Istanbul's 15 Temmuz Demokrasi Otogarı Crowded with Eid al-Adha Travelers

In the days leading up to the nine‑day Kurban Bayramı (Eid al‑Adha) holiday, the 15 Temmuz Demokrasi Otogarı in Bayrampaşa, Istanbul experienced heavy passenger traffic. Video taken by a drone showed long lines of buses exiting the terminal as people traveled to visit family across Turkey.

Bus operators added extra services, increasing daily departures from four to seven and launching three additional routes to accommodate the surge. Travelers quoted their plans: a student heading to Tekirdağ to spend a week with relatives, a construction worker undertaking an 18‑hour journey, and others heading to Ankara or Zonguldak. Drivers emphasized that the priority was to get passengers home safely despite higher fares and occasional delays.

The heightened activity reflects the traditional movement of millions during the holiday, with transportation firms responding by scaling up capacity at one of the city’s main intercity bus hubs.