Straddling the Bosphorus, its skyline studded with domes and minarets, Istanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Its history tracks back from Byzantium to Constantinople to its place at the head of the Ottoman Empire. Today, it hums as Turkey's cultural heart and good-time capital. Watch a short video.

In this sprawling, continent-spanning city you can tramp the streets where crusaders and janissaries once marched; admire mosques that are the most sublime architectural expressions of Islamic piety; peer into the Sultan's Harem at Topkapi Palace; and hunt for bargains in the Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar).

Istanbul has a very active and happy bear community. There are various bear bars and bear clubs. Obviously Istanbul has lots of main stream gay bars and clubs as well. And the good thing is if you end up at a mainstream gay bar and happen to be a grizzly, nobody will bat an eyelid. Well other than a few slurps here and there but that will be it :-)

The bear scene is so mature that I believe we publish THE best online magazine in the world. Be it gay and straight! It is called Beargi (click here). Unfortunately it is in Turkish only but try it, even the photographs are worth a look. I am a proud member of this bear community and when we are together you can be rest assured that not only you will have VIP treatment at those venues, but I will make sure that you have seen it all.

With so many things to see and do, you will need more than one visit. So why not reserve your accommodation now?