Tell Me About Istanbul

All you need to know.....

My grandmother went a couple of years ago and loved it. She had a wonderful time and didn't report any nasty incidents with the locals... She did mention an old man who stood naked outside her hotel, but she considered that just fun.

R2 here... Also wanted to add that she was most interested in seeing the architecture and the historical sights and said that they didn't disappoint. Let us know which place you choose and how the trip goes!

Istanbul is an amazing city - but it is MASSIVE.

There are over 16,000,000 people there.

Sultanahmet is the ancient historical side - that is the most touristic - it has the Grand Bazaar - this incredible maze of stalls selling everything you can think of - be prepared to haggle; and it has the Haghia Sophia; the Blue Mosque; the underground sewer works; Topkapi Palace. It is an incredily beautiful place. It also has some touristic Turkish baths - the baths are entirely for tourists these days. Avoid the carpet salesmen - they engage in the hard sell.

The bridge across the Bosphorus is interesting - a lot of restaurants there. Close to the big mosque near the bridge is the Shisha Pipe smoking district - no alcohol on sale on these cafes but pleasant way to spend a few hours.

Taksim Square on the other side of the river from Sultanahmet is the shopping / business district - Western style shops on a massive scale.

You can take a ferry across to the Asian side - there are a couple of nice historical districts but the Asian side is more modern and mainly just residential.

Find a good meze restaurant at least once.

In terms of gay life - well the men hold hands with each other a lot - but this is a friendship thing rather than a gay thing. There are some westerm style gay bars but also Turkish style gay bars which play Turkish music - these attract more hustler types and pickpockets.

It's a reasonably gay friendly city but be careful - there are some religious districts and the right wing islamist government is not very gay friendly - although Istanbul itself is largely secular. Alcohol is available in bars and supermarkets.

Highly recommended.

I was lovely when I went in the 1990's. Gay friendly.

and yes you will get hassled by touts..... if you at all stand out as not being a local. carpet salesmen, etc. Anyone approaching you on the street and initiating a conversation is most likely trying to sell you something. Spend one day wandering from the blue mosque/aya sofia area towards the covered market. plenty of sights along the way. Spend another day walking across the bosporus bridge to the galata section (uphill) this is a newer area but still old and end up in the Taksim square district.

Don't miss the Grand Bazaar . Love it. Turkish delights are yummy.

Come on just admit it. You really do want a sex vacation. Be honest with yourself. We're your brothers at DL. We won't judge.

Great town if you are a bottom.

Beware of the isis.

Istanbul is a world class city with a long history--Greeco-Roman and Turk

The food is great; the people love to party; people are very friendly

The men can be stunning.

GO!!

That's what I heard r9. If you are a decently attractive white bottom few places will wear out your ass more than Turkey.

You don't even have to be so attractive R12. Those Turkish men were all over me when I was there and I am no looker.

[quote]I was lovely when I went in the 1990's

And now you're not so lovely?

Last time I was there, it was still called Byzantium.

Apparently a lot of tops who don't use condoms. There are some really hot guys on cam4. Beefy and hairy, and all shave their pubes.

Just head here instead

[quote]I was lovely when I went in the 1990's. Gay friendly.

I spent time in Istanbul for a few months in the 90s as well. Not really sure I'd call it gay friendly but I admit because of the circumstances I was in I didn't take any part in the night life, outside of walking on the streets on evenings and having few Turkish buddies. One of them was a student at the university and involved in theater. When we walked about around Taksim we saw loads of young men walking hand in hand. He told me that foreigners many times mistake them for gays when in reality they are just straight friends and walking like that is normal thing there. He also said that Turkish gays are different from the gays of Europe and America. I got the idea that to him Turkish gays were femme guys and not masculine normal guys. It seemed weird since I was sure he must know gays from the uni or from his acting group. He knew I was gay so there was no reason to lie but maybe he just was clueless of the gay underworld. I mean it's a huge fucking city, 13 million people at the time. I can only imagine what kind scum the underwold there can be with probably real slave markets and such (and that is just from my imagination).

At the time men used to scratch their balls all the time in public walking on the street. I'm not the biggest prude but it looked disgusting. I asked about it from a male Turk and he joked it was because they have such huge dicks. When a female friend came to visit me she used to get groped all the time in the buses or when there were loads of Turkish men around her. Not sure if things have changed, it's been 20 years already so I hope they have, but considering fundamentalism is getting bigger there I'm afraid things are going backwards. Some parts of the country used to be really medieval. I remember hearing that a Western woman traveling alone was killed in some small village just because she was a Western woman traveling alone.

And yeah, when I was there loads of bomb attacks, they happened I guess almost daily. Thankfully I was never near one. PKK was apparently behind them and police were everywhere all the time. When you were walking the streets you could practically always see a police car parked somewhere. But still I must say I enjoyed being there. The only time I was really afraid was when I was leaving a Turkish friend to return to where I was staying at 3 am. I was walking on a short and dark street when I noticed a small gang of guys appear behind me, and then another group appear at the other end of the street. I had just bought this gorgeous camel hair long coat and I was sure they'd rob me and maybe kill me. But I kept walking steady and before I reached the other end of the street the guys vanished.

The song of the 90s

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

You can have sex, a lot of sex. Men can be picked up anywhere.

The straight bathhouses always have sex going on. Porn theatres, gyms, literally anywhere you find men.

But you can't be gay.

Love Istanbul. October is a good month to go as it will be cooler, and presumably not so crowded. We booked a walking tour and a gay nightlife tour (link below) and it was nice to have someone show us around.

