Updated on March 2007

Istanbul gay guide, gay friendly hotels, bar, club, sauna, hamam, tours, accommodations, information....

ISTANBUL CITY GAY GUIDE

 
 

 WARNING
 1-Most of the locals in this directory are listed without the approval of the their owners or their managements. Moreover, there might be some changes with the information given here which we have not obtained yet, although we are trying to be as update as possible. Please use the information offered accordingly
2-The information on this page is last updated in March 2007

 

 
GAY Tours
BARS AND CLUBS
GAY FRIENDLY VENUES
gay friendly hotels
HOUSE TO LET IN TAKSIM
gay travel agency
beaches
cafeterias
cruising AREAS
hamams (bath)
cinemas
trv/transex
ORGANIZATIONS
shops
 Istanbul

 

 

Istanbul with a population about 12 million is the capital of gay scene in Turkey. Just as Turkey is a mixture of east and west, Istanbul is  a summary of all country. Its cosmopolite life leads to a very colorful gay life; you can encounter quite trendy gay clubs as well as astonishingly traditional and local ones near one another in this city.



The rich and the poor, the modern and the old-fashioned, the intellectual and the illiterate are all here in this city, sometimes inside one another.  Queens, transvestites, modern gays, bisexuals, lesbians, rent-boys are all parts of this vivacious world. Since Istanbul itself is a very charming city with its historical, cultural and natural beauties, it won't be exaggeration to say :  If you are gay, DON'T DIE BEFORE YOU SEE ISTANBUL

 

 

     

Turkish Gay Chat


 

 [Rehberde yer almak, reklam vermek ya da yeni yerler eklemek icin form doldurun]

 

BARS AND CLUBS

 

Gay Cafe Bar Istanbul
Popular Cafe Bar and Restaurant is the starting point of gay night life of Istanbul, centrally located in Taksim, Istanbul. Visit their website for more information,  location map and contact information:  Website: Gay Cafe Bar Istanbul


 BARBAHCE ; 23:00 - 04:00
Address: Siraselviler Caddesi,  Soganci Sokak, No:7 / 1, Cihangir - Beyoglu. Closed on Mondays. Closer to Taksim Ilk Yardim Hastanesi (State hospital)
A popular and senior gay club providing an upper scale atmosphere. Good music, safe people and neighborhood.
 

23:00-04:00

Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Zambak Sokak. NO:23 Taksim. 

A very small but friendly bar. Mostly younger gay men, and a number of rent boys.  

For further details and map visit their website: Gay Club Istanbul


 TEK YON (23:00-04:00)
Address: Mesrutiyet Cad. Tepebasi, Beyoglu. (Next to Club Cubana 99) This place is mostly frequented by middle aged Turkish 'bears' but it is possible to see some rent boys and young effeminate gays as well. They recently moved to their new place here which is bigger and generally better than the other one, which was just across the street.  Drag shows on various days of the week. Watch out a few tourist hunters.

  EKOO BAR  ( 22:00-04:00) (Ex Hans Bar, more busy between 23:30-04:00)
Address: Tarlabasi Bulvari No: 248 Beyoglu. It is on Tarlabasi Bulvari (Tarlabasi Avenue)  closer to Euro Plaza Hotel on the same side of the street.  A more local, and relaxed atmosphere with less attitudes. Mix ages and various types of gay men, bears, bear lovers and few queens as well as gay tourists are regular attendants.
 CLUB 17  : 23:00-05:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Zambak Sokak No:17 (Near French Consulate)
Mainly young gay-hustlers and some gay men who would be interested in them. They play loud techno music from their unbearable sound system but it is usually busy with these hustlers. It is highly recommended to be careful with the boys you pick up from here.
 

