Governments change and hopefully Istanbul will revert back to a more progressive city. We didn't spend a lot time in Balat, Faith and Sultanahmet but the other areas were very westernized. We had planned to be back in Jan 2027 but our plans changed with our sitter. We hope to spend time in other parts of Türkiye and explore the Aisian side as well as the Bosphorus area more.
Istanbul has certainly all kinds of changes in its lifetime, so I’m sure this will change. Just not sure it will happen soon enough for us to go again. And thanks for the kind words!
Istanbul stole my heart when I visited last summer, and I’m planning to share it with my husband next spring.
Watching the recent news and crackdowns from afar has been deeply heartbreaking. But as travelers we know a government is not its people. Visiting somewhere that directly clashes with your identity raises difficult questions: Does our respectful presence help bridge divides? By continuing to travel, can we support local LGBTQ+ communities and hospitality workers who rely on tourism during tough times? Every traveler has to solve that complex equation for themselves.
For us, the answer is yes. Empires, regimes, and governments have come and gone across the Bosporus for centuries. Istanbul will weather this, too, and we can’t wait to return.
I've always wanted to visit Istanbul, this article conveys such a vibrancy about the city, and I love that you photographed all the cats! Travelling with our kids, we have to stop to look at and interact with every animal we find, so it is familiar to me!
The colours in your pictures are incredible too.
Do you think it is a place we should boycott? We are not in a place where it would be unsafe for us to visit, and I think it is sad if good people within a country miss out on income and interaction with other cultures because of a government making decisions they don't agree with. At the same time, it feels strange going somewhere where other people are currently so unwelcome and unsafe. Maybe that is an unfair question to ask, so you are welcome to ignore it!
Not to dodge your question, but only you can decide what you feel comfortable with and the pros and cons. I will add that I would never judge anyone who visited. After all, when we visited previously, Turkey was already mistreating its LGBTQ citizens and that didn't keep us from going. Part of the reason was that it felt like we were able to do a little bit to support the community, but plenty of people criticized us at the time.
I agree with Rick Steves, who says "Travel is a political act" and that simply going somewhere and supporting local businesses and sharing your beliefs as much as possible is a positive in and of itself.
Not dodging the question at all - thank you for your reply, it's really helpful.
I think I've always leaned towards engagement with other cultures wherever that's possible, but there are some places I have decided to avoid for a time if I feel like the reasons are overwhelming. Although if I don't say anything about it, then I am not sure if it achieves anything!
I've always been much more uncomfortable visiting the wealthiest or most powerful countries that are mistreating people. I still haven't completely worked out why that is as there will still be vulnerable people who are standing against it in any country, regardless of wealth.
Governments change and hopefully Istanbul will revert back to a more progressive city. We didn't spend a lot time in Balat, Faith and Sultanahmet but the other areas were very westernized. We had planned to be back in Jan 2027 but our plans changed with our sitter. We hope to spend time in other parts of Türkiye and explore the Aisian side as well as the Bosphorus area more.
You've done a great job in describing the city.
Istanbul has certainly all kinds of changes in its lifetime, so I’m sure this will change. Just not sure it will happen soon enough for us to go again. And thanks for the kind words!
Istanbul stole my heart when I visited last summer, and I’m planning to share it with my husband next spring.
Watching the recent news and crackdowns from afar has been deeply heartbreaking. But as travelers we know a government is not its people. Visiting somewhere that directly clashes with your identity raises difficult questions: Does our respectful presence help bridge divides? By continuing to travel, can we support local LGBTQ+ communities and hospitality workers who rely on tourism during tough times? Every traveler has to solve that complex equation for themselves.
For us, the answer is yes. Empires, regimes, and governments have come and gone across the Bosporus for centuries. Istanbul will weather this, too, and we can’t wait to return.
Have a wonderful time. As you already know, it's an incredible city.
I've always wanted to visit Istanbul, this article conveys such a vibrancy about the city, and I love that you photographed all the cats! Travelling with our kids, we have to stop to look at and interact with every animal we find, so it is familiar to me!
The colours in your pictures are incredible too.
Do you think it is a place we should boycott? We are not in a place where it would be unsafe for us to visit, and I think it is sad if good people within a country miss out on income and interaction with other cultures because of a government making decisions they don't agree with. At the same time, it feels strange going somewhere where other people are currently so unwelcome and unsafe. Maybe that is an unfair question to ask, so you are welcome to ignore it!
Not to dodge your question, but only you can decide what you feel comfortable with and the pros and cons. I will add that I would never judge anyone who visited. After all, when we visited previously, Turkey was already mistreating its LGBTQ citizens and that didn't keep us from going. Part of the reason was that it felt like we were able to do a little bit to support the community, but plenty of people criticized us at the time.
I agree with Rick Steves, who says "Travel is a political act" and that simply going somewhere and supporting local businesses and sharing your beliefs as much as possible is a positive in and of itself.
And Istanbul truly is an incredible city.
Not dodging the question at all - thank you for your reply, it's really helpful.
I think I've always leaned towards engagement with other cultures wherever that's possible, but there are some places I have decided to avoid for a time if I feel like the reasons are overwhelming. Although if I don't say anything about it, then I am not sure if it achieves anything!
I've always been much more uncomfortable visiting the wealthiest or most powerful countries that are mistreating people. I still haven't completely worked out why that is as there will still be vulnerable people who are standing against it in any country, regardless of wealth.