I want to visit turkey from 23 dec- 1st Jan, would this be a good idea ? I want to celebrate Christmas, my birthday and the new year eve.

I was thinking of combining it with greece, but I read somewhere a lot of places would be closed in Greece (islands)

Any suggestions are welcomed,

Is this in place of London and Zurich per your other thread?

What do you want to do in Greece? I don't think many of the islands will be lively at that time of year. Athens is probably ok though?

Not sure how much Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, celebrates Christmas. Easter is a much bigger holiday in Greece than Christmas, but there will be some celebrations. The Greek Islands will be in quiet mode in the Christmas - New Year period, but Athens is a year-round destination.

On Sep 4, 17 at 8:11am on another thread you posted: <i>"thanks guys, I am booking for London and Zurich for 5 days each"</i>, then, four minutes later you started this thread. You seem to change your mind quickly!

The large Greek islands which have a sizeable year-round population, can be a good place to celebrate. Christmas is very small & low-key in Greece, whereas new Year's Eve is the 2nd biggest celebration of the year (after Easter).

If you pick a town rather than a holiday resort you should be fine.


Of course the weather can be changeable, I hope you would not be expecting to sit on the beach! But you could get some pleasant sunny days.

Christmas is not celebrated in Turkey. However, there is a nice centrally located Catholic church where you can attend Mass if you wish.

New Year is celebrated with street crowds at three locations in Istanbul. The biggest, Taksim square may be risky because of pickpockets. Nisantasi is more upscale, but I do not know if there will be street concerts this year. An interesting location will be the small and quaint Ortakoy square, at the sea side, where you will have a larger fare of street food, small bars, jazz, decent restaurants and views of wireworks and the first Bosphorus bridge.

Radisson Blue Ortakoy or the House Hotel Ortakoy will put you smack in the middle of the fun.

Otherwise, traffic getting to and away from Ortakoy may take hours unless you manage to hire a water taxi or rent a motor yacht.

https://www.google.com.tr/search?rlz...0!2i775!4f13.1

All popular restaurants will have special dinner and entertainment programs charging possibly twice their normal prices. Check the Radisson restaurant, Anjelique, Banyan for proximity to the square and Feriye for a decent Turkish menu.

Nisantasi offers a larger number of restaurants and a chance to people watch from places like Mid Point, Kirinti, Beymen Brasserie, which will all have outdoor seating with gas heaters if there is no rain.

https://www.zomato.com/istanbul/best...B1-restaurants

Finally, I would strongly advise that you stay at Nisantasi and/or Ortakoy to enjoy the Bosphorus (Ortakoy) or the lively upscale district (Nisantasi) where life is a great deal of fun. Neither will be inundated with tourists.

@jamikins December I am finally booked for Verbier and zurich as I wanted to experience a white christmas. Turkey and greece now in April. See my new thread and do give your suggestion

@Heimdall we had a couple of friends deciding on Turkey and Greece hence the thread was raised, but made up my mind and switzerland it is !