ATTENTION!
Some
of the venues on this website are listed without the
approval of their owners and they are not all
necessarily gay or gay-friendly places. We do not guarantee the accuracy
for the information provided by website visitors,
especially. Moreover, there may be some changes with the information
given here
which we have not obtained yet, although we are trying to be
as update as possible. Please note the indicated dates in
order to understand how up to date the information is. Please use the provided information accordingly,
otherwise we do not undertake responsibility for any
problems you may encounter.
GENERAL INFO
Probably because it's the capital city of Turkey, Ankara displays a more
official life style generally which has also effected the gay
life of the city. Although it's the second populated city of
Turkey following Istanbul, it does not have such a colorful gay
life. Still, there are several gay or gay-friendly venues worth
visiting as listed on this page. Gay March in Ankara (Gay News- May 2008) Over 100 gay men and women, bisexuals and transgender people
assembled in front of the human rights monument in Yuksel Street
for a march to Parliament on International Day Against
Homophobia jointly organized by Kaos Gay and Lesbian Association
and Pink Life LGBTT Association.
Exclusive Gay Bars and Clubs in Ankara: Ankara has a considerable gay life whereas
the gay nightlife is indeed not very colorful. Several gay
bars and clubs have been opened in recent years in Ankara but they
haven't survived long enough for various reasons.
CLUB
TRIBAL 22:00-04:00
Address: Tunus Caddesi 53/A Kavaklidere - Ankara
http://www.clubtribal.com
The most popular club in Ankara catering exclusively for gay and
lesbian clientele, offering activities such as
bar, dancing and miscellaneous
shows (Reported by the owners in
February 2008)
Send your feedbacks or report a new place Gay Friendly Ankara Bars and Clubs
and Other Popular None-Gay Night Clubs:
Gay or Gay-Friendly Restaurants
and Cafe Shops in Ankara:
CAFE DEEP JOURNAL 10:30-24:00
Address: Tunus Caddesi 53 Kavaklidere - Ankara
Exclusively gay and lesbian day-time cafe & restaurant located
just beneath the Club Tribal with an independent entrance and a
spacious garden. Offers snack foods, liquors and soft drinks.
You can connect to the internet with their computers or play PC
games, when you are bored. Wireless internet connection is
available for laptop users.
(Reported by the owners in August 2008)
Gay Friendly Cinemas in Ankara: Although there is not a gay exclusive cinema in
Ankara although some straight porno-cinemas are frequented by
gay men. Because of Turkey's bisexual culture it's possible
to have some limited action in most of such places. In a few of
them gays are really welcomed. But still better be a little
discrete , because they are open to the public. Make sure that
you are approaching the right person because they are all visited by straight men as well. Attention: These venues are not gay exclusive venues and
most of them were reported by website visitors as indicated
below.The accuracy of information provided by website
visitors is not guaranteed. EFES SINEMASI12:00-21:00 Address: Izmir Caddesi
(street), Kizilay (district)- Ankara It is a
very small theater with a very small screen showing some porno
movies and one wonders why someone would go there at the age of
internet just for that.
Visitor feedbacks for this venue:
"Fantastic venue for people who like bears. Most of them are
almost heterosexual but very horny" (12/03/2009)
Below venues were reported by website visitors.
ATLAS SINEMASI
Address: Next to PTT (Post Office) in Diskapi quarter, Ankara.
Open between 10:00 - 21:00 KEREM
SINEMASI
Address:
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasa Bulvari, Kizilay
Open between 10:00 - 22:00 UZAY
SINEMASI
Address:
Talatpasa Bulvari (boulevard), Yeserti Sokak (street), Cebeci
(district), Ankara.
It is near Cebecı Dogum Hastanesi (hospital). It is right behind
the bus stop after the hospital on the way to Mamak district.
