamps, this rare Ottoman art is now made with LED lights and continues to be kept alive. At the beginning of Ramadan, messages such as “Welcome” appear between the minarets; midway through the month, phrases like “It Is Time for Kindness” are displayed; and toward the end, “Farewell” takes their place.
The historical subtleties of Ramadan: “Zimem defteri” and “diş kirası”
Within the Ramadan culture inherited from the Ottoman era lies a refined spirit of solidarity and kindness, partly forgotten, partly transformed, yet still deeply meaningful. One of the most graceful examples is the tradition of “zimem defteri”, the ledger of debts kept by local shopkeepers. Wealthy individuals would visit a neighborhood grocer, ask for a random page of the credit ledger to be opened, and quietly settle all the debts listed on it. The debtor would never know who had paid, and the benefactor would not know whose debt had been erased. A similar form of discreet solidarity persists in some places today. Another memorable tradition is “diş kirası.” In the past, at iftar gatherings, hosts would present their guests with a gift or money as a gesture of gratitude, saying, “You honored us with your presence and tired your teeth while eating.” It was a delicate expression of thanks, turning hospitality into something even more generous.
Several cities where you can experience the Ramadan atmosphere in Türkiye
Ramadan culture in Türkiye unfolds with a different rhythm in each city. In some places, historic squares fill with crowds; in others, neighborhood iftars are set up along quiet side streets. We have gathered a selection of cities where you can experience Ramadan in distinct and memorable atmospheres.
Istanbul
When one thinks of Ramadan, Istanbul is among the first cities that come to mind. Especially on the Historic Peninsula, a distinctly different atmosphere settles each evening. Around the Blue Mosque, crowds gather as iftar approaches; families spread blankets on the grass and wait together for the call to prayer. As the sky turns crimson at sunset, the mahyas glowing between the minarets lend the city a graceful silhouette.
After the tarawih prayer, tea shared in mosque courtyards, lingering conversations, and secondhand bookshops open late into the night become essential parts of Ramadan evenings in Istanbul. The area around Eyüp Sultan Mosque is especially favored by those seeking a deeper spiritual atmosphere. For those who want to experience Ramadan culture in Türkiye, rich in history and visual spectacle, Istanbul is an unparalleled destination. You can explore our guide, An exciting Ramadan experience in Istanbul, for more details.
Konya
Located in the heart of Anatolia, Konya becomes a center of serenity and spirituality during Ramadan. In the city where the atmosphere of tolerance inspired by Mevlâna Celâleddîn-i Rûmî is deeply felt, Mevlana Square fills as iftar approaches. The scent of freshly baked etliekmek, slow-roasted meat on bread, drifts from the city’s bakeries through the streets, while after iftar the sounds of tarawih prayers from Selimiye Mosque or Kapu Mosque blend into the night. If you’d like to explore Konya in more detail, you can read our article, “Exploring Konya: A journey into history, flavor, and wonder.“
Bursa
Bursa, one of the first capitals of the Ottoman Empire, stands out as a city where Ramadan is observed in its most deeply rooted form. The city’s landmark, the Grand Mosque, and its surroundings remain lively throughout the month, almost every hour of the day. After iftar, performances of Hacivat and Karagöz, traditional Ottoman shadow-play characters, carry an enduring entertainment tradition from the Ottoman era into today’s streets and cultural centers.
Şanlıurfa
Şanlıurfa, one of the ancient cities of Southeastern Türkiye, welcomes Ramadan with its warm-hearted people and the abundance of its land. The city’s pulse beats around Balıklıgöl. When it is time for iftar, tables are set on the ground along the green areas by the water, çiğ köfte is kneaded, and hundreds of people break their fast together. Ramadan nights in Urfa stretch long; after tarawih prayers, sıra gecesi, traditional musical gatherings unique to the region, are held. One of Şanlıurfa’s most distinctive Ramadan traditions is liver kebab. In the city, liver is not only an evening meal but also a popular suhoor dish.
Türkiye’s Ramadan-special culinary map
Speaking of liver kebab, one of the most essential parts of Ramadan culture is the carefully prepared dishes served at the table. In Gaziantep, the “yuvalama” dish takes center stage at iftar tables and on holiday mornings. Made with rice, meat, and chickpeas and brought together with strained yogurt, this labor-intensive dish is considered a symbol of abundance at crowded gatherings. As one moves toward Malatya, “kiraz yaprağı sarma”, wrapped in cherry tree leaves and served with a yogurt sauce, becomes the choice for those seeking a slightly tangy freshness at iftar.
And this richness would not be complete without dessert. In the warm Mediterranean city of Mersin, Ramadan means kerebiç. Made with semolina and pistachios, this dessert is known for the light white foam poured over it, made from the root of the soapwort plant. In Gaziantep, another staple on suhoor tables is “Ramadan kahke”. A tradition of Aleppo origin, this ring-shaped pastry fills the city with its distinct mahlep aroma and is prized for its easy digestibility. Heading east, we encounter Erzurum’s energy-packed “kadayıf dolma”. Prepared by wrapping shredded kadayıf around walnuts and frying it, this dessert is among Erzurum’s most distinctive flavors. In Bursa, tahinli pide, baked to keep you full through suhoor, is a Ramadan classic sold in local bakeries. When Ramadan comes to mind, the first dessert most people think of is güllaç, a legacy of Ottoman palace cuisine. Delicate cornstarch sheets are layered with milk and rose water, and they take their place on the table as Ramadan’s lightest and most nostalgic sweet.
Joy of Eid
After a month of patience, devotion, and spiritual reflection, Eid al-Fitr brings a collective embrace across society. On the holiday morning, people rise early, dress in their finest, and fill the mosques. Traditionally, the young kiss their elders’ hands, and the elders, in turn, give them holiday money. Children’s joy spreads through the streets as they go door to door, exchanging greetings and collecting sweets. Baklava, kadayıf, and lokum take their place on coffee tables as the sweetest expression of the saying, “Let us eat sweetly and speak sweetly.”
