Holiday News
Istanbul gay bars after police raids: what travellers should know
Reports of ID checks and closures raise practical questions for LGBTQ+ visitors, even as parts of Istanbul’s nightlife continue.
By Sophie Clarke, Features Writer
Published · 5 min read
Quick answerSome Istanbul gay bars continued welcoming customers after reported police raids, but busy dancefloors do not establish that visitors are safe. LGBTQ+ travellers should check current Foreign Office advice, confirm venue arrangements directly and choose booking terms that allow changes.
Timeline
13 September (year not specified in the account)
The account reports raids on LGBTQ+ organisations, businesses and homes across Turkey, with 162 people arrested.
15 September (year not specified in the account)
It reports that 126 activists protesting the raids were detained in Istanbul and Ankara.
The following weekend
An eyewitness visit found some Istanbul gay venues busy, alongside accounts of ID checks and restrictions.
Istanbul’s LGBTQ+ nightlife has not simply disappeared following reported police raids. An eyewitness visit found busy bars and an operating nightclub alongside accounts of identification checks, customers being sent home and part of another venue remaining closed. For British holidaymakers, that is a complicated picture rather than a straightforward reassurance.
Our view is that a lively night out and a troubling security situation can exist at the same time. Travellers considering Istanbul need to separate three questions: whether a venue is open, whether they feel comfortable visiting it and what flexibility they have if circumstances change.
What happened
Journalist Gary Nunn’s eyewitness account for The Independent describes visits to Istanbul gay venues on the weekend after a reported crackdown. It gives figures of 162 arrests during nationwide raids on 13 September and 126 detentions during protests in Istanbul and Ankara two days later. The narrative does not specify the year; those figures are reported claims, not independently verified totals in this article.
The most useful distinction for visitors is between what Nunn saw and what customers told him. He observed crowds at Ex Bar and Stay Club, while Sahara Bar had only six people during his visit. That contrast suggests markedly different experiences between venues, not evidence that the entire scene had either closed or returned to normal.
Customers described police entering clubs, checking identification and ending nights early. One interviewee said Ex Bar had closed after a raid the previous Saturday. Those accounts matter when planning an evening: an advertised event or a queue outside cannot guarantee that the venue will operate uninterrupted.
At Cheeky Club, the downstairs dancefloor was open, but the upstairs area, described as a space for sexual activity, had closed following the raids. The account does not establish whether that restriction was imposed by authorities or decided by the operator. Nor does it confirm whether it remains in place.
Photography was another visible concern. Staff at Stay Club asked Nunn to put away his phone, and someone filming dancers at Ex Bar was also stopped. Visitors should treat such requests as a privacy boundary, not an obstacle to getting a holiday video. Other customers may face consequences from being identified that a tourist does not anticipate.
The background
Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal in Turkey. That is important context, but it answers only a narrow legal question. It does not establish how police will handle a particular gathering, whether a business will remain open or how comfortable an LGBTQ+ visitor will feel in public.
Istanbul also cannot stand in for every Turkish destination. A large city’s nightlife, a coastal resort and a quieter neighbourhood can offer very different social environments. Equally, a positive stay in Bodrum several years ago is not a reliable guide to a night out in Istanbul after reported enforcement action.
The account places the raids within a government campaign presented as protecting families and public order. However, it does not include the underlying police orders, charges for every arrest or an official explanation for each venue visit. We cannot establish from this material exactly what legal grounds authorities used in individual cases.
There is a longer history of restrictions on LGBTQ+ public visibility. Istanbul Pride has faced bans since 2015. A Pride gathering, a private hotel stay and an evening in a bar are different situations, but restrictions on public assembly are relevant context when assessing broad claims that a destination is welcoming.
For travel planning, information also has a shelf life. The observations here describe particular nights; they are not a current directory of open venues. Old reviews, map listings and photographs may remain online long after opening hours, admission arrangements or the atmosphere have changed. Contact with a venue shortly before visiting is more useful than relying on its busiest-looking pictures.
What people are saying
The interviews reveal disagreement rather than a single community response. Some customers treated the police interventions as political intimidation and returned to their usual venues. Another described being deeply upset after police checked identification and ended an evening out. Neither reaction should be presented as representative of all LGBTQ+ people in Istanbul.
Nunn also described a police van outside Firuz Ağa Hamami, a hamam used by gay customers. People inside offered different explanations for its presence. One suggested protection against gang-related violence; another said officers had filmed him entering the previous night. Without an official explanation or corroboration, the purpose of that police presence remains unresolved.