Open from 10:00 till 21:00 (29/12/2008)
Gay Friendly Sauna or
Bath Houses in Ankara:
Please note that most owners of action places such as cinemas,
baths and saunas do not like to be mentioned on gay websites or
guide books even if they want them to come to their venues for
business reasons.
Unfortunately there are also no gay-exclusive gay baths, saunas
or hamams in Ankara.
Attention:
These venues are not gay exclusive venues and most of them were
reported by website visitors as indicated below.The accuracy
of information provided by website visitors is not guaranteed.
YENI AY HAMAMI
This is not a gay-exclusive venue Address.: On the way to Siteler or Gulveren
districts from Ulus, somewhere
after Ankara Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi (research hospital)
on the right after the bridge.
Near Ulucanlar quarter, not very far from down town Ulus.
Visitor feedbacks:
"It is possible to
see older gay men, and few young feminine gays especially on weekend days."
(03/06/2007
)
"Yeni Ay Hamam is a good location and I think the best. I
went to a few hamams in Ankara but this is the only one action
can happen " (18/09/2008)
"Provides typical bath activities including massage and
sauna. Patronized overwhelmingly by middle aged and older men.
Recommended for bears and bear-lovers." (02/03/2009)
EYNEBEYN HAMAMI This is not a gay-exclusive venue.
Address: Adnan Saygun Caddesi No: 11 Ulus, Ankara. (not
far from Genclik Park)
Open : 18:00-23:00
Visitor feedbacks:
"There is not such a visible gay scene, but they seem to be
gay-friendly." (05/11/2008)
MARMARA HAMAMI
This is not a gay-exclusive venue. Address : Denizciler Caddesi, Ulus, Ankara.
This hamam has also a pool.
Gay Cruising Areas in Ankara: In general, the cruising areas - especially parks are where
gay men should be more selective with the people they meet. It
is always possible to come across to some bad guys who want to
trap the gay men in such places. Especially, be careful at night
time and do not carry very valuable things and a lot of money on
you, just in case.
Genclik Park
is the big park near Ulus district of Ankara. The part closer
to the entrance gate from Ulus is more cruisy. Beware of pick
pockets, and stay away from young guys walking about in groups.
Ulus district is regarded as downtown of Ankara.
Guven Park
is located between Ulus and Kizilay districts. There may be
hustlers or thieves at night time.
Karum Shopping Center
is located in Kavaklidere district, near Sheraton Hotel
www.karum.com.tr ) Naturally there will not be a visible gay
action in a shopping mall, but such places are popular among
young gay men.
Kizilay Park
is the central park in Kizilay district. Not very busy.
Ataturk Bulvari
is the main boulevard of Kizilay district. You can come across
gay man promenading along the way anytime.
Seymenler Park
is in upper part of Cankaya district. This park is also used for
various cultural activities and concerts. You can occasionally
see gay men cruising especially after dark.
Yuksel Caddesi
is the street located in Kizilay district especially busy with
young people and students. There are lovely cafe-shops and
restaurants along the street which are usually crowded in day
time. Street-vendors turn the street into an open air market in
the evenings.
Gay Groups and Gay & Lesbian
Organizations in Ankara: KAOS GL Address:
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari, No: 29/12 Kizilay, Ankara, Turkey
Phone / Fax: +90 312 2300358
Originally a gay lesbian culture and gay rights magazine from
which the first officially recognized gay organization was
formed in 2005. KAOS GL was founded in September, 1994, to unite
Turkey's homosexuals in the struggle against discrimination. The
group's underlying philosophy is that the liberation of
homosexuals will also free heterosexuals. KAOS GL has been
publishing the journal KAOS GL (now a quarterly) since it was
founded, and it briefly published a monthly newspaper, PARMAK
(Finger), in 2001. The group owns the KAOS Cultural Center, in
which many cultural activities, meetings and film shows are held
and where the first LGBT library of Turkey was also built.
