Turkey is a beautiful place to visit whether you’re going alone or with your partner. And in Istanbul especially, there are so many sights to see and perfect memories to be made. However it’s one of the places that people are often concerned about visiting. Political and religious elements often mean that safety concerns are raised. So if you’re a gay or lesbian traveller, it makes sense that you want some reassurance before heading to Istanbul. You want to see the world, but you also want to travel without worrying about being yourself.
How safe is Istanbul for the LGBT community?
Homosexuality isn’t illegal in Turkey, in fact, it was first legalized in 1858 in the Ottoman Empire. In the Turkey we know today, homosexuality has been legal since 1923, and the country even offers asylum to those LGBT people who have fled their home countries. As for transsexuals, people have been legally allowed to change their gender since 1988. So in terms of the legality of homosexuality and trans-sexuality, LGBT members will have the protection of the law.
Given the legal and social context, it’s unlikely that you will find openly gay-friendly casinos in Istanbul or anywhere else in Turkey. If you’re interested in LGBTQ+-friendly establishments or events, you may want to explore the LuckyTigerSlots.com LGBTQ+ scene in Istanbul, which includes bars, clubs, and community organizations. Keep in mind to research local laws, customs, and safety considerations.
However, the laws regarding discrimination in Turkey aren’t quite so modern. There are currently no laws preventing people from discriminating against the LGBT community. However, there have been legal debates on the topic, so hopefully these laws will be brought in fairly soon.
However, despite homosexuality and trans-sexuality being legal, there are still those with backwards views, and so there have been reports of violence towards LGBT people.
In order to maximise your safety whilst in Istanbul, it’s important that you stay in the city centre, and well known areas, travel in groups, and just generally remember your common sense. It’s also worth noting that whilst homosexuality is legal, it’s advised not to be too publicly affectionate (whether you’re gay or straight). Even simple things like kissing on the lips in public aren’t generally the done thing in Turkish culture.
Whilst there has been the odd incident of discrimination, whether violent or otherwise, that’s not to say that Istanbul isn’t a safe place for gay and lesbian travellers to visit. Turkey is one of the more liberal Muslim countries, and plenty of people have spent time in this Turkish city and experienced nothing but kindness and warm welcomes.
Tomas's Story - A Turkish Travel Story
I spent just over a year in Turkey, and honestly, it was amazing. My adventure started when I chose to study abroad with the Erasmus+ study mobility program, and the second I arrived in Turkey, I fell in love with the country, its culture and its people.
Most people only visit Turkey for a week or two, or in some cases three weeks, but believe me when I say that’s not enough. If you want to experience everything Turkey has to offer, from the historic sights, to the beautiful architecture, and fully immerse yourself in the different culture, you need a lot longer.
Plus, the gay scene in Turkey is actually huge, and if you want to explore and discover everything the LGBT community has to offer in Turkey, it’s worth spending at least a few months there.
I traveled alone to Turkey, and there were plenty of other gay individuals and singles, and I even found the love of my life during my travels there. The point is though, that even though I traveled alone, openly gay, which would have made me vulnerable in many other places, I’ve never felt safer and more at home than I did in Turkey. In fact, I even plan on moving there to live one day.
A lot of people are surprised at how accepting and open-minded the Turkish people are when it comes to homosexuality and diversity. It’s somewhere you can truly be yourself.
Gay friendly places to stay in Istanbul
Every city has its different areas, and some of areas of Istanbul are more suited as gay travel destinations than others.
Beyoğlu is the best area to stay if you’re a gay or lesbian traveller. It’s one of the more liberal areas, it’s super gay-friendly, and it’s where you’ll find the best gay and lesbian bars. Around the Taksim square area is the same.
Gay and lesbian nightlife in Istanbul
Turkey is packed with beautiful landscapes and cities full of history. What makes it even better is that it’s actually a great destination for gay and lesbian travelers.
When you finish sightseeing, you can relax or enjoy the nightlife in Istanbul. There are plenty of gay bars that have the friendliest atmosphere, and most of them are some of the trendiest places you’ll find in Istanbul.
Chianti Bar
Chianti Bar is a cafe by day and a bar by night. This gay-friendly bar has a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. It gets busy by early evenings, but that just makes it one of the best places to meet new people.
This is the sort of bar that once you’ve visited once, you won’t hesitate to head back there again. It’s the perfect bar to make new friends, enjoy refreshing drinks, or even a bite to eat whilst you relax during the day.
Tekyon Club
Tekyon Club is the biggest gay club in Istanbul. It gets crazily crowded on weekends, but then you go to clubs to have fun, right? And the more people in a club, the more fun you’ll have and the more amazing people you’ll meet.
There’s great music, amiable staff, and no entrance fee! In short, Tekyon Club is wild. It’s a place for wild dances and crazy people. Head to this club if you want some truly unique memories of Istanbul’s nightlife.
Arjin Café
Cozy, liberal, calm environment and friendly staff – that’s what you’re in for at Arjin Cafe. It may not be a club, but it’s a good place to head to if you prefer to socialize during the day. It’s gay friendly, and it’s super cheap to eat or drink at.
Bigudi Cafe
This café proudly holds the title of the first exclusively lesbian venue in Turkey. Plus, it’s perfectly located on the terrace on the top of the building. This place has been transformed into a cultural center where only women are allowed to enter.
Doors open around 10pm, and then the night really starts. A night out at Bigudi Café isn’t just a wild night out, but a real experience.
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.