Several interviewees were identified using changed names. That limits what readers can independently establish about their individual experiences, while also underlining why discretion matters in coverage of this story. Their accounts provide insight into how the interventions felt, not a measurable probability of what will happen to a British visitor.
Our assessment is that continued attendance demonstrates the importance of these social spaces, not the absence of risk. People may return because a venue offers friendship, belonging or a rare opportunity to be themselves. Their decision to do so should not become a blanket safety endorsement aimed at tourists.
There is also no obligation for holidaymakers to express solidarity through a booking. Some will want their spending to support LGBTQ+ businesses; others will decide that uncertainty would spoil the trip. Both are reasonable personal choices. Local residents’ determination deserves respect without turning their circumstances into a test of visitors’ courage.
What happens next
The material available does not establish a timetable for further enforcement, the outcome of the reported arrests or when restricted spaces might reopen. There is therefore no sound basis for announcing either an imminent shutdown of Istanbul’s gay nightlife or an all-clear. Future booking decisions need newer information than one weekend’s observations.
Before committing money
Check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s current Turkey travel advice, including its guidance for LGBT+ travellers and information on local laws and safety. Read the date and any regional distinctions carefully. This article is not confirmation that the Foreign Office has changed its advice or advised against visiting Istanbul.
Compare cancellation terms before choosing flights and accommodation. A flexible hotel reservation may be useful, but it will not make a separately booked non-refundable flight refundable. Ask your insurer how the policy treats cancellation because of personal safety concerns, official advice changes and any relevant exclusions; discomfort about travelling should not be assumed to trigger cover.
Before an evening out
Ask the venue about opening hours, admission requirements, identification and phone rules. Confirm current identification requirements through official travel advice rather than assuming a photograph of your passport will suffice. Plan your return journey and keep your accommodation details accessible without relying entirely on mobile data.
If a night is interrupted, prioritise leaving safely rather than filming or arguing. Avoid demonstrations, follow lawful instructions and seek consular assistance if detained or in serious difficulty. The practical aim is not to make every holiday moment anxious: it is to avoid discovering your options only after plans have unravelled.
Why this matters
For UK LGBTQ+ travellers, the crucial booking question is not simply whether Istanbul still has gay bars. It is whether the arrangements, uncertainty and possible interruptions fit the holiday you want. Before paying, check current official advice, ask accommodation and venues specific questions, and price flexibility across the whole trip rather than just the hotel. If nightlife is the main reason for travelling, a change of venue access could alter the value of the break substantially, even when flights and accommodation continue operating.
From Before You Book Travel · Sponsor
Plan your trip with Becky
Tell Becky where you're dreaming of and she'll come back with a personalised holiday plan. No obligation, and no call centre.
Common questions
- Are gay bars in Istanbul still open after the raids?
- Some were operating during the eyewitness visit, including Ex Bar and Stay Club. That account does not confirm their current status, so contact venues directly before making plans.
- Is being gay illegal in Turkey?
- Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal in Turkey. That does not guarantee freedom from harassment or restrictions on LGBTQ+ venues and public gatherings.
- Is Istanbul safe for LGBTQ+ tourists?
- This account cannot establish that Istanbul is safe for every LGBTQ+ visitor. It describes both busy venues and reported police interventions; check current Foreign Office advice and assess your own comfort with that uncertainty.
- Did police check IDs in Istanbul gay clubs?
- Customers interviewed in the account said police checked identification during raids. These are witness accounts, rather than independently verified police records.
- Can I take photos inside Istanbul gay bars?
- Do not assume photography is permitted. Staff and customers stopped filming or photography during the reported visits; follow venue rules and avoid identifying other guests without consent.
- Will travel insurance cover cancelling an Istanbul holiday?
- Cover depends on your policy and the reason for cancelling. Personal safety concerns alone should not be assumed to qualify; ask your insurer about official advice changes and relevant exclusions before booking.
- What should I check before visiting Istanbul gay bars?
- Check current Foreign Office advice and ask venues directly about opening, admission, identification and phone rules. Arrange your return journey and keep your accommodation details available offline.
About the writer
Sophie ClarkeFeatures Writer · Brighton
Writes seasonal escapes, cruises and romantic breaks.
More from SophieSources
This article is original reporting by Before You Book based on the sources above. Last reviewed 8 October 2026. Product mentions are editorial unless clearly marked as sponsored.