Visit Their Official Website for More Information
Yahoo Group For Turkish Lesbians A Yahoo Group to meet Turkish Lesbians from
all over Turkey. You can leave a message to meet Turkish
lesbians and lesbian tourists living in or visiting Ankara in
this group.
Yahoo Group for Turkish Gays A Yahoo Group to meet Turkish gay men from
all over Turkey. You can leave a message to meet Turkish gays
and gay tourists living in or visiting Ankara in this group.
ANKARA GAY TRAVEL
Turkish gay
travel agency is organizing daily city tours, budget and tailor made
package tours, boat cruises, hotel reservations in Ankara and all around
Turkey.
Gay and Lesbian Friendly Ankara Daily
Tours Half day Ankara tour. Anatolian Civilizations Museum,
the Citadel of
Ankara, the
Mausoleum of Ataturk.
Full-day tour of Hattusas available
on
Saturdays and Sundays.
Details
GAY OR LESBIAN
FRIENDLY HOTELS IN ANKARA
There are no officially gay or lesbian hotels in Ankara. Other
recommended hotels are listed below
Make your hotel reservation by leading gay
and lesbian travel agency of Turkey.
Ankara Hotels
INTERNATIONAL ONLINE
SECURE SYSTEM
Book Your Hotels Online via International Secure
Reservation System with the Guarantee and Protection of
Istanbul Pride Travel. Pride Travel has special rates
agreements with hotels from all over Ankara. Easy to
search, hotels listed starting from the cheapest
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest
city after Istanbul. The city has a population (as of 2005) of
4,319,167 (Province 5,153,000), and a mean elevation of 850 m
(2800 ft). It was formerly known as Angora. The Hittites gave it
the name Ankuwash before 1200 BC,[1][2] the Galatians and Romans
called it Ancyra, and in the classical, Hellenistic, and
Byzantine periods it was known as Ánkyra. Ankara also
serves as the capital of the Province of Ankara.
Centrally located in Anatolia, Ankara is an important commercial
and industrial city. It is the center of the Turkish Government,
and houses all foreign embassies. It is an important crossroads
of trade, strategically located at the center of Turkey's
highway and railway networks, and serves as the marketing center
for the surrounding agricultural area. The city was famous for
its long-haired Angora goat and its prized wool (mohair), a
unique breed of cat (Angora cat), white rabbits and their prized
wool (Angora wool), pears, honey, and the region's muscat
grapes.
Ankara is situated upon a steep and rocky hill, which rises 150
m above the plain on the left bank of the Enguri Su, a tributary
of the Sakarya (Sangarius) river. The city is located at
39°52'30" North, 32°52' East (39.875° N 32.8333° E). Ankara is
one of the driest places in Turkey and is surrounded by a barren
steppe vegetation, with various Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic,
Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archaeological sites. It has a
harsh, dry continental climate with cold, snowy winters and hot,
dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and
autumn.
The hill which overlooks the city is crowned by the ruins of the
old castle, which adds to the picturesqueness of the view, but
only a few historic structures surrounding the old citadel have
survived to our date. There are, however, many finely preserved
remains of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine architecture, the
most remarkable being the Temple of Augustus and Rome (20 BC)
which is also known as the Monumentum Ancyranum.
Old Ankara houses within
the Ankara Castle
Modern city of Ankara
Mausoleum of Ataturk is still visited by millions of
Turks
Museums in Ankara
Anıtkabir (Mausoleum
of Ataturk) No one is more respected in Turkey as much as Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic. Even his
political opponents who are always is charge mainly to destroy
his secularity revolution, can not dare to speak against him. Ataturk's
mausoleum. Anıtkabir is located on an
imposing hill in the Anıttepe quarter of the city, where the
mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of
Turkey, stands. Completed in 1953, it is an impressive fusion of
ancient and modern architectural styles. An adjacent museum
houses a wax statue of Atatürk, his writings, letters and
personal items, as well as an exhibition of photographs
recording important moments in his life and during the
establishment of the Republic. Anıtkabir is open every day,
while the adjacent museum is open every day except Mondays.
