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Istanbul authorities will close several major roads and suspend metro and funicular services in parts of the city on Sunday as the country marks International Women's Day on March 8.
The closures, announced by the Istanbul Police Department and Metro Istanbul, reflect the scale of planned gatherings across the city, with restrictions targeting both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul.
On the Asian side, three roads in the Kadikoy district will be shut to traffic starting at 11:00 a.m. to accommodate Women's Day programs. The affected routes are Sogutlucesme Street Tramway Road, Bahariye Street Tramway Road and Albay Faik Sozdener Street Tramway Road, according to the police statement.
Kadikoy, one of Istanbul's most vibrant commercial and cultural hubs, has historically served as a major rallying point for public demonstrations and commemorative events in the city.
Transit disruptions on the European side will begin in the afternoon. Metro Istanbul announced that, in line with a decision by the Istanbul Governor's Office, the Taksim station on the M2 Yenikapi-Haciosman Metro Line and the F1 Taksim-Kabatas Funicular Line will be closed to service from 3:00 p.m. until further notice.
The Istiklal Street exit of Sishane station will also be closed to passengers, though other entrances and exits at the station will remain operational. Metro trains will pass through Taksim station without stopping, the agency said.
International Women's Day, observed annually on March 8, traces its origins to early 20th-century labor and suffrage movements. In Türkiye, the date regularly draws large crowds to city centers, particularly Istanbul's Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, where women's rights organizations and civil society groups hold marches and demonstrations. The closures suggest authorities are anticipating significant turnout for this year's events.
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