To many visitors the sudden sound of air sirens all across Turkey might come as a surprise, especially given the sight of office workers emptying into the streets and citizens suddenly standing in somber silence. These are the scenes across Turkey at 9:05 am every November 10th, which becomes a nationwide memorial honoring the founder of the country, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who passed away on the date and time in 1938.
Dramatically traffic comes to a halt even on the two Istanbul bridges that cross the Bosporus, drivers get out of their cars, standing for two minutes of silence next to their vehicles. For those of you visiting Turkey on this day, it’s best to get up early to find a good vantage point to witness the commemoration.
Where To Attend November 10th Ceremonies
In Istanbul, Taksim Square or any of the cafe rooftops directly in front of it, are good locations. Additionally, the Military Museum (Askeri Muzesi) and Dolmabahce Palace although busy, are especially worth visiting on this day.
In Ankara, Ataturk’s Mausoleum Anitkabir is where to be, Turkey’s For Life has instructions on how to get there. Across other cities in Turkey to put on your itinerary it’s best to get in touch with the local tourism board to find out what events might be taking place. My recommendation for a more local look at November 10th in Turkey would be to get in touch with a nearby public school to arrange a visit for the morning. (They’re more than likely to welcome you.)
As The Moment Comes To An End
Wreaths laid, silence is eventually broken by the Turkish national anthem as life slowly rolls into regular pace. No matter when visiting in the year, you’ll notice enough statues and pictures to make you wonder why Ataturk’s image is everywhere in Turkey. Ataturk’s likeness isn’t a look into the past but a reminder; what he created is a path, for Turks today, to determine their own destiny.
Hmm….good post but this isn’t well known and I don’t believe it is every year. We were in Turkey for the month of November in 2013 and this never happened anywhere we were. We were in Ankara or Adana on the 10th November and never heard tell of it!!
It is definitely every year – surprised you missed it, especially in those two cities!
This happens every 10th November at 09:05 A.M.
Im Turkish, and it happens every year, especially in Ankara where he is laid to rest. It is very well known.
I’ve been looking for this post and am so thankful you’ve written this information. I was on a layover in Istanbul last week, the morning of the 10th. My mother and I were separated from our travel companion who is an elder and my son who stayed behind with her because the airline had misplaced her wheelchair that we gate checked (long story, but we got it back at our final destination.)
After checking with the agents on her chair, we were walking around the airport, which is HUGE, and we enter a shop. Sirens begin to wail and everyone stops in their tracks, arms to their side and turn in various directions looking like statues. IT SCARED THE DAYLIGHT OUT OF US! I lower my arms to my side also and turn towards whatever we should be looking at- once it is all over, I finally see what it is, and my blood and heart are on fire. Are we about to be bombed? Is their an attack on its way? My son is so far away, how will he survive!?
The sirens continue for what seems like forever and I turn to the store clerk and mouth to her “Is everything ok?” She briefly looks at me, mouths back, “We are ok” and back to her statue. So I maintain my statue and then after another couple of wails from the siren, the anthem begins.
I can’t think of a time where I was EVER more afraid for my life. I later realize we had turned toward the flag, but it was just out of view from where I was standing.
Thank you again for this post.
Any interesting travel story for you now! Though the airport could probably have put up signs or have an announcement to help people who may not be familiar understand what’s going on.