Until a few decades ago, New Year’s Eve in Istanbul was not celebrated, but over the years, driven by requests from expats and tourists, restaurants and bars have made it customary to organise dinners with special menus and themed parties for the night of 31 December.
Today, New Year’s Eve is also an unmissable celebration for Turkish people and is synonymous with dinners with friends, public gatherings and entertainment.
Visitors to the city will find it decorated with fairy lights and festive decorations, just like in Western cities. The atmosphere is quite different from that of Nordic capitals, but it is incurably romantic and evocative: the ideal setting to end the year and welcome the new one in the company of someone special.
For those who love nightlife, Istanbul is also an excellent choice for New Year’s Eve. This dynamic and cosmopolitan capital’s vibrant nightlife doesn’t close on 31 December; instead, it offers a wealth of parties for those who don’t want to go to bed before sunrise.
Whether romantic or trendy, New Year’s Eve in Istanbul is always unforgettable.
If you love New Year’s Eve celebrations in public squares, the place to be is Taksim, where Istanbul residents and tourists gather to wait for midnight; at the fateful hour, people exchange wishes and admire a colourful pyrotechnic display.
The best view of the fireworks, however, is from the Bosphorus Bridge. Here you can witness a magnificent spectacle: the sky lights up in a thousand colours, reflecting on the water; in the background, the splendid palaces that make Istanbul’s skyline unique. Of course, being the best spot also means it’s the most crowded, so it’s best to arrive early.
Other recommended places to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks in Istanbul include Abdi Ipekçi Caddesi and Fatih, near Galata Tower.
With so many restaurants open on the evening of 31 December, how do you find a good restaurant in Istanbul for your New Year’s Eve dinner? We’ve selected four for you, among the best in the city.
For a New Year’s Eve celebration in style, the top choice in Istanbul is the restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet, a luxurious 5-star hotel housed in a magnificent historic Ottoman-style building. In this chic setting, you’ll find an atmosphere straight out of Arabian Nights, refined cuisine and carefully selected wines. The dress code is very strict, so don’t forget to pack your formal attire.
If you don’t like crowds but don’t want to miss the fireworks display, book your dinner at House Café Ortaköy, an elegant restaurant on the Bosphorus that boasts magnificent views. After dinner, the celebrations continue with a party featuring music and unlimited drinks.
Another recommended choice for those wanting dinner with a view is Seven Hills Restaurant, famous for its magnificent terrace offering 360° views of Istanbul’s historic centre and the Bosphorus. The cuisine is of high quality, so much so that the restaurant is often recommended by specialist food and wine publications.
For those seeking a more informal atmosphere without sacrificing views of the fireworks and good food, a valid alternative to glamorous venues is Taps Bebek, a brewpub and restaurant frequented by young professionals. Recommended for those who love trendy spots or anyone looking for a good restaurant on the Bosphorus at reasonable prices.
The number of nightclubs and clubs in Istanbul is impressive. Don’t waste time searching for one; head straight to the best nightclubs organising New Year’s Eve parties in Istanbul.
Located in Karaköy, one of Istanbul’s trendiest neighbourhoods, Mitte Karaköy is a fusion restaurant with an electronic music club. You can buy a ticket just for the party, which starts at 23:30 and goes on until morning. Recommended for those who love trendy venues and glamorous clubbing.
Located in a 19th-century building on the famous Istiklal Street in the modern Beyoğlu district, 360 Club is one of Istanbul’s most popular nightspots. It features a diverse range of music genres, but its main strength is its magnificent 360° views of the city.
Just a short walk from Taksim, Klein Club is the ideal choice for those who want to enjoy the public square celebrations before heading indoors to dance until morning. Klein regularly hosts DJ sets from renowned national and international artists; the music is mainly techno and electronic.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
A unique experience for those who want to celebrate New Year’s Eve in an original way is a Bosphorus cruise. It’s one of the unmissable things to do in Istanbul, but it’s even more interesting on the evening of 31 December.
Be aware, however, that there are two types available. Traditional cruises cater to couples and those seeking romance and magic: you can enjoy your dinner and watch the fireworks without the crowds of public celebrations, plus you’ll have the added benefit of viewing the city from an unusual perspective.
There are also party boats, actual floating nightclubs that on 31 December offer a dinner-plus-club package. These appeal to a younger clientele primarily interested in having a good time.
Only in recent years has Istanbul established itself as an evocative alternative to more traditional New Year’s Eve destinations, but its reputation has grown rapidly and today it’s highly sought after. To organise New Year’s Eve in Istanbul, you’ll need to plan well in advance, just as you would for other European capitals.
Start as soon as possible by searching for the best flight deals and book as soon as you find dates and prices that suit you: the longer you wait, the higher prices will go.
You should also search for accommodation well in advance so you have more options to choose from: properties offering the best value for money are the first to become fully booked. If you wait, you’ll have to either pay a very high price or stay in a lower-quality hotel, which is certainly not what you want for your New Year’s Eve.
It’s essential to book your restaurant or cruise for the evening of 31 December in advance; if you plan to continue the night at a club, it’s also wise to book that too.
It’s not essential but highly recommended to plan activities before and after the New Year’s Eve celebrations. In Istanbul, you’re more likely to find museums and attractions open during this period compared to other cities, but the large number of tourists visiting the Turkish capital during the New Year’s holidays can result in long queues at entrances. Save time and money by purchasing your tickets online.
New Year’s Eve in Turkey is purely a commercial celebration and almost no one celebrates it with family, so the evening of 31 December sees restaurants fuller than elsewhere. Many restaurants offer special menus and entertainment with music and shows, but it’s virtually impossible to find a table without having booked in advance. So the first tip for anyone wanting to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Istanbul is not to underestimate the importance of booking your dinner.
Another thing to bear in mind to avoid disappointment is that Turkish gastronomic tradition has no typical New Year’s Eve dishes, so menus offered by restaurants often include foreign cuisine dishes, particularly Italian and French, which are considered more refined. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself eating dishes you could have eaten at home. If this idea doesn’t appeal to you, the only way to avoid it is to check available menus in advance.
Apart from this and the usual security recommendations (watch out for your wallet and valuables), there are no particular things to know about celebrating New Year’s Eve in Istanbul to ensure a dream night.
Is it cold in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve? Generally, not too much: the Turkish capital enjoys a milder winter than the capitals of central and northern Europe.
Average temperatures in Istanbul during the winter months range between 2° and 10°C: a light layer of clothing is enough to stay outdoors comfortably. Unfortunately, December and January are among the rainiest months of the year, so it’s wise to pack a waterproof jacket and shoes so the weather doesn’t spoil your holiday.
For detailed information about Istanbul’s climate and real-time weather forecasts for the coming days, visit the Istanbul Weather page.
If you have the chance, it’s worth extending your New Year’s holiday until 6 or 7 January to witness Orthodox Christmas (the exact date changes each year).
This will allow you to experience authentic local traditions and perhaps try them yourself: it involves eating pomegranate as a blessing and diving into the Golden Horn estuary in search of a legendary cross. The former is within everyone’s reach; the latter is only for the truly brave.
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