Hours of Operation in Turkey

Banks in Turkey are usually open weekdays from 8:30 am until noon or 12:30, and then from 1:30 until 5 pm, but select branches of some Turkish banks, mainly those in the central cities, now remain open during the middle of the day. Many banks throughout Turkey, even those in small towns, provide 24-hour ATMs with service in English.

Shops and bazaars are usually open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 7 with varying open hours on Sunday. Smaller shops often close for lunch between 1 and 2, although all large stores and even most small shops in the major cities remain open throughout the day. In tourist areas, shops may stay open until 9 pm or even 10 pm and all day Sunday.

Most pharmacies (Eczane in Turkish) are open the same hours as shops, and as with shops, there are variations according to the whim of the pharmacist. Typically, they are open 9:30 am until 7 or 7:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. In larger cities, one pharmacy in each neighborhood is open 24/7 and is called the Nöbetçi Eczane. When a store is closed, there will be a sign in the window or door with details of the location of the nearest nöbetçi eczane, which your hotel will also be able to help you find.

Museums are open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am until 5 or 5:30 pm and closed on Monday—this is not a rule, though, so check the times listed in our individual listings. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed Monday and Thursday (with the notable except Topkapı Palace, which is closed Tuesday), while during the summer many favorite archeological sites are open seven days a week and close at sunset. Some museums and palaces may have longer summer hours slightly as well. Many museums and places stop selling tickets 30 minutes before the actual closing time. Sometimes this is explicitly stated in the official times, but not always. To be on the safe side, try to ensure that you arrive at least 45 minutes before closing time.

Most gas stations are open from early morning until late evening, commonly from 6 am to 1 am, although there are no fixed rules, and there can be considerable variation. In the larger cities and along major highways it is usually possible to find gas stations open 24 hours. Look for the sign "24 saat açık."