Ankara Ethnography Museum (Etnografya Muzesi): This museum is
opposite the Opera House on Talat Paşa Boulevard, in the Ulus
district. There is a fine collection of folkloric as well as
Seljuk- and Ottoman-era artifacts.
A Hattian artifact, from the 3rd millennium BC, in the Museum of
Anatolian CivilizationsMuseum of Anatolian Civilizations (Anadolu
Medeniyetleri Müzesi): Situated at the entrance of Ankara
Castle, it is an old "bedesten" (covered bazaar) that has been
beautifully restored and now houses a unique collection of
Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, and
Roman works as well as a major section dedicated to Lydian
treasures.
State Art and Sculpture Museum (Resim-Heykel Müzesi): This
museum is close to the Ethnography Museum and houses a rich
collection of Turkish art from the late 19th century to the
present day. There are also galleries which host guest
exhibitions.
Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum (Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Müzesi):
An industrial museum opposite the entrance to the Citadel, close
to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Located in the
historic Çengelhan - a former Caravanserai, built in 1522 - the
Museum displays a huge variety of exhibits on diverse themes
such as Engineering, Road Transport, Scientific Instruments,
Maritime and Medicine equipments, and many others. The beautiful
and atmospheric courtyard now houses the newly restored shop
where the founder of the Koç Group, Mr Vehbi Koç, started his
working life. Once you have finished your museum visit, you can
relax in either the Divan Café or the sophisticated Divan
Brasserie in the courtyard.
War of Independence Museum (Kurtuluş Savaşı Müzesi): This
building, located on Ulus Square, was originally the first
Parliament building (TBMM) of the Republic of Turkey. The War of
Independence was planned and directed here as recorded in
various photographs and items presently on exhibition. In
another display, wax figures of former presidents of the
Republic of Turkey are on exhibit.
TCDD Locomotive Museum: An open-air museum near the railway
station on Celal Bayar Boulevard which traces the history of
steam locomotion through the locomotives and artifacts on
display.
Archeological sites in Ankara
Ankara Citadel: The foundations of the citadel were laid
by the Galatians on a prominent lava outcrop, and the rest was
completed by the Romans. The Byzantines and Seljuks further made
restorations and additions. The area around and inside the
citadel, being the oldest part of Ankara, contains many fine
examples of traditional architecture. There are also
recreational areas to relax. Many restored traditional Turkish
houses inside the citadel area have found new life as
restaurants, serving local cuisine, music and of course, Rakı.
Roman Theatre: The remains, the stage, and the backstage
can be seen outside the castle. Roman statues that were found
here are exhibited in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (see
above). The seating area is still under excavation.
Temple of Augustus and Rome: The temple, also known as the
Monumentum Ancyranum, was built between 25 BC - 20 BC following
the conquest of Central Anatolia by the Roman Empire and the
formation of the Roman province of Galatia, with Ancyra (modern
Ankara) as its administrative capital. After the death of
Augustus in 14 AD, a copy of the text of Res Gestae Divi Augusti
was inscribed on the interior of the pronaos in Latin, whereas a
Greek translation is also present on an exterior wall of the
cella. The temple, on the ancient Acropolis of Ancyra, was
enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century. In the 5th century it
was converted into a church by the Byzantines. It is located in
the Ulus quarter of the city. Roman Bath: This bath has all the typical features of a
classical Roman bath: a frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium
(cool room) and caldarium (hot room). The bath was built during
the reign of Emperor Caracalla in the 3rd century AD to honour
Asclepios, the God of Medicine. Today, only the basement and
first floors remain. It is situated in the Ulus quarter.
Column of Julian: This column, in Ulus, was erected in 362 to
commemorate a visit by the Roman Emperor Julian. It stands
fifteen meters high and has a typical leaf decoration on the
capital.
