#GAYTRAVEL Destinations

10.
BANGKOK
Thailand

Bangkok’s gay nightlife is hyped as being the hub of Southeast Asia for good reason. The city is known for some of the best bars and clubs, saunas or inventive go-go boy shows when it comes to entertaining gay locals and travelers alike. Bangkok’s LBGTQ scene is so active you can party seven nights a week and still find new places to discover. One might be blown away by the variety of fun and decadent delights that can be had in the ‘City of Angels’.
One of the city’s long-established gay nightlife spots, Silom Soi 4 is known for its small concentration of chic restaurants, bars, karaoke as well as award-winning pubs like Telephone and Balcony Bar. The overall atmosphere is jovial and friendly. And if diva impersonations or random fashion shows are your thing, you’ll have to see the lip-syncing staged nightly right in the middle of the street.
Thailand is a highly tolerant country where sexual preference is regarded as a personal choice when it comes to homosexuality. Gays, lesbians and transsexuals are all accepted. Thai people both gay and straight are known for their sweet, friendly and polite natures, making a visit there pleasant. Thailand has become a prime gay tourist destination, with Bangkok often being dubbed as the gay capital of Asia. Gay pride events are held annually in the three major tourist destinations: Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. The first Bangkok Gay Festival was organized in the Silom and the Surawong area in 1999. The Bangkok Gay Pride Parade was restarted in 2017 after a short hiatus.

9.
SAN DIEGO
California, US

The hub of San Diego’s LGBT community is located in the uptown neighborhood of Hillcrest, with nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and shopping. In addition, San Diego boasts LGBT-focused theater productions and clothing-optional Black’s Beach, so it’s no wonder San Diego ranks among the top LGBT destinations in the world. San Diego allows you to stay active while soaking in the sun and landscape. Balboa Park is an undisputed walker’s paradise with its gardens, trails and historic promenade. With many museums from Natural History to Air and Space, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is a must visit on any itinerary. Other nearby for the entire family include SeaWorld, Safari Park and Legoland.

Some must visit stops within Hillcrest include: Urban Mo’s Bar & Grill, Baja Betty’s, Uptown Tavern, Martinis Above Fourth and Rich’s. Enjoy brunch, happy hours, great entertainment and more at these establishments. Outside of Hillcrest, Pec’s, The Hole and Redwing Bar & Grill are among the community’s “jeans and leather” joints that greet with a solid neighborhood feel. San Diego Pride Parade and Festival, held each July, is one of the largest in the state, and a celebration for the entire community. This year, the festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 13th and 14th at Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.), with the parade on Saturday beginning at 10:00 am at the Hillcrest Pride Flag (University Ave. and Normal St.).

8.
TEL AVIV
Israel

Tel Aviv is a city known for its nightlife, and one reason gay nightlife in Tel Aviv is so exciting is that the Tel Aviv gay scene revolves around weekly parties, rather than specific bars or clubs like most cities around the world. But Tel Aviv’s nightlife isn’t the only reason millions of tourists from around the world flock there… amazing Mediterranean beaches have also received international acclaim, both for their crystal-clear waters, white sands and the number of attractive people that can be found sunbathing there. Head down to Hilton Beach, located just in front of the Hilton Tel Aviv hotel, for the speedo watching.
Tel Aviv hosts the only public gay pride parade in the entire Middle East, which is held annually the first weekend of June. Being gay is widely accepted in Israel, so locals and visitors alike hold nothing back in the parade, which is a wild party in and of itself. Expect lots of sexy men dancing on floats and in the crowd, as well as drag queens and queer people of all sorts.

7.
MONTREAL
Canada

Montréal is the largest city in Canada’s Québec province. It’s set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River and named after Mt. Royal, the triple-peaked hill at its heart. Montréal is obsessed with art, and you can see it everywhere. Take a stroll and check out sculptures, monuments, photographs and larger-than-life murals, all across the city.