 DEJA VU  (23:30-04:00) (r-B)
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Sadri Alısık Sokak, Beyoglu.
Mainly rent boys and hustlers and those who are interested in them. Underground music.
 SAHRA  BAR : 23:00-04:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Cad. Sadri Alisik Sk. NO:40 Taksim/Beyoglu.
Although it is a "trans club" (if not a typical one) it is more piled up by rough ghetto boys who loves them. These attracts some gay men who likes such boys.  It's 4-5 storey is usually complete full of these "hundreds of boys" on Saturday nights. It might be very interesting just to see but watch your wallet in there.   

  

 [Rehberde yer almak, reklam vermek ya da yeni yerler eklemek icin form doldurun]



 

 

Gay Hotel Accommodation  in Taksim
 

Gay Owned Flat For Rent in Taksim

 


 

GAY CAFE & RESTAURANTS IN ISTANBUL

The more active gay life of Istanbul is between 24:00 till 04:00 a.m . There are a few exclusively gay day time venues in Istanbul, that is worth listing on our website, here, which are not very busy usually.


 SUGAR CAFE  12:00-01:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Caddesi Saka Salim Cikmazi no: 3/A Beyoglu Istanbul.
This small but nice gay cafe & restaurant is located on a narrow lane on Istiklal Avenue, somewhere opposite of St. Antoine Church. There is a sign-board of the venue with rainbow flag colors at the entrance of the lane (Saka Salim Sokagi)
There is free wireless internet connection in the area. The prices are very reasonable and various foods are available from 13:00 till 22:00 o'clock. Patronized by nice gay men, and there are no hustlers or rent boys usually.
 

 CILEK CAFE BAR   14:00-02:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Balo Sokak. No:20 Kat:3 (3rd floor) Beyoglu.
Balo Sokak is a street connecting to Istiklal Avenue;  before Cicek Pasaji (a very famous venue housing many fish restaurants in Galatasaray), with respect to Taksim Square.
This is a comfortable cafe bar supported by Be Club/Bigudi gay&lesbian organization, a quiet and friendly place on the 3rd floor of the building, where you can chat with your friends, or meet new people there. There is a lesbian manager here.
 

 BESINCI KAT  ("The Fifth Floor") 09:00 – 03:00 Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir - Beyoglu (On the side street across the Taksim Ilk Yardim (State) Hospital) 
A gay friendly restaurant at the same building with Club Barbahce on the first floor.  It is a little expensive but you can try for the sake of good food and magnificent view to the Bosporus Channel.

 CRUISY OR GAY FRIENDLY VENUES


Cruisy Venues (Not Gay)


 MC DONALD'S TAKSIM   09:00-01:00 (NG, gl, r,) Near Taksim Square.
Frequently attended by the gay people especially in the evenings.

 BIRAHI FAST FOOD / CAFE  : 09:00-24:00 (NG-gbm-r-F-B-SM)
At Taksim Square next to Mc Donald's. More gay in the evenings and weekends. Former Borsa Café. They make discrimination against some Turkish  people when they discover they are gay. If you still go there be a little discrete.

 BURGER KING  TAKSIM  09:00-02:00 (Open till 04 on Fridays and Saturdays) (NG-gbm-r-F-SM)

Istiklal cad. NO:1 Taksim (At Taksim Square)

You can rest for a cafe and observe the gay-related people. It's as gay as any self service cafe could be near Taksim square. (Which means they are not serving especially to gay people but unavoidably attended by gays)
 

 [Rehberde yer almak, reklam vermek ya da yeni yerler eklemek icin form doldurun]

BLUE MOVIE & CINEMAS

Although there is not a real gay-cinema in Istanbul some heterosexual porno cinemas are frequented by gays. Because of Turkey's bisexual culture it's possible to have at least some limited "contact" in most of such places. In a few of them gays are really welcomed. But still better be a little discrete , because they are open to the public. Make sure that you are "touching" the right person.

 GUNES SINEMASI : ( GBM-MA-mwm)
Cakiraga Mahallesi, Kurkcubashi Kulhan Sokak, No:5, Aksaray. (From Aksaray to Yenikapi take the right turning from Police Headquarter. Climb up the steps. It's on left.) All kinds of action can be observed.