Now is a good time to go as the dollar is very strong against the Lira. We ate and drank like pigs at a fraction of what we'd pay in NYC. Take a nap before hitting the bars, they don't get going until after 1.

It didn't happen to us, but it happened to a friend where she was short-changed by a taxi driver who gave her a 5 lira note instead of a 50 in change for a 100. Getting cash at the airport and in the city is easy with an ATM card. You'll need cash, even restaurants that accept credit cards expect you to leave the tip in cash (10-15%). Turkish wine is superb. I did not like raki, the anise-flavored liquor the locals drink. Efes beer is delicious.

Public transport is cheap and easy to navigate. Get an Istanbulkart and refill as necessary. Taxis are easy to find, but again, count your change.

I am an athiest and get very uncomfortable in churches and synagogues, but found the mosques to be absolutely breathtaking and inspiring.

If a Republican wins in 2016, I would seriously consider getting a job in Istanbul and living there for 4 years, I love it that much.

Anyone i know who visited Istanbul say it's wonderful. I would never go to Turkey, tho... i find it beyond creepy and barbaric. (and no, i'm not an american)

[quote] Anyone i know who visited Istanbul say it's wonderful. I would never go to Turkey, tho... i find it beyond creepy and barbaric. (and no, i'm not an american)

Well, I AM an American and I love Turkey.I've been to Istanbul, Bodrum, Ephesus, Cappadocia, and Pamukkale, (only Pamukkale was a disappointment, and that was due to the obnoxious tourists from other parts of Europe).

Never found anything I would call creepy or barbaric. Subways and trams in Istanbul are fast and clean (puts NY to shame), public restrooms are clean (they will generally cost you one lira, about .35), just about everyone speaks at least a little English, wi-fi access is easy to find.

Yes, Turkish Airlines domestic flights can be a nightmare, but flying anywhere is no picnic these days. Just don't plan any tight connections in Istanbul.

If you can afford a bit more than standard coach, Turkish Airlines Comfort Class from the US is very nice, 2-3-2 seating and lots of legroom. The food is good, for airline food. If you're a Star Alliance gold card holder, allow time to visit the lounge at Ataturk, it's the best airline lounge I've ever been to, and that includes Singapore airlines first class lounge at Changi.

You can now get an eVisa prior to departure and go directly to the immigration counters upon arrival in Istanbul

Ephesus is one of the best classical archeological sites in the world. When we went in late December it was just our group and a Japanese bus tour, absolutely fantastic.

I have been to Istanbul in August, October and December. Loved it during the summer and spring. Even over Christmas our hotel had a Christmas party complete with roast goose and mulled wine.

more sex stories

Not an Istanbul story, but I used to have a Turkish fuck buddy from there.

This was about 10 years ago - I was 45 and he was about 27-28 - he still lived with his parents and was closeted.

Man he was a hot fuck - dark and hairy and aggressive.

I didn't want a relationship with him as I had no interest in all the drama, but whenever he needed sex I made sure my hole was available to him.

He liked me to be naked and spreadeagled on the bed when he entered my apartment. I used to blow him as he lubed up my ass with his finger. He liked to be deepthroated and he didn't manscape his bush - he was always freshly showered but was so hairy that there was always a slightly musky smell from him.

it was always the same routine. After 5 minutes of sucking him he'd indicate he wanted to fuck - and I'd put the rubber on him, sniff some poppers and he would pound my ass.

He rarely came inside me - preferring to come over my face, and after about a year I allowed him to come in my mouth and I swallowed every drop.

We never kissed. After he'd come he'd dress and be gone in minutes.

it lasted about 4 years. He'd fuck me a couple of times a week.

Then he moved.

Glorious times.

People interested in Istanbul should definitely watch Ferzan Ozpetek's gay themed film Hamam: The Turkish Bath (a.k.a. Steam: The Turkish Bath).

One of the actors in this clip is SOOOO hot. If anyone can find his name I'll blow you.

[quote] Not really looking for a sex vacation or anything, I'm more interested in seeing the historical sights and just relaxing.

Then you're in luck! Turkey is NOT a good place for a sex vacation, even though the Turkish men are some of the most gorgeous men in the world. but Istanbul is the perfect place for historical sights and relaxing.

Actually, it is a GREAT place for a sex vacation. The Turkish men have ENORMOUS super thick cocks, and I mean unbelievably HUGE! Double beer-can thick with round juicy mushroom heads. And the men are all stunningly handsome and love to fuck anywhere and anytime. You can not go wrong.

Oh yeah. As a gay man traveling alone it's a smart idea to visit a country where ISIS fighters are all over the place. I believe there have even been substantiated reports of gay men being targeted in Turkey for kidnap/murder by guys they meet on hookup apps.

Hot size meat.is worth risking your life, R32.

R31. Damn. I would love for him to tear me up.

It's Constantinople!

They Might be Giants' version is best

Off topic, but here on Datalounge people are always saying that such-and-such country is great for sex, if you’re a bottom. Which countries should I visit if I’m a top?

Well, it's actually not Constantinople

[quote] the underground sewer works;

It's famous for its underground cistern, not for its underground sewer works.

There is an enormous difference.

Really, r38? Really?

r35, r36 and even [bold]r1[/bold] all beat you to that joke, and yet you did not even bother to look.

Well, look at R40

You're just too good for your mom's basement

[quote] —Everybody Loves A Fat Old Angry Scold

Actually no one at all does, r41, which is why you're so unloved.

Erdogan bots are excited, commenting on a 5 yo post

[quote] Off topic, but here on Datalounge people are always saying that such-and-such country is great for sex, if you’re a bottom. Which countries should I visit if I’m a top?

East Asia?