Durak Pub (20:00-02:00)

Address: Muratpasa Sokak , No 9 Yusufpasa, Aksaray, Istanbul
Opened as Pasam Birahanesi, re-named as Durak (bus stop), the venue is the meeting place of naturally-born-bears. It has a totally local and exotic atmosphere, including traditional live Turkish music performance available almost everyday. The venue has a completely different atmosphere than all other gay bars and clubs located in Taksim. First of all beer is much cheaper, which is something an average bear would expect. It starts early in the evening and gets busy before midnight. It is overwhelmingly frequented by local bears, mature and straight acting gay men with a few exceptions as could be anywhere. It is not a dancing venue and the clients are served at the tables. It attracts rather middle class people, but there may be people from all social classes. Most people would know each other here, but any new-comer will be welcomed, if you've got that bear feeling. Feel at home, because there are no rituals. If you are coming from Sultanahmet take the tramcar to Aksaray direction and get off at the next station right after Aksaray, which is Yusufpasa. The smaller street (Muratpasa) is right next to the tramcar station, facing the overpass bridge used by pedestrians.  It will be on your left on that street. If you are coming from Taksim direction take an Aksaray dolmus (a kind of shared-taxi) which goes up to Yusufpasa. Dolmus cabs to Aksaray depart from the small street right next to flower shops at Taksim square and are cheap. Aksaray district is only about 5 km away from Taksim and it has rather a vulgar night life. So, if you stay after midnight you are recommended not to walk around too much, and take a taxi quickly.

Ekoo Club (23:00-05:00)

Address: Tarlabasi Bulvari No: 248 Beyoglu , Istanbul
Ekoo should be classified as a bear-friendly venue, rather than a bear club. There is not always a visible bear scene here. One of the manager of the club is a senior person in local bear life, the owner manager is also very familiar with bear community. There has been several bear parties in the club in cooperation with the managers of Bearphorus. This is an after-midnight club, open by 11 pm, but gets busy after midnight and continues until 5 am. The venue is a small, modest place with prices just a little lower than Taksim's other gay clubs. The clientele is a mixture of ordinary gays, bears, a few feminine queers and even young rent-boys sometimes. It is located across from Tarlabasi avenue with respect to the major night life area of Beyoglu. Walking along Tarlabasi avenue is not very safe at night time, so it is recommend to go to the venue from Istiklal Caddesi, the very popular pedestrian street of Taksim neighborhood. If you are walking from Taksim square, turn right into Balik Pazari sokak (fish market street,  right next to Cicek Pasaji). At the end of Balik Pazari sokak follow the street slightly turning right. Cross the main street ahead of you from traffic lights (you will see the Beyoglu Emniyet Mudurlugu (police headquarter of Beyoglu) right ahead of you. When you cross, turn left and walk down in to the pavement below street level. The entrance of the club is below the street level to the right,  close to Omer Hayyam bus stop. Nothing particularly for Ekoo club, but it is advised to take an initial discovery tour to the venues in day time. Asking directions to people when you get lost is not the wise thing to do in very late hours. 
 

Tekyon (23:00-05:00)
Address: Siraselviler Caddesi (street) No 63/1 Taksim/Beyoglu. Istanbul.
Web: http://www.tekyonclub.com/ 
Tekyon had a considerable bear scene several years ago. It later became one of the most popular gay clubs of Istanbul, and the bears became less visible. You can still see some bears in the club, especially on busy Saturday nights. Some of the bar-tenders are senior people in bear life of the city. It has moved to a new and much bigger place on Siraselviler street in May 2009 and has become the talk of the town. The waiters are very feminine and friendly in this night club, probably to entertain their loyal clients. Male belly dancer, go-go boys and simple drag shows performed by the bar staff can be fun to see, usually on Tuesday nights after 01:00 am. It is very crowded on Saturdays, including it's big garden on the back yard, good for people who need a smoking break. It is easy to get to the club, as the street (Siraselviler) is starting from Taksim square. If you walk from Taksim Square for a few minutes, you will see its sign-board on the left-hand side. Tekyon is very flexible with cover charges and cloakroom rituals compared to other gay clubs in Taksim; which may be one of the reasons it get more and more busy in the course of time.

Naturally, there may be bears in any other gay bars in Istanbul. Click Here  for full list of gay bars and clubs.
 

