Izmir - the birthplace of Homer - is the third biggest
city of Turkey in terms of population. Izmir is less
cosmopolite compared to Istanbul and Ankara. The natives of Izmir are generally
known to be more liberal and western-minded in Turkey.
The gay life in Izmir is getting more and more visible
each passing year. Various bars and clubs serving
exclusively to LGBT people are being operated in Izmir since early 90's.
Ehli Keyif Bar (20:00-24:00 or 02:00)
Address :
850 Sokak, No:43 Kemeralti, Konak
/ Izmir
Web:
Ehlikeyif.html (Click for guest reviews, location map,
videos, pictures and more)
Ehli Keyif was opened in early April 2011 as a
gay-exclusive cafe & bar and its has been one of the
major meeting point for local gay men living in Izmir
since then. During the weekdays and on Friday
nights
it is open from 20:00 until midnight. On Saturday nights
they can stay open as late as 04:00 a.m depending on how
busy it gets and when the clients starts leaving. The
venue is more popular among local gay bears and
straight-acting gay men and the prices are very
reasonable compared to other LGBT clubs in Izmir; around
3-5 $ for local drinks. The bar is located in historical
shopping district Kemeraltı, not far from Konak square
and famous Izmir Clock tower. Location at Google Maps
can be misleading.
Please click here for the webpage dedicated to
Ehli Keyif for more detailed location info, because
it is not easy to find when you go first time.
Red Raw
Address: 1471 Sokak, No: 45/A, Alsancak, Izmir
Web:
Redraw.html (Click for guest reviews, location map,
videos, pictures and more)
Trying not to be biased abut the venues listed on our
website but with this one we have received many
complaints and bad reviews, including gay tourists being
scammed and overcharged. So it is highly advised to read
the
guest comments before you visit Redraw (former Ka Club), if you
still intend to go. The clientele are regular transvestites,
their admirers, unreliable rent-boys and rarely some gay
men.
Please click here for detailed location
instructions, guest reviews and more.
Following venues are recommended by our website's
visitors and they are not publicly gay / gay-friendly
places. Your additional comments will be appreciated if
you happen to visit any of them.
Defne Cafe
Address: Kibris Şehitleri Cad.
1452 (Can Yücel) Sokak No 15/B, Alsancak, Izmir, Turkey.
Web:
Facebook.com/
It is located on a small street next to Simit Sarayi (a
popular Turkish coffee/tea-house franchiser) on Kibris
Sehitleri street in Alsancak district. This cafe shop
has been recommended by a website visitor as as a
lesbian owned & gay-friendly cafe shop. Whereas we would
like to remind people that there are controversial
comments about the gay-friendliness of this venue on
other internet resources and gay forums. (03/02/2009)
Starbucks Alsancak
Address: Dr. Mustafa Bey Caddesi No: 5/A
Alsancak, Izmir
Starbucks in Alsancak seems to be the day time meeting
place for some gay men living in Izmir.
Defne Cafe
Address: Kibris Şehitleri Cad.
1452 (Can Yücel) Sokak No 15/B, Alsancak, Izmir, Turkey.
Web:
Facebook.com/
It is located on a small street next to Simit Sarayi (a
popular Turkish coffee/tea-house franchiser) on Kibris
Sehitleri street in Alsancak district. This cafe shop
has been recommended by a website visitor as as a
lesbian owned & gay-friendly cafe shop. Whereas we would
like to remind people that there are controversial
comments about the gay-friendliness of this venue on
other internet resources and gay forums. (03/02/2009)
There is not any gay exclusive or explicitly
gay-friendly cinema in Izmir, but most heterosexual
erotic/porno cinemas are frequented by some gay men.
Because of Turkey's bisexual culture it's very possible
to meet interested-people in suchlike places. In a few
of them gays are really welcomed, but still better be a
little discrete, because they are open to straight men
as well, some of whom can be homophobic.
Ipek Cinema
Address:
Gaziler Caddesi, No: 113, Basmane, Konak, Izmir / Turkey.
