Few cities swing so effortlessly between epochs as Istanbul. Minarets pierce a skyline crowned by Roman domes and Byzantine mosaics; neon-lit side streets thrum past midnight with indie gigs, Anatolian psych-rock, and hip-hop cyphers; ferries pulse across the Bosphorus, stitching Europe and Asia together in 20 breezy minutes. It is a metropolis that treats culture like breathing; automatic, constant, vital.
So when the loudest legends of Los Angeles rock announce they’re roaring back to town after 32 long years, the news feels less like a tour date and more like destiny. On June 2, 2025, Guns N’ Roses will shake BJK Tüpraş Stadium to its steel girders, adding one more thunderous chapter to Istanbul’s never-ending soundtrack.
General Info About the Concert
Below you’ll find the nuts and bolts of the show—date, venue, line-up, ticket links, and travel tips. Give it a quick read now, and you’ll walk into the stadium ready for nothing but loud guitars and good memories.
Date & time: June 2, 2025. The main show starts around 21:00. Doors usually open in the early evening, so arrive early for security checks.
Concert Venue: BJK Tüpraş Stadium (Vodafone Park before) in Beşiktaş, a short walk downhill from Taksim Square and close to the Bosphorus shoreline.
Concert Lineup: The classic trio, Axl Rose (vocals, piano), Slash (lead guitar) and Duff McKagan (bass), will play a full headline set. California rockers Rival Sons will open the night.
Tour context: This Istanbul stop belongs to the band’s 24-date 2025 Europe & Middle East Tour, their first in Turkey in 32 years.
Organizer: The show is produced by BKM Organization, a company that has brought world-class acts to Turkey for more than 25 years.
Tickets: Official sales run through Biletix (Ticketmaster Turkey). Buy only from authorized outlets to avoid inflated resale prices.
This is a rare chance to sing along to “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” and more under Istanbul’s open sky in June 2025. Grab your ticket and be part of a night that will echo down the Bosphorus for years.
About Guns N’ Roses and Their History with Istanbul
Born from two local bands, L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose, Guns N' Roses began in Los Angeles in 1985. Soon, Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan spearheaded the charge. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction (1987), rocketed with songs like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child O' Mine," making them worldwide rock stars.
The band’s journey has been wild; world tours, lineup changes, long breaks, and a big reunion in 2016 that brought the classic trio back together. Now they fill stadiums again with the same fire that ruled the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Istanbul concerts and festivals already know that power. On 26 May 1993, Guns N’ Roses played İnönü Stadium during their Skin N’ Bones tour, their first full stadium night in Turkey. They returned once more on 6 July 2012 for Tuborg Goldfest at Parkorman, but that show featured Axl with a different backing band.
The 2025 concert at BJK Tüpraş Stadium is special because it reunites Istanbul with the classic core, Axl, Slash, and Duff, on a true stadium stage for the first time in 32 years.
BJK Tüpraş Stadium : Heartbeat on the Bosphorus
Istanbul loves big stages. Football chants, pop shows, and open-air festivals all find a home on the sloping shoreline of Beşiktaş. At the center sits BJK Tüpraş Stadium (also known as Vodafone Park), a modern 42-thousand-seat bowl that looks straight toward the Bosphorus strait. Since opening in 2016, it has become more than a football ground; it is a bright, all-season arena where local stars and global icons share the same floodlights. Popular giants like Ajda Pekkan, Yıldız Tilbe, and now Guns N’ Roses keep its concert calendar busy, turning match-day turf into a nightly dance floor.
Why It Matters to the City
Beşiktaş has long been one of Istanbul’s loudest cultural quarters. The stadium’s glass-roof design lets neighborhood sounds roll inside, so every show feels stitched into street life. Its downtown address also makes top-tier events reachable for young fans who might never travel to outlying festival grounds. For many locals, a night here means football pride at sundown, a headline concert after dark, and a waterfront stroll before the last ferry home.
How to Get There
Tram + walk: Ride the T1 tram to Kabataş. Follow the crowd north on Meclis-i Mebusan Street; the stadium rises after a ten-minute walk along the water.
Ferry: Cross from Üsküdar, Kadıköy, or Eminönü to Beşiktaş pier. From the pier it is a quick five-minute uphill walk. Ferries skip road traffic and give a sunset Bosphorus view on the way in.
Bus: Routes 22, 22RE, 25E, 40, and 40T all stop within one block of the main gate. Night buses run after concerts on weekends.
Order your unlimited public transportation card with a discount so it will be delivered to your hotel when you come here! Arrive early if you need to clear the bag-check lines; street food stalls and cafe terraces outside keep wait times pleasant.
What’s Around the Stadium
Dolmabahçe Palace sits less than a kilometer away. Many fans tour the Ottoman halls in the afternoon, grab köfte by the gates, and then head to the show.
Taksim Square is a fifteen-minute uphill walk or one tram stop away. Its side streets are lined with bars that play classic rock long after the encore.
Beşiktaş Çarşı, the market district, buzzes with meyhanes, fish restaurants, and midnight simit sellers. It is the perfect spot to debrief the set list over tea or cold beer.
With water on one side and the city’s busiest nightlife spine on the other, BJK Tüpraş Stadium offers more than a seat at a show; it delivers a full Istanbul evening in one compact pocket of the shore.
Explore More with the Istanbul Tourist Pass®
Make the most of your concert trip by turning it into a mini-holiday. The Istanbul Tourist Pass® bundles top attractions into one easy digital ticket and saves you cash at the same time. Activate it on your phone, show the QR code at each venue, and skip most ticket lines. Here are four experiences that fit perfectly around a Guns N’ Roses day:
Besiktas JK Museum — Free with the Pass
Walk straight into the club’s own museum inside Tüpraş Stadium. Trophies, jerseys, photos, and match-day sounds tell the story of Turkey’s oldest football team. Dolmabahçe Palace and the Bosphorus promenade sit a few minutes away, so you can turn your visit into a full Beşiktaş day.
Frankenstein Horror House — Discounted
Ready for a scare after the sightseeing? Step into Dr. Frankenstein’s three-floor lab in Kadıköy. Live actors, puzzle rooms, and flashing lights keep your heart racing until you find the exit. Book for as many teammates as you like—no lone wanderers unless you dare.
Party Pub Crawl Istanbul — Discounted
Join local guides and travelers for one bar plus three nightclubs around Taksim. Your wristband covers welcome shots, drink deals, and fast entry. It’s an easy way to meet people and feel Istanbul’s late-night pulse after the concert.
Busforus Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour — Discounted
Climb aboard the Istanbul's red double-decker for a laid-back loop of 12 stops on both continents. Plug in the audio guide (eight languages) and cruise over the Bosphorus Bridge for a rooftop view you can’t get on foot. Hop off anywhere, stay as long as you like, and hop back on when you’re ready.
One digital pass unlocks these and 100+ other attractions. Buy the Istanbul Tourist Pass® online, scan your QR code, and keep exploring long after the last encore. One pass, one price, dozens of options. Buy it online before you land, and every time you flash that QR code, think of it as an encore to your G N’ R night.
Home
Passes
Attractions
Menu