Click here to send your feedback about any of these places and this page
 

Bear Friendly Baths in Istanbul
 

In fact, hamams (Turkish baths) are the most popular venues among bears and mature gay men living in Istanbul. Unfortunately most of the senior action places including blue-movie cinemas and hamams have been closed down one after the other since 2007. Some of these places had been meeting places of Istanbullu gay men for decades. It seems that, according to the current politics in the country you can be gay, as long as you do not have sex. There are still several bath houses left open where gay men would like to go which are:

Cesme
Address: Voyvoda Caddesi (or better known as Bankalar street), Yeni Cesme Sokak, Karakoy, Istanbul
It is on a back-street (Yeni Cesme) hard to locate, somewhere below Galata Tower; or above Galata Bridge to the left. It may be easier to find from Persembe Pazarı street (search Google maps). Karakoy is eastern end of Galata bridge. The venues is not very clean, but who cares ... Mostly frequented by middle aged/mature gay men and some local bears. Observe first, and you will easily understand how it works.

Yesildirek
Address: Tershane Cad. Yolcuzade Sok. N:74 Sishane, Beyoglu, Istanbul.
There is no obvious gay scene and recommended not to be very obvious. It is right below the eastern leg of Ataturk bridge (also known as Unkapani Koprusu). This is the second kopru (bridge) after Galata Bridge over Halic (Golden Horn) The bath house is on the Taksim/Beyoglu side of Ataturk bridge, facing Golden Horn. You can take a short taxi or walk some 15 minutes from Karakoy, along the Golden Horn. When you come from Taksim, you need to get off at Sishane bus-stop, cross the street and walk shortly to the sea side.

Click here  for other (non-gay) saunas, gyms, historical Turkish baths in Istanbul.

Click here to send your feedback about any of these places and this page
 

Bear Cruising in Istanbul
 

Regular gay cruising areas are also recommended (or not particularly recommend for safety reasons) to bear people as well. Just like in other big cities around the world cruising areas, especially parks are where gay people should be very careful and selective with the people they meet. These places are discovered by some bad guys and pick-pockets who are always around for robbing gay men rather than having sex with them. Especially be careful if the person you meet tries to take you to isolated places for sex. In such cases make sure there are no people following you (this is a common trick to rob gay men in cruising areas). We recommend you not to carry your valuable things on you when you go to cruising places, just in case.

Bear cruising areas in Istanbul
 

Taksim Park
The park is behind the Mc Donald's, near Taksim Square. The part of the park closer to the sea-side is more cruisy especially in the evenings. There are civil policemen in the park in recent years. Although they will be tolerating tourists, they can give you a hard time if you get caught having sex outside. Do not go with people to lower and isolated parts of the park for safety reasons.  Beware of rent-boys and thieves around, but do not be scared to walk around in the central area. Afternoons and early evening and Sundays can be recommended to meet other bears.

Fatih Park
Fatih park is near Aksaray.  It is across from the administrative building of Istanbul Municipality (Istanbul Belediyesi). If you are coming from Taksim, you need to stop at Sarachane bus-stop (at the underpass), right before Aksaray. This is where it is more likely to see local bears, but at the same time it is the most risky cruising place. We recommend you not to stay long after it gets dark. Sunday afternoons can be recommended particularly.

Kadikoy Park
Kadikoy is the major residential district on the Asian part of Istanbul. The coastal area, the parks near Kadikoy-Besiktas Iskelesi (the older ferry pier in Kadikoy), the breakwater (the one with light house) are well-known gay cruising areas, where it is like to see bear men. These places usually get cruisy in the evening. There is no obvious gay atmosphere at day time. In summer time the breakwater can be more busy during the day, especially on weekends, when you can see people sitting on the breakwater's wall, lying on the rocks, fishing or drinking beer. You can get to Kadikoy from Eminonu, Kabatas and Karakoy ports by ferryboats, journey lasting about 20-30 minutes. For ferryboat schedules see: IDO Ferryboats  

Click here for other gay cruising areas in Istanbul.
Click here to send your feedback about any of these places and this page

Bear Beaches in Istanbul

As already mentioned on the webpage dedicated to gay beaches, there are no obvious gay beach areas in Istanbul. If you are a swimming-bear no matter what, please click here for full list of of recommended beaches in Istanbul, among which the isolated beaches in Prince's Islands are still more recommendable to bear people on holiday.

Bear Dating & Internet Resources.

Bears of Turkey

Turkish bear group, providing information about bear movement and bear life in Turkey. It also has a bear guide, but it is really out of date. There are places which has been closed long ago. Ayilar is plural of Ayi, which means bear in Turkish.

Turkish Gays Yahoo Group
This is a group for meeting Turkish gay men and sharing info. The group is not particularly for bears, but there are many bears among its members exceeding 3000 people in number.  

Turkish Bears @ Facebook (NEW)
The meeting platform of Turkish and Istanbul bears. You can share info, chat to people. You can meet English speaking Turkish bears here.