Ipek Sinemasi is open as of November 2016 at this new
address, in place of former Safak Sinemasi. It is a
fairly small cinema and not as liberal as the previous
blue movie theaters in Izmir. It is less than half
a km away from Basmane train station / metro station, on
the left had side of the Gaziler street, under the small
Kent Hotel building. The movies are bad and entrance fee
is fairly cheap. Remember that you need to pay 1-2 lira
more tip in addition to the entrance fee in these kind
of blue movie cinemas. It is a strict custom which
applies to all clients and nothing done to tourists, if
you happen to think so.
The places listed under this category are not publicly
gay / gay-friend venues. In general, the owners of
action places such as cinemas, bath houses and saunas do
not like to be mentioned on gay websites or guide books
for fear of being raided by local authorities. To avoid
any misunderstanding, homosexuality is not and has never
been illegal in Turkey, but any sexual action (gay or
straight) in public venues is a reason to close the
venue for a period of time.
Istankoy Hamami
Address:
917 Sokak No:6, Kemeralti, Konak, Izmir -
Turkey
Web:
TurkishBathGuide.com/ Istankoy
The sign-board reads Kemeralti Tarihi Hamami (Historical
bath of Kemeralti). The hamam is located somewhere
behind the Salepcioglu Mosque. Kemeralti is historical
part of Izmir's central district of Konak, a
traditional shopping quarter with narrow streets housing
cinemas, cafes, spice shops, souvenir shops and many
others.
Click here for more information and reviews about
this hammam.
In general, the cruising areas - especially parks and
secluded beaches are where gay men should be more
selective with the people they encounter. Especially, be
careful at night time and do not carry very valuable
things and a lot of money on you, just in case.
Izmir Fuari Park
Fairground area; officially named Kultur Park (Culture
Park), also called shortly "fuar", is a huge city
park in downtown Izmir where the annual International
Izmir Fair Izmir International Fair is being organized. The vicinity of
Parachute
Tower, not far on your left when you enter from Basmane
gate is also well-known cruising section in the
evenings. In this section of the park you can see mostly
mature men and men with mustache sitting on the benches
alone, who are most likely interested in meeting other
men.
Kordon Promenade
The famous promenade area, waterfront by the boulevard
in Alsancak. Random cruising can happen in the summer evenings,
mostly at the
less busy sections on both side of
Alsancak ferry quay. Izmir's Kordon is well
know all over Turkey, and has become inspiration to many
classic and popular Turkish songs.
Konak Square
The park near the
clock tower (Saat Kulesi) and the
neighborhood of the clock tower in Konak, which is the
district regarded as the down town of Izmir. Cruisy
mainly after dark. The clock tower in Konak is the
symbol of Izmir city.
Karsiyaka Alaybey Park
The park in Alaybey quarter of Karsiyaka district of
Izmir (official name is
Muammer Aksoy Park) is
recommended by a local person as a cruising place in
April 2011, especially between 22:00-02:00.
Guest Comments and Recommendations
"I went to the promenade on a a Sunday morning ,
1:30am and I don't see the cruising potential at all at
this place. It's extremely well lit and all sorts of
people are here. Guys with girls, or guys with their
male friends watching videos, not porn, eating sunflower
seeds! There are no dark corners or big bushes to do
anything...I didn't stick around to wait and see...I
can't imagine there is much cruising here unless we're
talking about 4am etc." - (Posted on December 31
2017 by Ricardo T)
There are no beaches in Izmir with visible gay scene
except a far and secluded part of Altinkum beach in
Cesme, which is about 1 hour drive away from Izmir city
center. In recent years In fact there are no clean beaches left at Izmir
city center, just like in similar metropolitan cities.
The following beaches can be recommended to gay men
visiting Izmir mainly for swimming and water sports. It
is more likely to see gay men in Pamucak beach and some
beaches in Cesme, which are all in considerable
distance.
Beaches in Cesme
Cesme is a prominent center of international tourism in
Turkey and is famous for its night life, fish
restaurants and many beaches. It is one of Turkey's
well-known touristy areas with landscapes of cultivated
fields of aniseed, sesame and artichokes dotted with fig
and gum trees. Cesme is a more popular summer
destination among Turkish tourists in comparison to
similar summer resorts such as Fethiye, Bodrum and
Marmaris. You can reach to Cesme from Izmir's main
Bus
Terminal (Otogar) or from the secondary
bus terminal in Uckuyular district. The buses are more frequent from
Uckuyular terminal and they are available until very
late hours in summer season. It is also easy to reach to
Uckuyular terminal by Izmir metro. If you get on to
train from metro stations in central Izmir such as
Basmane or Konak, you can easily reach to the bus
terminal is very close to terminal station, named
Fahrettin Altay.
