5 best gaycities in the World
Islands like Mykonos and Lesbos have long been top gay destinations for some fun in the sun among gays and lesbians. But gay travelers no longer have to escape to island paradises to have a gay old time. Cities are now the favorite places to go, with so many of them having predominantly gay neighborhoods offering urban pleasures, gay hotels and nightlife, all profiting from „pink money.“ These are the ten gayest of them all, where you can find rainbow flags flying high.
1 | NEW YORK
The Big Apple is the birthplace of gay life and of the gay pride movement. It’s the home of Stonewall which led to all of the gay pride events around the world, and most of Manhattan (and now even parts of Brooklyn) is one giant gayborhood. From Greenwich Village to Chelsea, with their Christopher Street and 8th Avenue having gays heading down to the multitude of gay bars, clubs, and shops at any time of the day.
-SEE THE GAY NEW YORK GUIDE»
2 | SAN FRANCISCO
The world’s most gay-friendly city is now even more friendly with California allowing same-sex marriage. It’s the world’s original gay Mecca, and although New York may have surpassed it in diversity, it’s in San Francisco’s Castro District that you still feel like you’re at the center of the gay world. There are gay events and attractions happening throughout the year, complementing the offer of gay and gay-friendly bars and restaurants.
-SEE THE GAY SAN FRANCISCO GUIDE»
3 | BERLIN
Most people don’t realize it but Berlin may actually be Europe’s gayest capital. It seems to have the most gay attractions in the world, including a gay museum and a gay memorial (pictured above). This hedonistic city is so open-minded it’s elected an openly gay mayor, and gay bars are also straight bars. There are dozens of attractions and therefore several gay publications telling you what’s going on.
-SEE THE GAY BERLIN GUIDE»
4 | AMSTERDAM
It’s the world’s most liberal city so it’s naturally very gay. Its legendary open-mindedness goes back to the early 1800s when homosexuality was decriminalized and when the Netherlands became the first country to allow same-sex marriage. Gay couples are seen walking hand-in-hand down Amsterdam’s canals, and it’s on the waterfront that you’ll find the first gay monument in the world, inaugurated in 1987 (pictured above).
-SEE THE GAY AMSTERDAM GUIDE»
It’s now one of the world’s top gay destinations and not just because of the city itself but also because of the neighboring beaches. In addition to a vibrant cosmopolitan life, the city is an attractive mix of gay and straight, and has some of Europe’s best nightlife and restaurants. In fact, it was the gay community and gay travelers that largely contributed to Barcelona becoming such a trendy place, even in winter when the beaches are no longer the main attraction.
-SEE THE GAY BARCELONA GUIDE»