Gay Istanbul LGBTQ* nightlife and travel 2024

Istanbul is one of the major tourist destinations in Europe. There are lots of interesting places to see and the city has great museums.

Istanbul has got a highly cosmopolitan atmosphere. Around Taksim you will find restaurants on roof tops with an amazing view over the city and great food. There are several gay bars and clubs with great east and west combinations of style and music.

istanbul gay guide

Gay night life

Gay night life in Istanbul changes a lot. Places come and go all the time. Most gay bars and clubs are located near Taksim Square. On the street many Turkish str8 guys walk hand in hand and hug each other. However most gay guys are not openly gay. Some gay places are really busy, but the guys are discrete. Many guys speak some English, and tourists area very popular for Turkish guys to meet. Online gay meeting sites like gayromeo are officially blocked in Turkey by the government. Of course there are ways to connect anyway. Ask locals online before how to get sites like that running on your mobile or laptop before you go there.

Be safe

Istanbul is quite a safe city, there is police and guards everywhere. But of course you have to be a bit careful. Do not follow people who call out to you in the street and promise to take you to what they refer to as a 'gay bar'. It is very likely that this is a scam where you'll be taken to a 'pavyon' (a 'tavern', so to speak) and be charged astronomical prices for services that you didn't even request.

Hamam

The quintessential Istanbul experience that is the hamam (the Turkish bath) can be very alluring and fulfilling. The homosocial environment of a hamam is almost always a very homoerotic one. Therefore, hamams are very good for cruising. However, the code word here is discretion, because sexual activity in hamams is strictly forbidden --even in the ones that are listed as 'gay' hamams-- and if you're caught in the act, you're likely to get into a lot of trouble. The truth of the matter is that there is no exclusively gay hamam in Istanbul, even though you can easily cruise men, find quick action or join in on an impromptu group wank. Oh, and, you can also use the hamam for its primary purpose and actually get clean.

Istanbul gay tourist guide

Istanbul is a very big city. Fortunately many of the interesting places including the gay night life are close to each other.

Where to stay

Most gay bars and clubs, the shopping street, and many trendy restaurants can be found near Taksim (map). From Taksim you can walk to most places. Taxis are cheap but traffic can be busy. From Taksim there is also a short metro to the coast, from there you can take a tram.

Some hotels are very strict in bringing 'guests' to the room. So if you have intentions that way make sure you book a large hotel where you are more anonymous.

Istanbul hotels and apartments