I am thinking about going to Istanbul next spring - would love to be there at tulip time - April? I have been to Istanbul before - crowded! is it extra crowded at Easter with maybe many EU tourists? (And I am aware that Turkey is predominately Muslim, before a board "smarty pants" feels the need to mention I should pay attention to their holidays, not US or Christian). Thanks for any helpful information.

Turkey is out of favour with many EU tourists so I don't think they will be the cause of crowding Russians maybe, but not EU citizens.
Easter is the first Sunday in April next year so fairly early.

Ditto to hetismij2, above, except for Arabic tourists at historical sites and on Bosphorus tours and the Princes` islands, rather than Russian ones.

Tulips depend on the weather but mostly first and second weeks of April. Better google it before you make reservation.

With about 50% fewer Western tourists, not only will it be easier to wander about but also quite a bit cheaper. I had a mail from the Hilton adverstising a room at Istanbul Hilton for about $100 which is a third of what it was three years ago.