Europe

Gay Mykonos – The Globetrotter Guys

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Gay Mykonos - The Globetrotter Guys

Mykonos is the gay hotspot of Greece and for good reason! We fell in love with gay Mykonos during our first visit with it’s iconic cobbled streets, white washed building, pristine beaches, culinary delights and vibrant gay scene – it really was a mini gay paradise.

It’s also incredibly stylish, trendy and caters well to those who like their luxury. You can expect to see many expensive yachts cruising around the island and equally many attractive guys also cruising around the island!

Mykonos has been known as a gay destination for years and home to one of the largest and most well-known gay circuit parties each August, Xlsior Mykonos, which draws crowds of over 30,000 gay men!

Party scene aside, Mykonos is a picturesque and relaxing island. If you are looking for an idyllic island getaway, we highly recommend.

In our gay Mykonos guide we will share everything you need to know, from the best gay beaches and gay bars, gay hotels, excursions, gay events and some practical tips for planning you trip. Find out everything to keep you busy in our guide to gay Mykonos!

What made Gay Mykonos gay in the first place?

It’s always intriguing as to why certain places become gay hotspots. From Gran Canaria, to Sitges, Madrid and Berlin, Mykonos is easily within the top 10 gay places in Europe. One of the most famous gay hotspots in Mykonos is Jackie O’s and it has been said that it was Jackie Onassis herself who influenced the influx of gay travellers to Mykonos back in the 70’s bringing it to the attention of many gay men that followed her.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Greece Gay Travel Resources

Gay Manchester – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Manchester - The Nomadic Boys

My coming out story started out in the late 1990s when the British Queer as Folk version first aired on our screens. Back then, a confused and extremely repressed young teenage Stefan watched in awe as 3 gay blokes, Stuart, Vince and Nathan, went about their daily lives in Manchester’s Canal Street Gay Village. 

I was flabbergasted! Stunned!

This was the first time I had ever seen “normal” gay guys popularised on screen. It was also the first time I had ever seen gay urban life dramatised in such a way that it felt so real! Finally, that “feeling” that up until this point I had been forced to suppress by the society around me was, in fact, something totally natural. What a relief! I wasn’t ill or abnormal. I was in fact part of a large LGBTQ family that also felt the same way. As that young teenage Stefan continued to watch Queer As Folk, he also dreamed: maybe, just maybe, I could grow up and be just like Stuart, Vince and Nathan living so freely in the gay streets of Manchester…

Gay Manchester

Fast forward a few decades and I’m galavanting down those same historic gay streets, with Seby to hand, together exploring one of the coolest and most progressive places in Europe. 

I will always love Manchester! 

As well as having a special place in my big gay heart, it has an exciting gay scene, one of the best gay Pride events in the UK and is one of the few places in the world where I feel comfortable walking the streets holding hands with my Seby. It’s also super close to London (just 2 hours by train), which makes it ideal for a weekend trip.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

England Gay Travel Resources

Four Days in Lesbian London – Our Taste for Life

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Lesbian London - London Eye - Our Taste for Life

4 days in London is the perfect amount of time to appreciate all that this pulsating city has to offer. And if you’re here looking for the best 4 day London Itinerary, you’ll be pleased to know you’ve come to the right place. I’ve spent most of my life living and working in London, which is why it’s not too difficult for me to suggest the best places to visit in London in 4 Days. In this guide, I cover all of the London hotspots, including some cool hidden gems. I include where to eat, sleep, and party. And finally, I share all of my insider tips to ensure you have the best possible time exploring the city.

London is one of the most happening and exciting cities in all of Europe. And I know you’re probably thinking I’m biased because I’m a local, but it’s true. You see, everything about the British capital is larger than life. With its rich history, vibrant culture, magnificent architecture, eccentric fashion, wild nightlife, and unrivalled culinary scene, London ignites your senses in the best possible way.

I grew up on the outskirts of London, and while I like to think I know the city pretty well, I’m certainly no expert. You know what they say, you rarely explore the beauty that’s right on your doorstep. But last year I pledged to change that. And I’ve seen more of London in the past 12 months than I have in the past 30 years. That said, I certainly can’t claim to know it all. It would be easy to spend weeks if not months exploring London and just about scratch the surface.

With this in mind, the goal of this 4 day London itinerary, is to cover several of the cities major landmarks such as the London Eye, Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. But you’ll also discover a slightly alternative side of London by visiting quirky neighbourhoods such as Shoreditch and Camden. Not to mention, eating at remarkable restaurants and drinking at traditional London pubs along the way.

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

London Gay Travel Resources

Gay Friendly Madrid Hotels – The Globetrotter Guys

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Axel Hotel Madrid - The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid is well known for being a beautiful and open city and you will easily find gay friendly Madrid hotels. It’s a bit odd to need to talk about being gay friendly in Madrid and we would use the term quite loosely here.

The city is so open and such a safe haven for gay travellers that we can say with confidence that pretty much all hotels will welcome all types of traveller without batting an eyelid.

