Like in
many big cities cruising areas and 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 in such places for
robbing gay men rather than having sex with them. Especially be careful if
the person you meet proposes you to have sex in isolated outside places.
We recommend you not to carry your valuable things with you when you go to
such cruising places, just in case.
GAY
CRUISING AREAS OF ISTANBUL :
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Taksim Park get cruisy after dark.
Be very selective with the people you meet here. |
Istiklal Caddesi Two-kilometer long pedestrian
street/avenue starting from Taksim square and ending in Tunel (the short
historical metro), which is always busy with people. The street also
connects Taksim square to the most of the gay venues located on the
smaller streets crossing it, and you can see many gay and related people
on your way.
Taksim Park
The park at the upper part of Taksim Mc
Donald's, near Taksim Square. The part of the park closer to the sea-side
is more cruisy especially in the evenings. It is busier on Sundays and
Saturday evenings. It is not recommended to foreigners and new
comers for safety reasons. Since 2007 there is also a strict police
control & harassment (including 24 patrolling civil police) like it never
happened before. If you happen to meet them do not forget that
homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey and behave accordinly.
Visitor comments about Taksim Park:
"I have been first taken in the park
below Taksim Square near Ritz Carlton Hotel by an attractive man who
approached me in Taksim Square and then when we were in the park I've been
attacked by him and other 2 men hiding among bushes and stolen my money,
mobile, watch, credit cards and driving license. My identity card was
destroyed. Terrible experience." (Posted by Carlo from Italy on
08/09/2009
"Guys be very careful or just don't cruise there. I've been
attacked just in the same way Carlo said : bring me in another "gay park"
and one other guy held my hands while the first took me wallet and phone
(but not my expensive jacket ...). If someone is too direct he must have
bad intentions as they re very discrete." (Posted on 09/11/2009)
Taksim Square
People sitting around the monument at the very center of the square may
be interested in meeting gay people, but remember it is also a gathering
place for some pick pockets as well as female, transvestite and even male
prostitutes.
Feedbacks:
"I was there and looking to the Monument and somebody finger me and we
enjoyed the night together." (Posted by Graham/UK on 09/07/2009)
"Once I found one really great guy- we went to another park- dark place,
and he wanted money from me- when I didn't give it to him, he attacked me
"
(Posted by Paul on 01 November 2009)
Sultanahmet
Park Especially the small park behind the
Sultanahmet tramcar station in the evenings. Sultanahmet is the famous
tourist town of Istanbul and the parks are also comparatively safer, but
there is not a very visible gay scene
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Ortakoy coast is busy in Summer.
Same-named mosque is the symbol of Ortakoy. You can see the bridge
connecting Europe and Asia continents behind the mosque. |
Ortakoy
Coast. Once a small
fishing town, Ortakoy recently became popular with bars,
restaurants, cafeterias creating a summer resort atmosphere within the
city. It is near major Besiktas town along the Bosporus Straight. The
coastal area around the Ortakoy Mosque is very busy and there's a vibrant
night life in summer time, especially busy during the day on Sundays.
10-15 minute ride away from Taksim with a taxi but it may take much longer
during rush hours. You can also use public buses that follows the coastal
route from Eminonu, Karakoy and Taksim going to Sariyer, Bebek etc.
Kadikoy Park and Coast
The
coast and parks near Kadikoy's Besiktas Iskelesi (the old ferryboat station). Kadikoy
is the major town of Anatolian (Asian) part of Istanbul and there are
ferryboats from Karakoy
and Eminonu and Besiktas about every half an hour running until
around 23:00. Although
the park and the coast around breakwater can get very cruisy in the evenings, Kadikoy has less
liberal atmosphere with respect to Taksim. For that reason please make
sure the person you meet is really interested.
Fatih Park
The
park at Sarachane district near Fatih town. It is very close to the
administration building of Istanbul Municipality (Istanbul Belediyesi).
This is the most risky cruising place.
Be careful with people you meet here and make sure not to carry your valuable
things with you,
because there are always some pick-pockets around. (Stop at Sarachane
bus-stop when you
go to Aksaray from Taksim)
