2027 Public Holidays: 35 Days Off with 5 Leave Days

Have you ever sighed “I wish I had one more week off” when the alarm rang on Monday morning? That feeling of real rest, lost somewhere in a busy work schedule, is actually within reach in 2027. Next year’s calendar lines up with the weekends so neatly that by using just 5 days of your annual leave, you can enjoy a total of 35 days off across the year. You can even make the best finale of these mini getaways out on the blue water: a Kaş boat tour can turn your long weekend into the turquoise of the Mediterranean.

Why Is the 2027 Calendar So Generous?

According to the Diyanet (Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs) calendar, Ramadan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) falls on 9-11 March and Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) on 16-19 May. New Year’s Day and 23 April land on a Friday, Victory Day on a Monday, and Republic Day on a Friday again. In other words, almost all public holidays sit right next to a weekend. A lineup this convenient doesn’t come around every year. A few days of leave added in the right places multiply your time off. Public holidays that fall within your annual leave period are also not deducted from your leave, so the math works in your favor.

The 2027 Leave Map, Step by Step

Three 3-Day Breaks Without Using Any Leave

1 January is a Friday, so 1-3 January is an uninterrupted break for you. 23 April is also a Friday: 23-25 April. 30 August is a Monday, which gives you another free long weekend on 28-30 August. Without spending any leave, you gain 9 days off in total.

Ramadan Bayram: 9 Days with 1.5 Days of Leave

The eve starts on Monday 8 March in the afternoon, and the holiday runs from Tuesday to Thursday. Take half a day off on Monday morning and a full day on Friday 12 March, and you get nine days in a row from 6 to 14 March. The leave you spend is only 1.5 days.

Kurban Bayram: 9 Days with 2 Days of Leave

The eve is Saturday 15 May, and the holiday runs from 16 to 19 May. 19 May, the last day of the holiday, is also Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, so it counts as a public holiday of its own. Take two days off on 20 and 21 May, and you get a nine-day holiday from 15 to 23 May.

Two Short Escapes in July and October

15 July is a Thursday and a public holiday. Take 1 day off on Friday 16 July, and you get a 4-day break from 15 to 18 July. In October, the eve starts on Thursday 28 October in the afternoon. Take half a day off that morning, and together with Friday 29 October and the weekend it becomes a 4-day break from 28 to 31 October.

Let’s add it up. Three free weekends give 9 days, the two bayrams give 18 days, and the July and October escapes give 8 days, for a total of 35 days. The leave you spend is 1.5 + 2 + 1 + 0.5 = 5 days. One small note: these 35 days are not a single block but seven separate breaks spread across the year.

💡 Captain Ergun’s Tip: Bayram holidays are the times when everyone hits the road at once, so lock in your plans as soon as your dates are clear. Submit your leave request the day the calendar opens, because everyone has their eye on the same days. On long holidays, the most valuable thing is a flexible plan: swimming on day one, exploring on day two, doing absolutely nothing on day three.

Which Holiday Should You Spend by the Sea?

The two nine-day bayram holidays give you the chance to plan something longer. In May, nature is lush and the air is fresh, and although the sea may still be a little cool, the scenery is stunning. If you want to enjoy the sea to the fullest, the 28-30 August weekend is perfectly timed: warm water, long days. Spending these three days on a Kaş boat tour gives you the feeling of a full holiday in just 3 days.

Why Kaş?

This small, calm district of Antalya is an ideal address for short holidays. Everything is close together: you can leave the harbor in the morning and be swimming in a deep-blue cove before noon. The ancient ruins, hidden coves, and the historic remains visible beneath the water around Kekova feel completely different when seen from the sea. Since many coves that are hard to reach by land can only be visited by boat, you can also enjoy a peaceful holiday away from the crowds. Even on a three-day break, a Kaş boat tour is enough to reset your routine from top to bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really get 35 days off with 5 days of leave?

Yes, but the 35 days are not one single block. Three free weekends (New Year’s Day, 23 April, and 30 August), two nine-day bayram holidays, and two four-day breaks add up to 35 days off with 5 days of leave.

When are Ramadan and Kurban Bayram in 2027?

Ramadan Bayram is on 9-11 March and Kurban Bayram on 16-19 May 2027. The eves are Monday 8 March and Saturday 15 May.

Is the eve of a holiday counted as a public holiday?

Eves count as holiday time from 13:00 onward. That’s why half a day of leave on 8 March and 28 October is enough.

When should I book a boat tour during the bayram period?

Bayrams and long weekends are the busiest periods. As soon as your dates are clear, it is safest to reserve your spot weeks in advance if possible.

Which month is best for a boat tour?

The sea warms up most between June and September. In May the water is a little cool, but it’s less crowded and nature is beautiful; late August is great for swimming.

Are bayrams that fall within my annual leave deducted from it?

No. National holidays, general holidays, and weekly rest days that fall within your annual leave period are not counted against your leave.

Open the Calendar, Grab a Pen

The public holiday calendar for 2027 is one of the most generous layouts workers have seen in years. Turning just 5 days of leave into 35 days off is truly possible with the right plan. What matters is to plan your leave the day the calendar opens and decide early where you’re going. Start dreaming now about the first long holiday of 2027 on a Kaş boat tour, where blue waters, hidden coves, and sunny days are waiting for you. Mark the calendar, pack your bag; the Mediterranean will take care of the rest.