 KOSK SINEMASI : ( GBM-MA-mwm)
Aksaray

 AYDIN SINEMASI : ( gbm-MA-mwm)
Millet Caddesi, Findikzade-AKSARAY (on the main road from Aksaray to Findikzade.)

 RUYA SINEMASI : (gbm-MA-mwm)
Istiklal Caddesi No:128, Beyoglu
Back seats are most cruisy. You can walk around the rows and corridors as you wish. But remember everyone is not interested.

 DILBAZLAR SINEMASI  : (  gbm, MA, MWM )
Istiklal Cad, Beyoglu. First left from Sadri Alisik street which is across from the Aga Mosque on Istiklal Street. 

 


 

HAMMAMS (TURKISH BATHS) & GAY SAUNAS

Hamams (Turkish Baths) have played a very important role in the history of Turkish gay life. During Ottoman Empire period, they were maybe the main places for cruising. There are many miniatures illustrating gay-relations in hamams, which might even be astonishing for the people of today's modern age. Most of the hamams listed at our page are historical buildings. But they are not reflecting the glory of the past unfortunately. They are not in a good situation and not so clean. Hamams are among the victims of so called modern western culture.

 

There is not any gay Turkish Bath in Istanbul, that is exclusively gay. There are a few of them (Not the good ones for  the basic functions) that gay man would go, but their managers do not want to be advertised on any publications, as they are not even gay friendly in real meaning. They just let it happen for money. That's why we decided not to list them anymore on our website. Do not worry, they are disappointment usually to gay tourists, because the hamams are touristy and nostalgic for local people as well.


 

 

BEACHES & SWIMMING

In Istanbul there are not swimming places mainly crowded by gay men. But there are some beaches where it's more likely to meet gay-related people. These are...

 KILYOS  beach. Along the Black Sea at European side. 1 hour away from city by public transportation.

 SILE ("shile") Beach. Along the Black Sea at Asian side. More than 1 hour away from the city center.

 ADALAR  (Princes Islands) Small islands near the city. They are four islands. The native inhabitants of these islands are mostly non-Muslim minorities. The big one (Buyuk Ada) is the most active one. Regular ferryboats from Eminonu/Sirkeci on the European side and Kadikoy or Bostanci at the Asian side. The same ferryboat stops at all islands. It takes half an hour/45 minutes by ferry-boat.

Princess Islands Tours by Leading Travel Agency of Turkey

The Beaches Along  Florya  (Especially Gunesh)



 

PRIVATE TOUR GUIDE

 

 

Private Gay Tour Guide for Istanbul

LET'S CRUISE TOGETHER
 Evening and night tours for the first-visitors of Istanbul  to the gay locals and cruising places in Istanbul by an English speaking gay tour guide who lives in Taksim (The gay center of Istanbul). Don't waste your time in wrong addresses. If you need a friend and want to feel safe send me a request form.
[click for tour details] 
 

 



 

CRUISING AREAS

Cruising areas are where gay people should be more careful. In such places it is very possible to meet people with bad intentions. Especially be careful if they propose you to have sex outside, in desolate places.

Taksim Park, Behind Mc Donald's, the part of the park closer to the sea. It is not a safe place for foreigners especially. Do not go to the desolated places down the park with anyone and do not carry valuable things and money on you.

Taksim Square, near Mc Donald's.

 Istiklal Caddesi Since this street connects  Taksim to most of the gay locals, you can see many gay-related people on your way.

Fatih Park (MA,mwm,AYOR) The Park at Sarachane, Be careful, don't carry your valuables on you. (Stop at Sarachane when you go to Aksaray from Taksim.)

Ortakoy Coast.  The town Near Besiktas ("Beshiktash") by the Bosphorus. The coast area near the mosque is very busy and there's a vivid night life. 15 minute from Taksim with a taxi. (It takes more during rush hours). Mostly cruisable on Sundays in summer.

Sultanahmet Park. The small park opposite from Park Hamam behind the tramcar station.

