Turkey • Local Time
Sunday, December 28, 2025
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Istanbul, the only city in the world spanning two continents, operates on Turkey Time (TRT/UTC+3) year-round. This magnificent metropolis where Europe meets Asia has been the capital of three great empires - Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Since 2016, Turkey no longer observes Daylight Saving Time, keeping Istanbul consistently 3 hours ahead of London (GMT), 8 hours ahead of New York (EST), and 6 hours behind Tokyo (JST).
Turkey abolished Daylight Saving Time in 2016, permanently staying on UTC+3. This means the time difference with European cities changes throughout the year - Istanbul is 2 hours ahead of Central Europe in winter but only 1 hour ahead in summer.
Istanbul is UTC+3 year-round. When it's noon in Istanbul: London 9:00 AM (winter) / 10:00 AM (summer), New York 4:00 AM (winter) / 5:00 AM (summer), Dubai 1:00 PM, Singapore 5:00 PM, Sydney 8:00 PM (winter) / 9:00 PM (summer).
Standard business hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Banks operate 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Grand Bazaar opens 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM (closed Sundays), while the Spice Bazaar operates 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Shopping malls are open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Most restaurants serve from noon until midnight, with many staying open until 2:00 AM in Beyoğlu and Kadıköy.
Turkey permanently adopted UTC+3 (former summer time) in 2016, eliminating the biannual clock changes. This places Istanbul in the same timezone as Moscow, Riyadh, and Nairobi. Interestingly, the Bosphorus strait that divides the city doesn't create any time difference - both the European and Asian sides share the same time. The decision to stay on permanent summer time means winter sunrises can be as late as 8:30 AM in December.
Spring (April-May) offers perfect weather with temperatures around 15-20°C, blooming tulips, and manageable crowds.
Turkey's largest city spanning two continents with over 16 million residents. A vibrant melting pot where East meets West, featuring a diverse population from all regions of Turkey and a growing international community.
Mediterranean transitioning to oceanic with warm summers (25-30°C) and cool wet winters (5-10°C). Expect rain from November to March.