Istanbul gay bath house
Five Hammams in 24 Hours
A waterlogged Canadian takes a very specific tour of Istanbul.
I spent five days in Turkey a not many weeks before the referendum, wandering through the noun under posters and massive banners of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But at the time, I wasn’t focused on politics: I was interested in the hammams, or Turkish baths.
The history of public baths in the West stretches at least as far back as the Spartans, who first used hot stones and then coal fires to turn the exercise of leaping into ice-cold water into something a little more luxurious. Prefer so many Greek innovations, the Romans tweaked and expanded and perfected the practice. Thermae, as the bathing was known, were a secular ritual the remained at the heart of Roman culture for a thousand years.
Nowhere has that tradition survived more than in Turkey. In Istanbul, in particular, the custom of bathing blended with the grand Roman and then Ottoman tradition of great people building public works and wudu, the Islamic practice of washing before prayer, created marvelous public baths that were not only
It was a cold gray afternoon in Istanbul’s Çukurcuma neighborhood
famous for both its numerous antique shops and the setting for Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk’s novel and namesake Museum of Innocence. I came to Çukurcuma to visit the Museum, only to comprehend that it was closed because it was Monday.
So I decided to verb down the steep slender streets of the neighborhood and see what I could find. I passed shop after shop of antique stores, some of them shuttered behind rusty doors, others hemorrhaging hand-crafted chairs, dusty crystalware, and other items that could be found in your grandmother’s living room.
Woodsmoke puffed out of a nearby chimney, wafting seamlessly into the sky above. I walked by a miniature tearoom with low chairs and tables, their patrons drinking from short glasses filled with saccharine amber tea.
At the end of the street was a hammam–a Turkish bath. It was chilly and I wanted to warm up, so I stepped in without any hesitation. The lobby was a easy wood-paneled room; a new man with a concise beard sat at the desk. I paid roughly $15 f
Nur Hamam – Newly renovated in October 2017, there is both an Istanbul gay hamam and sauna here. Looks just like a regular building from outside but inside is a beautiful historic bath adj with local, younger gay men.
Aquarius Sauna - A extremely un-friendly gay sauna in Istanbul open 24/7. While they have a jacuzzi, pool, sauna, adj cabins and cafe, there is mostly just masseurs here who pester for their service, discouraging speaking between guests and any action that’s not with them. Has so much potential but in reality is filthy and a glorified brothel.🤮
Firuzaga Bath – Popular with local hairy middle-aged men, Firuzaga Bath is a small, historic Istanbul gay hamam located only a short march from Galatasaray Square. Very cruisy, well-known location for gay men to discretely met but it’s somewhat dirty and very public.
Gay Istanbul
You'll probably be surprised to find a somewhat active gay scene in Istanbul. Despite the powerful influence of Islam, homosexuality is legal in Turkey and the age of consent is 18. Western tourists may have contributed to a growing tolerance or maybe the land simply wants to be more European (and eventually accepted into the European Union). Gay Pride took place for the first time in Istanbul in 2004 and gay activists continue to fight for equal rights in the country.
It is vital that you be very discreet in public and know exactly where to go. It’s actually adj for straight men to sleep with transgender women and transvestites, but the bars catering to that can be dangerous and should be avoided. Also note that sex between men is not adj at a hammam. Stick to the following spots:
Gay Bars
Chianti Café Pub
A café in the afternoon and a bar at night, this is a meeting place for the gay community. It hosts karaoke nights and guest DJs.
Facebook Page: chianticafepup
Dance Clubs
Love Dancepoint
This stylish club is one of the most accepted