It feels like asking the question ‘is your hotel gay friendly‘ is a bit redundant in Madrid and you would probably get some quizzical looks for asking – it feels ingrained in the culture here.

However, there are always hotels that are naturally more popular with the gay community, whether because of their brand or by their proximity to the gay area of Madrid.

We have focused on hotels that are in close proximity to the city centre and Chueca (the gay district). Here is our shortlist of gay friendly and gay hotels in Madrid to book for your next trip:

Axel Hotel Madrid – Adults Only

If you are looking for a hotel that falls in the category of ‘gay hotel’ then look no further. Having stayed at Axel Hotels in Berlin and Gran Canaria this would be our first choice, especially since it is specifically aimed at gay travellers and brands itself as ‘hetero-friendly’. The rooms are stylishly decorated, insta-worthy and come with the very cheeky ‘do disturb’ signs if you want to hang them on your doors!

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Helsinki On a Budget – Our Taste for Life

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Lesbian Helsinki On a Budget - Our Taste for Life

Helsinki may be a lot of things, but the one thing it certainly isn’t is cheap. In fact, it’s up there as one of the most expensive cities we’ve ever visited (and we’ve lived in London)! Thankfully, we made it our mission to explore lesbaian Helsinki on a budget, and we’ve gathered all the insider knowledge to help you maximise your time in the city but minimise your spends. In this guide, we share the best Helsinki budget tips, including affordable hotels & restaurants, the cheapest ways to get around, and the best free things to do in Helsinki.

Helsinki is a modern and forward-thinking city, bursting with energy, art, culture, and awe-inspiring architecture. Scandinavia has a reputation for being expensive, however, and at first glance, Helsinki lives up to it. It’s apparent from the moment you try to book a hotel or hostel, with prices considerably more than other European capitals such as Berlin, Prague or Budapest.

Having said that, you shouldn’t allow this to put you off visiting Helsinki. There are many ways to explore the city on a budget, and still have a wonderful time. By following the Helsinki budget tips and advice in this guide, I guarantee you’ll leave the city feeling like you haven’t missed out on a thing.

Sound good? Let’s get to it then, here’s our guide to exploring Helsinki on a budget.

Where to Stay in Lesbian Helsinki on a Budget

There is no shortage of accommodation options in Helsinki; however, most aren’t what I would consider budget-friendly. You can expect a bed in a dorm room to set you back €20-30 per night, while private rooms are easily €50-60. If you stay outside of the city centre, the prices tend to be a little cheaper; however, the additional travel can cost you both time and money. I’ve made some hotel suggestions below to help you decide, or you can click the link to compare all hostels, guesthouses, and hotels in the city.

Full Story at Our Taste for Travel

Visiting Slovenia’s Lake Bled in the Winter – Our Taste for Life

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Lake Bled, Slovenia - Our Taste for Life

Visiting Lake Bled in Winter is an excellent idea, but there are some things you should be aware of when visiting out of season. Thankfully, we spent a few days in Bled last December, so we can share what we got up to and what we consider to be the best Lake Bled winter activities. We’ll also include recommendations on where to eat and where to sleep, as well as all of our top tips for visiting this enchanting location in Slovenia.

No Slovenia itinerary is complete without a visit to Bled. The charming alpine town looks like it’s landed straight out of a storybook, with the pinnacle being the astonishing Bled Lake. Encompassed by the Julian Alps, I’d confidently say the lake is one of the most picturesque in the world. Arguably even more so during winter, when the mountains are snow-capped and glorious.

Regardless of whether you visit Bled in Winter or Summer, there are tons of exciting things to do and look forward to. The winter months are equally, if not more, adventurous with activities such as skiing, hiking, and ice-skating, to name but a few. Then, of course, there are the December Christmas markets when it is totally acceptable to drink copious amounts of mulled wine. Need I say any more?

Anyhow, we have a lot to get through, so let’s get to it. Here’s a comprehensive guide to visiting Slovenia’s Lake Bled in Winter.

Why Visit Lake Bled in Winter?

If snow-capped mountains and mulled wine didn’t already convince you, then honestly, I don’t know what will.

But no, in all seriousness, I understand why some would have reservations planning a Winter trip to Bled. Or anywhere in Europe for that matter. Let’s face it; the weather is cold and unpredictable, putting your valuable sightseeing time at risk. But what if I told you there are a lot of positives to travelling offseason? Don’t believe me? Well, allow me to change your mind.

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Slovenia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Madrid – The Globetrotter Guys

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Gay madrid - Checa - The Globetrotter Guys

The main gay area in Madrid is called Chueca and is named after Federico Chueca who could be considered Madrid’s first gay icon.

The area spans about 1km north of Gran Via (one of the main streets) and east to west between Calle Hortaleza and Paseo de Recoletos. The main bulk of gay bars in Chueca are found within ten minutes walking distance of Plaza De Chueca – where the metro station is found.