Kadikoy , The parks near the ferryboat stations and the town square.

 Bostanci  Coast (AYOR) At Asian side. Easy to go to Bostanci from Kadikoy or from Taksim by cabs. From Kadikoy cabs are starting from behind the police Station. From Taksim Its near AKM building (The Concert and Exhibition Building named Ataturk Cultural Center)

 

 [Rehberde yer almak, reklam vermek ya da yeni yerler eklemek icin form doldurun]


 

TRANSVESTITES & TRANSSEXUALS


The clubs of transvestites and  transsexuals  are mostly in Taksim-Beyoglu. Almost all of them are sex-workers. The clubs they go are also managed mainly for this purpose. There are also some houses they use as a kind of illegal brothel. Many of them hitchhike along some high-ways for prostitution. Transsexuals can have woman I.D. legally.

 HENGAME : 02:00 -04:00
Istiklal Caddesi Sahne Sokak No: 6 Taksim. Across The Galatasaray Lisesi (High school). On the street next to Cite de Pera (Cicek Pasaj). It's Mainly transsexuals and some gay. One of the good ones.

 1001 PUB MARILYN : Siraselviler Caddesi, Near Dilson Hotel (Known as 1001, "binbir")

The most well-known trv.bar. Very close to Taksim Square 

 VAT 69  : Tarlabasi Bulvari, Opposite from Club Prive

 VAT 69 ll  : Istiklal Caddesi, Imam Adnan Sokak

 EGE 96 : Istiklal Caddesi, Imam Adnan Sokak

Recently Popular

 CABARE 33  : Istiklal Caddesi, Imam Adnan Sokak,

 PINK BAR : Istiklal Caddesi, on your right from first left from Imam Adnan Sokak

 KOSK : Istiklal Caddesi,  Mis Sokak,

 SAHRA BAR :  See Pubs Istiklal Caddesi, Sadri Alisik sk

 TRV. TURKEY ON THE NET

Read An Article about Transvestites in Turkey

Felipa Award Winner Demet Demir's Story  
 

 [Rehberde yer almak, reklam vermek ya da yeni yerler eklemek icin form doldurun]



 

ORGANIZATIONS



 LAMBDA ISTANBUL
The first Gay liberation NGO of Turkey
Adres: Istiklal Caddesi, Büyükparmakkapi Sokak, Halas Ap., No: 20/4, Kat:3 Beyoglu - Istanbul

e mail: lambda@lambdaistanbul.org
 Web Site




 

ABOUT ISTANBUL

Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents which Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror changed in his era. It stands on the shores of the uniquely beautiful Bosphorus (Istanbul Bogazi) where the waters of the Black Sea combine with those of The sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. Istanbul is a province designed to be the capital and it has been the capital of three empires which used to dominate the world. Today the province houses the precious remains of these civilizations and stands with all its glamour and mysticism as a harmonious link between East and West, past and present, antique and modern.

It is one of the richest cities in historical background, as well as one of the most beautiful, enchanting and alive cities of the world. It has an atmosphere of its own with its life-style, people and numerous attractions. In Istanbul you will have to be generous with time since it has so much to show. The old palaces, the great mosques with soaring minarets, ancient churches, museums, bazaars, the Istanbul Strait and others are wonderful sites worth seeing.

 

Private Gay Tour Guide for Istanbul

Evening and night tours for the first-visitors of Istanbul  to the gay locals and cruising places in Istanbul by an English speaking gay tour guide who lives in Taksim (The gay center of Istanbul). Don't waste your time in wrong addresses. If you need a friend and want to feel safe send me a request form.
[click for tour details]
 


 

TURKEY GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS


to see other city guides check  these out

TURKEY GAY WORLD IN GENERAL

ISTANBUL

ADANA

BURSA
ANKARA ANTALYA CYPRUS
IZMIR BODRUM OTHER

TURKEY GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS

 


 

Gay Hotel Accommodation  in Taksim
 

Gay Owned Flat For Rent in Taksim