Gay Germany Travel Guide: Castles, sausages, beer, and, of course, cars. The Federal Republic of Germany, with its 16 federal states, which have historically included several kingdoms, can be considered the geographical center of Europe. France and Luxembourg thereby surround Germany, and the BeNeLux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) states in the West, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, and Austria in the South, and Poland and Czechia in the East. According to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Germany ranks among the top 10 LGBT-friendly countries in the world and is recognized as a welcoming and gay-friendly destination, particularly in its major cities.
Lesbian, gay, and queer travelers should visit Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, and Frankfurt, as these are considered the biggest, and gay-friendliest cities in Germany. In fact, cities, towns, and municipalities organize more than 60 annual gay pride and LGBT events all around the country. We collected essential information about why, when, and where LGBTQ+ travelers like you should start planning their visit to Germany. Therefore, we will regularly add new blog articles to our Gay Germany Travel Guide, providing additional information. But now, enjoy Germany through a Couple of Men‘s eyes.
How gay-friendly is Germany?
Traditionally, Germany is known to be a gay-friendly but relatively conservative European country. But despite the reservation of the ruling Christian party, the majority of the German government voted to favor legalizing same-sex marriage in Germany in 2017. However, Germany currently ranks among the top gay-friendly destinations, alongside Canada and Sweden, according to the annual Spartacus Gay Travel Index, due to its gay-friendly environment in major cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.
Although Germans living in the countryside might have some prejudices against lesbian, gay, and queer people, they will stay polite, offering you the best service they can. LGBTQ+ travelers should keep that in mind. Unfortunately, there is right-wing streaming, especially in the eastern part of the country, so it is still recommended to exercise caution when being publicly intimate in those areas. When encountering a suspicious group of people, it is wise to let go of each other’s hands and act like many LGBT travelers would act in any other city in the world.
Wikipedia LGBTQ+ Germany: LGBT rights in Germany
Highlights of LGBTQ+ Events: All CSD & Pride events in Germany
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Gay Berlin Travel Guide
Berlin, as Germany’s capital city and the largest German city, is considered the gay-friendliest metropolis in Germany. Despite the problematic history of being a divided city for over 40 years by the allied forces after World War II, Berlin developed a considerably diverse LGBTQ+ culture including the gay neighborhood Schöneberg and the popular club scene with Berghain, KitKat Club, and SchwuZ for example. Every fetish has its party. Good to know for LGBT travelers coming to Berlin: the Pink Pillow collection of LGBT-friendly hotels in Berlin offers a diverse range of gay-friendly accommodations throughout the city. Throughout the year, Berlin hosts several LGBTQ+ events, including the “Motzstraßenfest”, the annual Gay Pride (called CSD Berlin), and, of course, the fetish festival Folsom Europe.
Gay Hamburg Travel Guide
The Hanseatic city of Hamburg, located in the northwestern part of Germany, is the second-largest city in the country and its own, so-called city-state with a strong connection to the River Elbe. We visited Hamburg several years ago as one of our first trips together. Lesbian, gay, and queer travelers should explore the unique architecture of Hamburg by visiting the modern buildings in the harbor area, including City Hall, the Speicherstadt, and the recently completed and opened Elbphilharmonie concert hall.
Hamburg is a popular residence city for LGBTQ+ people in Germany, offering a gay-friendly environment with various events throughout the year, like the Harbour Pride in May, the Leather Pride in August, and the Winter Pride in November or December.
Gay Dresden Travel Guide
Dresden is Karl’s hometown and the capital city of the Eastern German federal state of Saxony. Nestled in the Elbe Riverbed, Dresden is renowned for its stunning old town center, which was recently rebuilt after being destroyed in World War II. Today, Dresden has a reputation for being a creative and open-minded student city with a small but vibrant LGBTQ+ community.
CSD Dresden Pride is one of the event highlights for local lesbian, gay, trans, and queer people as well as LGBTQ+ travelers. At least once a year, we spend a couple of days in Dresden, combining a city trip with visiting Karl’s family. Dresden is a city worth mentioning in our Gay Germany Travel Guide and is very high on everyone’s gay travel bucket list.
Gay Munich Travel Guide
With over 1.4 million inhabitants, Munich, a Bavarian city, is the third-largest city in Germany. