Gay Vancouver – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Vancouver - The Nomadic Boys

Greenpeace, Ryan Reynolds, Hayden Christensen, and Botox – what do they all have in common?
Vancouver!

That’s right, they were all created in this super cool city located right on the far West coast of Canada. Vancouver is the capital of the British Columbia Province, famous for being one of the most diverse regions of Canada. It is also nicknamed “The Hollywood of the North” due to its popularity as a filming location for TVs/movies after LA and NYC. Oh, and did we mention the part about Ryan Reynolds and Hayden Christensen?

We visited Vancouver several times on our trips to Canada and always have a fantastic time. As well as a bustling Gay Village over at Davie Street, Vancouver has tons of fun things to do, with the mountains on its doorstep and the natural paradise of Vancouver Island a short ferry ride away.

Most importantly of all, we found gay Vancouver to be a very tolerant city, accepting of everyone. We frequently saw many gay couples walking the streets hand-in-hand all across town and felt comfortable to do the same. Of course, this comes as no surprise as this is Canada, a country we absolutely adore and rate as the most gay friendly country in the world.

In this detailed gay guide to Vancouver, we summarise our experience discovering the gay scene of Davie Village, as well as some of the best things to do in the city, gay hotels to stay and more practical tips for LGBTQ travellers.

Davie Street: The Gay Vancouver Village

Vancouver’s gay village, also known as the Davie Village, is the heart of the city’s LGBTQ community. It is based mainly along Davie Street between Jervis Street and Burrard Street. This is where the majority of the queer bars and clubs are. Although it’s not as big as the scene of Montreal or Toronto, it’s just as fun.

There is also a more bohemian area popular with the lesbian community of the city at Commercial Drive, called “The Drive” over in East Vancouver, which we did not visit so have not covered in this guide.

Gay Osaka – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Osaka - The Nomadic Boys

Do you want to know why they really call Osaka the Kitchen of Japan? It’s because once you see all of those scrumptious boys wandering about the city, you will be left hungry for more!

Of course… We’re sure the delicious cuisine helps to bring the point home! As the foodie capital of the entire country, you will find the best of the best in terms of classic Japanese dishes such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki. But, among the bustling food stalls and restaurants, you will also be introduced to stunning, modern architecture and a gay nightlife culture supported by kindhearted, welcoming locals.

Since it is located alongside the ports of Honshu, Osaka essentially functions as the primary commercial center for Japan. However, the city is still a close neighbor of Kyoto and Tokyo, which means that it tends to fly under the radar of travelers seeking a grand Asian adventure. But today, we’re here to plead on behalf of Osaka. We want to highlight exactly why gay travelers should be calling this fantastic destination their next hot vacation spot.

With the second-largest LGBTQ+ scene in Japan and a friendly atmosphere that promotes total self-expression, gay Osaka will surely provide you with enough pleasant memories to last a lifetime. With the help of our comprehensive guide, we can ensure you an Osaka trip packed full of only the-can’t-miss stops for LGBTQ travelers. Prepare to be enveloped in a city that offers the comforts of both a metropolitan area and a natural, historical getaway!

Is Gay Osaka Safe for Travelers?

We found Japan to be very safe for gay travelers, including Osaka. Whilst LGBTQ rights still have far to go in Japan, by Asian standards the country easily ranks as one of the most gay friendly Asian countries.

The Japanese are very conservative people and even straight couples limit public displays of affection, so it would pay to respect this. Having said that, the Japanese are extremely respectful people, particularly to foreigners. As an openly gay couple, we found people in gay Osaka to be super sweet. At no stage did we ever have any problems checking into a hotel or requesting a double bed in any of the places we stayed at. Osaka is even home to the first government district in the country to officially support LGBT human rights.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Osaka Travel Resources

Gay Dubrovnik – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Dubrovnik - The Globetrotter Guys

We spent 3 nights in the beautiful city of Dubrovnik and completely fell in love.

The historical walled old town lays on the water’s edge and is a maze of pretty cobbled streets, beautiful buildings, monuments and the views from the walls themselves are breath-taking.

It’s easy to see why Dubrovnik has become so popular and attracts thousands of tourists every year.

In our gay guide to Dubrovnik we will cover how we found the city as a gay couple, if a gay scene exists, all the incredible things to do during your visit, where to stay and practical tips – we highly recommend that you visit

Gay Dubrovnik Guide

As a country, Croatia is not particularly well known for being progressive and gay friendly, however when visiting the tourist hot spots, like the case in many countries, we felt very safe and had no trouble at all.

In fact, our trip to Croatia starting in Dubrovnik was for a gay sailing trip (which goes each year) and we had a huge pride flag flying for the whole journey and never had an issue!

Thinking specifically about Dubrovnik, we did find that there were many other gay couples in the city when we were walking around, some showing PDAs and some not but again with no issue which made us feel comfortable.