There are many Blue-flag bays around Cesme peninsula. Although there is only a small
public
beach nearby, it is wise to stay in hotels at the center
of Cesme from where there are frequent transportation to
all public beaches and other places all around the
peninsula, such as Altinkum (see below), public and
private beaches in Ciftlik (on the way to Altinkum) and
beaches in Ilica (near Alacati). Alacati is a windy area
in all seasons and so it is a famous windsurf palace.
Alacati is also famous for its architecture, vineyards
and windmills built over 150 years ago.
In recent years
secluded beach in
Delikli Koy has also become popular
which is at roughly 10 km South of upscale summer
destination
Alacati.
After the night clubs of Alacati close many people
drives here to see sunrise and more. Delikli Koy is
difficult to reach with public transportation. You need
to rent a car or you can
come as far as Alacati Port from where you can try hitchhiking.
Men's Beach in Altinkum Cesme, Turkey
Altinkum is probably the best beach location within the
province of Izmir, located a few kilometers from the
center of Ceshme. To go to Altinkum beach from downtown
Cesme you first need to take the public minibuses
departing from a point near the Police station by the
coast, near the old castle. You will be in Altinkum in
less than half an hour. You need to get off at the final
stop which is right next to the beginning of public
beach area. Walking to your left when you face the sea,
you will see many privately-run beaches side by side
which are providing sun beds, umbrellas, variety of food
and drinks. You can also use the beach activities here
for free in empty parts without necessarily renting
sun-beds or umbrellas. The beach, also known as
Ciplaklar kampi (Nudist beach) by some local people
starts roughly 1 mile after these public beaches come
to an end. You will first reach to a short rocky area,
after which there is one more private beach. After
passing by this last private beach a few hundred meters,
you will see a secluded sandy beach far from the eyes of
curious people. (Click here for Google map) Not
surprisingly, most of people hanging around this
farthest and desolate part of the beach are gay men.
There are usually no hustlers around, but it is still
wise to make some observation first. Especially if you
go alone, do not to carry very valuable things on you,
because it is very far from security forces if needed.
It is sometimes heard that some guys are hiding behind
the bushes to steal the belongings of the people when
they swim. You can come from Izmir to to Cesme in one
hour by buses departing frequently from the
bus terminal
in Uckuyular district. It is easy to reach to Uckuyular
terminal by Izmir metro. If you get on from metro
stations in central Izmir such as Basmane or Konak, you
need to get off at Fahrettin Altay metro station.
Foca Beaches:
Foca (Focha)
is a lovely small town some 70 kilometers north of Izmir
located on the Aegean Sea, It's local populations is
around 40 thousand people but in the summer time it goes
up to 70 thousand with mostly Turkish and some foreign
holiday makers who prefer this area for its natural
beauties, crystal clear waters.. Some of Foca's bays are
rewarded with the Blue Flag, securing the clean waters
of an area in the Mediterranean. Most of these coves are
along Mersinaki region and run by hotels in the
vicinity. The beaches are named after these hotels. The
most popular ones Phokaia Hotel & Beach,
Hanedan Hotel &
Beach, Pollen Hotel & Beach, Leon Hotel, Voodoo Melis
Cafe Beach,
Karakum Public Beach
Pamucak
Pamucak beach is in Selcuk town, just at the border of
Izmir province and Kusadasi, 5 km from world-wide famous
ruins of Ephesus ancient city, and also called as
"Ephesus beach" by some people. Pamucak Beach, is about
11 kms in length. The beach, is sandy and has a clear
water. It is very suitable place for water-sports and
camping. Ephesus Princess, Aqua Fantasia, Surmeli
Ephesus, Richmond Ephesus, are de luxe, club and resort
hotels, which lie on the beach. The Pamucak region has
also a camping area, aqua park, forest rest area covered
with red pine woods 10 km from Selcuk – Kusadasi
highway. Horse or Jeep safaris are the exotic activities
that can be participated.
Karaburun
Another seaside town out of Izmir city. Karaburun region
is comparatively much less visited than Cesme although
it provides an anticlimax to its southern neighbor and
the associated attractions especially for those who want
to escape the trails of mass tourism. The district's
administrative zone is bordered by the districts of
Cesme and Urla in its south and faces the Greek island
of Chios.
Cesmealtı
Cesmealti, a part of Urla district of Izmir is about 36
km. away from Konak; which is a lively and natural
tourism center. The long beaches which stretches from
Cesmealti to Içmeler cause the regions population to
expand by two or three times during the summer months.
The Urla Camp Municipality Beach, the natural beaches
and swimming pools of some holiday villages located in
Cesmealti serve tourists all season long.
Genc LGBTI Dernegi
Web:
Genclgbti.org/ &
Facebook.com / Genclgbti/
A new LGBTI solidarity organization founded in late
2016. Genc (Young) LGBTI is aiming to help the younger
people as their name suggests.
Gays and Lesbians in Izmir who had been pioneers of
Turkish gay movement with disorganized small groups such
as Biz GL, Otekizmir (the other Izmir), Pembe Uçgen
(Pink Triangle) united their powers to continue together
with the experiences which they inherited from these
groups, in September 2006. The group gathering as an
initiative previously, enunciated that they denominated
themselves as Siyah Pembe Izmir in January, and rented
their own office in June of 2007. Thus, meetings which
were being organized in some cafes with many
difficulties and limited opportunities, are now being
organized in their own offices.
Siyah Pembe Izmir aims to support firstly gays and
lesbians living in Izmir and the existence of all
lesbians, gays bisexuals and transgendered people in
society with their own sexual identities; works for
their cultural, social, legal benefits; tries to prevent
discrimination and struggles against homophobia
everywhere.
History of gay movement in Izmir.
The first gay group that we know in Izmir, was a group
called “Biz GL” who made meetings in Iskenderiye Library
at the end of the 90’s. Although Biz GL which was
pioneered by a group of gay and lesbian who organized
around Arkadas Café, managed to make meetings with
around 60 people, unfortunately it disbanded because of
deficiency of awareness about being organized and lack
of gay-lesbian movement experience.
In October, 2001, Oteki Izmir, was established by
lesbians and gays regularly made meetings till September
2001, especially took a part in some activities like
International Antimilitarism Meeting with antimilitarist
movement in İzmir. But, being organized which based on
antimilitarism that was not enough to produce solutions
for primary problems for gay society, caused disbandment
in short time.
Up until now, most longevous group was PUI (Pembe Ucgen
Izmir- Pink Triangle Izmir) which was established by
gays and lesbians who first gathered on internet platform
formed in June 2002 . In regular meetings every week,
lots of cases which concern gay and lesbian society like
family, coming out, sexual health, militarism, gender
politics etc.., was discussed. Although conflicts and
problems with the cafés which meetings were made in,
caused to make changes with the place of meeting every
time, PUI managed to continue for two years. In time,
disagreements and serious conflicts that came up in
group caused disbandment and after two years, members
annihilated PUI by themselves.
Click here for more information about Turkish gay life
and LGBT solidarity movement in Turkey
VIDEO - Izmir LGBT Pride March 2013
LGBT Turkey
The meeting point of Turkish & none- Turkish gay men
living / visiting Turkey. You can follow activities all
over Turkey, including Izmir.
Google Group for Turkish Gays
A Google 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 Izmir in this group.
Unfortunately there are no explicitly gay-friendly
hotels in Izmir. Therefore, we will recommend some
ordinary hotels based
on their location, guests satisfaction and prices. You
can make Instant reservation via online & secure system
of Booking Com. Best prices and free cancellation
options are available.
Click here for recommended Izmir hotels
carefully selected for our gay and lesbian visitors.
All Izmir Hotels
You can also make Instant reservation via online & secure
system of Booking Com. Best prices and free
cancellation options are available. All you need to do
is to select your reservation dates below to search all
Izmir hotels.
Attention: The reservation, payment and cancellation
procedure of hotels will be handled via Booking Com.
Booking.com
Please see below for special deals and last minute offers for
hotels in Izmir
Booking Com
Please click here for a brief information about
Izmir including historical places, major districts,
museums and other places of historical and touristic
importance.