Montréal has a massive gay village that is at the center of its community. The compact gay village has an upbeat vibe and a lively club scene. In summer, the main drag, Rue Sainte-Catherine, is pedestrian-only and strung with pink decorations, and bars and eateries spill onto terraces in the street. Rue Amherst is known for its boutiques and antiques shops. Nearby, the neoclassical Saint-Pierre-Apôtre Church contains the Chapel of Hope, dedicated to AIDS victims. Montreal is so gay that some of the best LGBTQ+ haunts are nowhere near the gay village. So, venture out, see some burlesque, and take in the art and architecture of this Canadian gay destination. Celebrate Fierté Montréal, also called Montreal Pride, as well as the annual Montreal Pride Parade, in August 2019.

6.
SEATTLE
Washington, US

Seattle is a welcoming city that is safe and friendly to all. Just east of downtown, the Capitol Hill neighborhood has long been the city’s hub of LGBT activity, with rainbow-painted crosswalks and many ways to dive into the scene. This eclectic neighborhood has chic eateries and artisan shops. Capitol Hill bars come alive with go-go dancers, karaoke and dancing into the night.

Aside from Capitol Hill, there are gay-friendly and gay-owned establishments just about everywhere in Seattle. Summer features two annual Pride festivals, while the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus are the largest LGBTQ-identified men’s and women’s choruses in the world. Be sure to visit Pike Place Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country and one of Seattle’s most popular draws. With its farm-fresh produce, butcher-paper clad bouquets, abundance of shops, restaurants, and bars—not to mention some of the best people-watching in the city, you will enjoy passing time here. Snap a photo with Rachel, the bronze pig that serves as the market’s mascot. And you can visit the very first Starbucks as well.

The icon of Seattle is the Space Needle built for the 1962 World’s Fair. With its free telescopes you can zoom into downtown and on a clear day you can get great views of Mt. Rainier, the tallest mountain in the state of Washington. A short hop over to Fremont and you’ll find the Fremont Troll, a popular public sculpture under the Fremont Bridge; Gasworks Park; the Ballard Locks; and our favorite chocolatier Theo.

Follow GED Magazine to discover much more about Seattle in the coming months.

5.
MADRID
Spain

Madrid is the capital of Spain and home to Europe’s largest gay pride. With a diverse gay scene, clubs, fetish events, gourmet restaurants and stunning architecture and culture, Madrid is a world-class gay destination. The city is an excellent combination of modern infrastructure and historic squares, churches, monuments and city gates, and home to the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum, recognized as one of the world’s premier galleries.

The Chueca District is lively with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from, and plenty of small streets to explore. Chueca is very tourist friendly and is always going til morning. Madrid’s Gay Pride usually occurs the last weekend of June, and the Saturday of this weekend is usually known as the Dia del Orgullo Gay or Gay Pride Day. During this time, Chueca becomes a center of attraction in Madrid and a truly vibrant and active area for gays and straights alike. There are street parties, music, free outdoor concerts and all the local bars and cafés set up street booths, selling food and drinks to the revelers. Brightly colored streamers and bunting decorates the streets around the Plaza de Chueca, and the area becomes a continuous party through the first week of July.

4.
SONOMA COUNTY
California, US

Take a short 1.5-hour drive from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge (once called “the bridge that couldn’t be built,” and today is one the seven wonders of the modern world) and you will hit Sonoma County — wineries, eateries and Sonoma County charm. Make time for a stop in Guerneville along the Russian River, for a gay ‘ole time out in nature… hiking in the giant redwoods, sipping wine by the River, having dinner at a hip eatery, and maybe soaking up the sun at a gay pool party during the day at the R3 Resort.

Sonoma County Pride returns this year to Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa, the heart of Sonoma County with the Pride Parade going down Fourth Street. This year’s celebration spans three days of events and activities designed to appeal to a large diversity of tastes for a weekend of fun, May 31st – June 2nd, 2019. The parade starts at noon along Fourth Street in downtown Santa Rosa and finishes in Old Courthouse Square, where the festival takes place until 8:00 p.m. (sonomacountypride.org.)

Don’t miss Gay Wine Weekend coming to Sonoma July 19th -21st, 2019. A weekend of wine and celebration with winemaker dinners, winery tours and events, music and dancing in a private estate vineyard, VIP Receptions, champagne brunch, wine auction and pool party in one of the most famous luxury wine destinations in the world (outinthevineyard.com.)

