GLD INDEXGLD COUNTRY SCORE
The national picture for LGBTQ+ travel.
YOUR DESTINATION IN THE INDEX
Among destinations covered by this index with current publishable scores. Based on unrounded scores; equal values share a rank. As of 2026-09-27. How rankings work →
YOUR DESTINATION, IN CONTEXT
Turkey has a published GLD Country Score of 37/100, in the Low range.
Turkey combines globally important heritage and tourism infrastructure with limited LGBTQ+ protections and increasing constraints on public community visibility. Istanbul has the largest queer network, but travellers should distinguish private social spaces from the national political and legal environment.
PLACES TO STAY
Independent selections with sourced hotel information and LGBTQ+ travel context.
BEYOND THE NATIONAL SCORE
Source-based overview · external sources consulted 2026-09-29. GLD score dates are shown separately.
Istanbul, the Aegean coast, Cappadocia and Mediterranean regions require flights or long overland travel. Religious calendars, heat, crowds and changing local conditions can all affect the experience.
Sources: GoTürkiye — official tourism websiteGaylidays currently connects 8 scored cities to the national picture. Istanbul, Bodrum, Izmir are the three highest-scoring cities currently covered. Recorded city scores range from 35/100 in Bursa to 40/100 in Istanbul, a 5-point spread that shows why local context still matters.
Source: GLD country and city scoring records. Interpretation of the recorded assessment, not a new score calculation.Istanbul and selected resort areas may offer identifiable social networks, yet Pride restrictions, policing and social attitudes can create exposure. Discretion and current official travel advice are important, especially for public expression and digital contacts.
Sources: GoTürkiye — official tourism websiteNo. Istanbul has the largest network, while conditions and visibility differ substantially elsewhere.
Sources: GoTürkiye — official tourism websiteNo. Private or semi-private spaces do not remove risks related to policing, demonstrations or public attitudes.
Sources: GoTürkiye — official tourism websiteHOW TO READ THIS SCORE
The country score combines legal rights, social acceptance, rule of law and travel comfort. City guides add the local perspective to this national foundation.
BEHIND THIS SCORE
The source-based overview above adds national and city-level context. These are the recorded score components; the editorial research has not recalculated them.
Components have different weights and may be subject to methodology caps; this is not a simple average.
Legal status from ILGA World and Equaldex; social score from Equaldex Public Opinion Index; rule-of-law percentile from World Bank WGI; travel comfort from GLD editorial review using UK FCDO and ILGA-Europe risk evidence.
Synced from GLD Index on 27 Sept 2026. The sync date is not an evidence verification date.
No. Use the GLD Index alongside current official travel advice and local information. Conditions and personal experiences vary.
This score is read from GLD Index’s data portal, using only current published or partner-ready records. Score last updated: 21 May 2026. Public display levels use the existing four-band scale; the underlying methodology category is tracked separately.