Chueca is walkable from the ‘city centre’ (Plaza Del Sol) or just a couple of metro stops. It is obvious you have arrived in the gay area given that the walls of the metro station in Chueca are painted floor to ceiling in rainbows!

Related: Madrid Gay Bars

What will you find in Chueca?

Being the main gay area in Madrid, Chueca is home to the majority of the gay bars and clubs(20+), many gay oriented shops, coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, gay saunas and cruising clubs. There is plenty to do to keep you busy!

It is also where you will find one of the many main stages and performance areas during Madrid Pride as Chueca becomes the focal point of the city and a vibrant hub of activity during this time.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid Gay Travel Resources

Gay Maspalomas, Canary Islands – wolfyy

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gay maspalomas

The Canary Islands are a fantastic destination for gay travelers, especially once the bustling summer tourism season slows down in mainland Europe. Maspalomas is known for being a completely gay resort town in Gran Canaria, the largest of the Canary Islands. Full of outgoing, friendly guys, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time.

What’s so special about the Canary Islands? Well, other than breathtaking landscapes (check out the Maspalomas Dunes), summer never really ends here in the Canaries. Spain’s southernmost territory, they’re just off Africa’s Western Sahara coast! With so much warm weather to spare, Maspalomas actually hosts two gay pride festivals every year.

Before summer even begins, Maspalomas hosts their first pride of the year, typically in May. As November rolls around, travelers ditch the cold weather up north for sunny dance parties at Maspalomas Winter Pride. I had an absolute blast dancing at the enormous Yumbo Centre. I made dozens of international friends through the week, many of whom I’ve planned more travel with!

gay maspalomas winter pride

Maspalomas Gay Events & Hotels

Gran Canaria has way more to offer than just gay pride weeks. There are a bunch of other gay event weeks to choose from. Summer Fiesta, Bear Carnival, and Festish Week Maspalomas are just a few. What makes these events even more special though, is how conveniently close most Maspalomas hotels are to the main events. It’s easy to find a hotel or resort in the center of the action. Having everything within arm’s reach makes a party-filled vacation so much more relaxing.

Gay hotels in Maspalomas are pretty easy to find, but there are definitely a few crowd favorites. Especially if you want to have convenient access to the main event locations on foot, you might want to consider booking in a certain part of town. I’ll give you all the details about where to stay based on your personal preferences and preferred vibe!

Full Maspalomas Gay Travel Guide on wolfyy

Gay Canary Islands Resources

Lesbian Ljubljana – Our Taste for Life

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Lesbian Ljubljana - Our Taste for Life

1 Day in lesbian Ljubljana might not seem like much time when, in fact, it’s quite enough to get acquainted with the city. And to help you make the very most of your time, I’ve put together the best 1 Day Ljubljana Itinerary. We recently spent just over 24 hours in Ljubljana, so we can share what we got up to, and what we consider to be the best places to visit in Ljubljana in a day. We cover all of the Ljubljana hotspots, where to eat, sleep, and party, as well as all of our top tips, to ensure you have the best possible time exploring the city.

It’s impossible to skip past Ljubljana when planning a trip to Slovenia. The capital serves as a gateway to Lake Bled, Triglav National Park, and other areas of the country. We knew very little about the city before our recent visit, but were thankful we took some time to look around. What we discovered didn’t feel like a city at all. Instead, Ljubljana (pronounced loob-yah-nah) appears like a whimsical little town. Legends of heroes and dragons add to its charm, and you can’t help but feel you’ve stepped into a make-believe children’s book.

Ljubljana is a small and compact city, but it has a lot to offer. On the one hand, you have beautiful architecture and charming cobbled streets. On the other, a more alternative side with its street art, cool restaurants, and quirky cafes. You can easily cover the main attractions in one day; however, if you find yourself with more time to spare, it won’t be wasted. We could never tire of relaxing days alongside the Ljubljanica River drinking coffee and immersing in the laidback vibe of the city.

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Slovenia Gay Travel Resources

Madrid Gay Shopping – The Globetrotter Guys

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Addicted & ES Madrid

When it comes to gay shops in Madrid, the majority are focused on clothing and apparel showcasing some of the best gay clothing brands around such as Addicted and ES Collection.

Madrid’s gay scene is unapologetically sexualised, so it’s no surprise that these shops reflect that scene. The list gay shops in Madrid below focuses on shops found in the gay area of Madrid, Chueca. This is also where you will find the majority of the gay bars and clubs in Madrid.

It is definitely worth checking out these gay shops and picking up some new gear when visiting Madrid, we don’t have many of these shops on offer at home in the UK!

Gay Shops in Madrid

One of our favourite brands for swimwear, Addicted and ES Collection are both high quality Spanish brands. The shops sells everything from underwear, to swimwear, t-shirts, vests/tanks, shorts, jeans, sports gear and Addicted now also has a fetish collection.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid Gay Travel Resources