3.
PALM SPRINGS
California, US

Nestled beneath the dramatic San Jacinto Mountains, Palm Springs has been popular with LGBT travelers for decades. It’s home to dozens of gay-owned clothing-optional resorts, friendly bars and lounges, hip restaurants, and stylish shops. It’s also surrounded by spectacular natural scenery that’s perfect for hiking, wildlife watching and photography; as well as plenty of mid-century modern architecture. Easy to reach by car or plane, it’s a perfect destination for a leisurely time in the sun. Within the last couple of years, some great mainstream (but very gay-friendly resorts) have surfaced and become popular with LGBT travelers, including the V Palm Springs, Rowan Palm Springs, and Ace Hotel, offering bars and restaurants on property. Of course, at mainstream properties, you’re going to have to keep your swimsuit on, so if you prefer tanning and swimming in your birthday suit instead, check into one of the many clothing optional gay resorts, such as La Vida Loca, Triangle Inn or CCBC. While smaller in scale, these properties create an intimate vibe, making it easy to meet new friends. Some offer relaxing full-service spas.
Arenas Road is home to wide variety of bars, gastro-pubs, nightclubs, piano bars, restaurants and shops – all geared toward the LGBT community. Cathedral City is another growing hot spot of activity, with lots to offer the LGBT traveler, including the first gay pride of the season coming up later this month. Check out the Palm Springs and Cathedral City BarTabs for where to party!

2.
NEW YORK CITY
New York, US

For the first time in its 20 years, New York will host World Pride. Along with hosting World Pride, New York will also be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Uprising, which paved the way to the LGBTQIA rights we have today. With over 30 days, 50 + events and 3 Million + people, New York is bound to be the Gayest Party the world has ever seen! The parties and events will cater to everyone, whether you want to dance the night away, learn history, or gather up the entire family for a movie night. The city that never sleeps is a great spot to travel to year-round offering so much to see and do, from visiting the Statue of Liberty to experiencing a 24/7 dining, shopping, sight-seeing and clubbing experience. New York is unique in that gay and lesbian travelers can move around the city freely and out.
The cities queer scene isn’t just limited to Greenwich Village, one can find things to do every day and night of the week in practically all neighborhoods, including Park Slope in Brooklyn. Among the friendliest neighborhoods include Chelsea, Williamsburg, West Village, East Village and Hells Kitchen. With so much to see and do in the Big Apple, you’ll want to do some research before traveling. There are comprehensive lists out there to help guide you through the “concrete jungle.”

1.
PUERTO VALLARTA
Mexico

The gay mecca south of the border, Puerto Vallarta is the hottest gay destination in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta abounds with beaches, margaritas, nightlife and plenty of men. This is an international getaway spot that will always leave you wanting more. Enjoy the sunset from The Top (the roof top at the Almar LGBT Resort), sail on one of the many gay-day cruises, go ziplining in the jungle, or simply relax on the beach with a cocktail…. Puerto Vallarta has it all.

Puerto Vallarta burst upon the international jet-set-scene in 1963, with the arrival of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, for the filming of the “Night of the Iguana”. Taylor’s influence still remains today. Her former home is now a stunning restaurant. The first gay club opened in the early 90’s, and today the city provides a tolerant and gay-friendly environment, making it an attractive destination for gay tourists and one of our top picks. Zona Romantico (The Gay District) is home to many different gay bars, restaurants and clubs, all located close to the beaches. Check out GED Latino for all the hot spots to visit in and around Puerto Vallarta.

In the Zona Romantica you’ll find Playa Los Muertos, the city’s largest public beach. The gay section of the beach is located at its southern end, near the amazing Mantamar Beach Club & Grill. (Just look for the men in bulging speedos.) Mantamar, a trendy beach club located next to the beautiful Bay of Banderas, offers an amazing pool deck with resident DJs, pool parties and entertainment. Mantamar is a great option for the LGBT traveler, as is the Almar Hotel just behind it. Other great stay, drink and play options are Hotel Mercurio in the heart of the gay action in the Zona Romantica, walking distance to everything; and overlooking the Bay, Casa Cupula, with its weekend clothing optional parties.

Take the famous Bar Hopping Tour of PV, meet new friends, get VIP access to all the bars and clubs and take in a meal or show. Book in advance at http://tours.gogaytoday.com.