Modern monuments in Ankara
Monument to a Secure, Confident Future: This monument, in Güven
Park, Bakanlıklar quarter, was erected in 1935 and bears
Atatürk's advice to his people: "Turk! Be proud, work hard, and
believe in yourself."
Victory Monument (Zafer Anıtı): Erected in 1927 on Zafer Square
in the Sıhhiye quarter, it depicts Atatürk in uniform.
Hatti Monument: Built in the 1970s on Sıhhiye Square, this
impressive monument symbolizes the Hatti gods and commemorates
Anatolia's earliest known civilization.
Kocatepe Mosque in central Ankara
Hacı Bayram Mosque: This mosque, in the Ulus quarter next to the
Temple of Augustus, was built in the early 15th century in
Seljuk style by an unknown architect. It was subsequently
restored by architect Sinan in the 16th century, with Kütahya
tiles being added in the 18th century. The mosque was built in
honor of Hacı Bayram Veli, whose tomb is next to the mosque, two
years before his death (1427-28). The usable space inside this
mosque is 437 square meters on the first floor and 263 square
meters on the second floor.
Ankara has many parks and open spaces mainly established in the
early years of the Republic and well maintained and expanded
thereafter. The most important of these parks are: Gençlik Park
(houses an amusement park with a large pond for rowing), the
Botanical Garden, Seğmenler Park, Anayasa Park, Kuğulu Park
(famous for the swans received as a gift from the Chinese
government), Abdi İpekçi Park, Güven Park (see above for the
monument), Kurtuluş Park (has an ice-skating rink), Altın Park
(also a prominent exposition/fair area), Harikalar Diyarı
(claimed to be Biggest Park of Europe inside city borders) and
Göksu Park.
Atatürk Farm and Zoo (Atatürk Orman Çiftliği) is an expansive
recreational farming area which houses a zoo, several small
agricultural farms, greenhouses, restaurants, a dairy farm and a
brewery. It is a pleasant place to spend a day with family, be
it for having picnics, hiking, biking or simply enjoying good
food and nature. There is also an exact replica of the house
where Atatürk was born in 1881, in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Visitors to the "Çiftlik" (farm) as it is affectionately called
by Ankarans, can sample such famous products of the farm such as
old-fashioned beer and ice cream, fresh dairy products and meat
rolls/kebaps made on charcoal, at a traditional restaurant (Merkez
Lokantası, Central Restaurant), cafés and other establishments
scattered around the farm.
Ankara Shopping
Interior view of Karum Shopping & Business CenterForeign
visitors to Ankara usually like to visit the old shops in
Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu (Weavers' Road) near Ulus, where myriad
things ranging from traditional fabrics, hand-woven carpets and
leather products can be found at bargain prices. Bakırcılar
Çarşısı (Bazaar of Coppersmiths) is particularly popular, and
many interesting items, not just of copper, can be found here
like jewelry, carpets, costumes, antiques and embroidery. Up the
hill to the castle gate, there are many shops selling a huge and
fresh collection of spices, dried fruits, nuts, and other
produce.
Modern shopping areas are mostly found in Kızılay, or on Tunalı
Hilmi Avenue, including the modern mall of Karum which is
located towards the end of the Avenue; and in the Atakule Tower
at Çankaya, the quarter with the highest elevation in the city,
which commands a magnificent view over the whole city and also
has a revolving restaurant at the top where the complete
panorama can be enjoyed in a more leisurely fashion.
As Ankara started expanding westward in the 1970s, there are
several modern, suburbia-style developments and mini-cities
along the western highway, also known as the Eskişehir Road. The
Armada Mall on the highway, the Galleria in Ümitköy, and a huge
mall in Bilkent Center offer North American and European style
shopping opportunities (these places can be reached following
the Eskişehir Highway). There is also the newly expanded
Ankamall at the outskirts, on the Istanbul Highway, which houses
most of the well-known European brands. This mall is the largest
throughout the Ankara region.