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globetrotter Guys

Croatia Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Malmo – Once Upon a Journey

lesbian Malmo, Sweden - Once Upon a Journey

Malmo is a trendy, eco-friendly, diverse, and green city in the South of Sweden. It’s the third-largest city of Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and it’s the spot for young creative entrepreneurs. Almost half of Malmo’s population is under 35 years old and over 180 different nationalities live in the city. Malmo has many universities, so many students around the world come to Malmo to study. The city is a melting pot of cultures, traditions, and start-ups!

In this article, we will tell you all about the top things to do in lesbian Malmo. From exploring Malmo from the canals to playing boule to relaxing at the sauna, to visiting one of many museums; in Malmo it’s all possible. We will also tell you where to stay in Malmo and about a few Malmo restaurants where you can enjoy delicious foods.

This article is in partnership with Malmo Town, who invited us to explore Malmo. As always, all experiences and opinions are our own.

Explore Malmo Old Town (Gamla Staden)

The heart of Malmo is its old town. You can’t visit Malmo without exploring Gamla Staden. Wander around for at least half a day to enjoy the cutest streets with cobbled stones, colorful houses, historic squares, restaurants, cafes, museums, and shops. Don’t forget to bring your camera, as you want to take pictures here!

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Lesbian Malmo Travel Resources

Gay Valparaiso – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Valparaiso - The Nomadic Boys

Santiago might be home to a large gay scene in Bellavista, but for our money, Valpo is even more tolerant, open-minded and downright fabulous!

Valpo (for short) is one of the country’s most popular draws, famous for its magnificent street art and unique architecture. Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet, loved Valpo so much he set up one of his homes here. UNESCO was so impressed, it added Valpo’s Historic Quarter to its World Heritage List in 2003, and The Guardian described Valpo as a “mini Berlin by the seaside“.

As Chile’s capital of culture, Valparaiso is packed with art, nightlife and creativity of every kind. This makes the city a hub for the nation’s gay community and we felt more at home in Valpo than anywhere else in Chile.

We fell in love with Valpo’s stunning seaside location, it’s amazing works of art and, of course, the drop-dead gorgeous locals. It goes without saying that by this point, Valpo is one of our favorite cities in Latin America.

To show you how great Valparaiso for LGBTQ travelers, we decided to create a comprehensive gay guide to the city and its neighboring gay resort town Viña del Mar. From the most gay-friendly places to stay to the wildest gay bars and clubs, we will cover it all in our guide to Chile’s coolest city.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Chile Gay Travel Resources

Gay Ios – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Ios - The Globetrotter Guys

We first visited Ios as part of our gay sailing trip around the Greek Islands in 2019 and immediately fell in love with this beautiful island.

Ios is part of the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea and can be found between Naxos and Santorini. It is a relatively small island at only 18 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide.

The island is known for its lazy days, beautiful beaches and party fuelled nights.

As places like Santorini become increasingly popular with huge numbers of tourists, places like Ios give you the opportunity to explore an equally beautiful island without so many crowds, especially since it has no airport so you can only arrive by sea!

Like Santorini, Ios is covered with white washed, blue domed buildings which look stunning and are iconic of these islands.

When it comes to gay Ios, it does not have a well established gay scene like you would find in Mykonos (see our Gay Travel Guide to Mykonos). However like many places we visited around Greece, we felt welcome as a gay couple and did manage to find it’s one gay bar during our explorations!

Check out our Gay Greece Guide for a shortlist of our top gay destinations in Greece.

In our mini ‘Gay Ios Travel Guide’ we share the best things to do in Ios as well as where to stay, and some great recommendations for a sunset drink!

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globetrotter Guys

Greece Gay Travel Resources

Gay Puglia – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Puglia - The Nomadic Boys

Our gaydar went absolutely crazy on the beaches in Puglia. Everywhere we looked, these metrosexual studs were posing and just looking absolutely ripped…Italian men sure know how to take care of themselves!

Puglia is located in the southeastern region of Italy – the heel of the country’s boot. It’s a popular holiday retreat and a prime hotspot for gay travellers, particularly Gallipoli. It’s also stunning, full of UNESCO sites like Alberobello, pretty cities like Lecce, lush landscapes like the Grotta della Poesia, and some of the best food of the entire country…orecchiete anyone?

To get a flavour of gay Puglia, we recommend watching the 2010 Italian movie, Loose Cannons (“Mine Vaganti”) about a bourgeoise family in Lecce coming to terms with their two gay sons… You’ll laugh your socks off, but will also get some fantastic inspiration about the region. We also help to inspire you with our detailed gay guide to Puglia setting out our first-hand experience of the gay scene out here, the best gay hotels to stay, beaches, events and more.

Is Gay Puglia safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?

Yes it is! Whilst Italy is a conservative country with regards to LGBTQ rights, over the years, Puglia has become a bohemian playground for gay travellers. There are a handful of gay beaches across the region, as well as many gay hangouts in the main cities, particularly Gallipoli.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Puglia Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Stockholm – Our Taste for Life

Lesbian Stockholm - Our Taste for Life

Stockholm, aka the lesbian capital of Scandinavia, is one of the most open-minded, liberal, and hip cities we have ever visited. I mean, gender-neutral bathrooms and shops nearly everywhere, how great is that?! But lesbian Stockholm isn’t just a great city to visit to celebrate feminism and being queer, it’s also great to go to Stockholm if you like nature, music, fashion, and food. Our favorite thing: fika! If you haven’t heard about fika yet, stay tuned, we will explain all about later in this article. We will also tell you about the best (LGBTQ+) spots in Stockholm. And afterward, it’s time to pack your bags and go see lesbian Stockholm yourself!

Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden and is the most populous city in all of Scandinavia. Therefore you might think of Stockholm as a busy city, but we absolutely love the calm- and nature-side of it. Stockholm is set on 14 islands, that’s why you see water everywhere in Stockholm! Perfect for a romantic stroll along the waterside on a hot summer night (or any time, really). The Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren melt together in Stockholm, so there’s both fresh and saltwater in the city (separated by Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town).

LGBT Rights in Sweden

Swedes, in general, are very liberal people. It isn’t a surprise that their rights for LGBT people are one of the most progressive in Europe. Sweden is ranked as one of the most LGBT friendly countries in the world. And that’s something we notice during our visits. We feel welcome everywhere in Sweden and we can completely be ourselves. Nobody seems to care about seeing us, or our friend Barry and his boyfriend, walking hand in hand on the streets. Also, in both Stockholm and Malmö, we saw many gay couples walking hand in hand on the streets.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Gay Siem Reap – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Siem Reap - The Nomadic Boys

Angkor Wat is the reason why most people visit Siem Reap. This ancient UNESCO listed religious complex dates back to the 1100s and is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world. It’s a massive circuit of really impressive temples in the middle of a jungle where nature has taken over. The Ta Prohm Temple is the most recognisable thanks to Angelina Jolie sashaying her way through it as that famous video game movie character back in 2001, earning it the nickname the “Tomb Raider Temple”.

Siem Reap is the base for visiting Angkor Wat. We stayed here for 1 week to allow us ample time to explore the magnificent temples as well as spend some time discovering the city and the gay hangouts. It’s super touristic, international with plenty of restaurants, hotels and even a small and fun gay scene based around the aptly named Pub Street.

In our gay travel guide to Siem Reap, we set out practical tips for LGBTQ travellers based on our experience, including the most gay friendly hotels to stay, bar/clubs to check out, inspiration for things to do including Angkor Wat, and more.

Siem Reap Gay Area

Siem Reap doesn’t have a defined gay neighborhood. Instead, the main gay hangouts and hotels are spaced out in and around the city centre. We always started our evening in the touristic area called “Pub Street” because this is where the best restaurants can be found (as well as all the souvenir shops and markets for us to top up our Lara Croft inspired outfits)… In terms of gay bars/clubs in Siem Reap, there are 3 to check out. The most central are Barcode and the Miss Wong Cocktail Bar both located in and around the Pub Street area. Further afield, around 15 minutes walk southeast from Pub Street is DreamBoys.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Cambodia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Sarasota, Florida – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Sarasota, Florida - The Nomadic Boys

This is the home of Siesta Key Rum, the Siesta Key beach, the massive Ringling Circus Museum, and so much more! Sarasota is a destination that most gay travellers to Florida are likely to overlook. 

We’ll be very honest, before coming to Sarasota we knew very little about it. However, it turned out to be the hidden gem of our trip, a place we would definitely love to return to. As well as being a cultural hotspot of Florida with so many things to do, Sarasota also has a small fun gay scene worth checking out, with annual events like the “Harvey Milk Festival”and “Sarasota Pride”.

Following our trip, we’ve put together this detailed travel guide to Sarasota featuring the best gay bars, events, things to do, gay friendly hotels to stay, and more.

Gay Sarasota Neighborhood?

The Sarasota gay scene is very small with only a handful of gay hangouts spread around the city. As such, there is no official gay neighborhood in Sarasota. The focal point of the city where you may want to consider basing yourself is by the pretty Bayfront Park. It’s close to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens as well as a few queer-friendly bars like the Pangea Alchemy Lab and the Westin hotel rooftop bar.

Purple Rhino is the main gay bar of Sarasota, which is located around 10 minutes taxi ride south Bayfront Park. Even further south is the Oasis club, which is close to famous Siesta Key beach.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Sarasota Gay Travel Resources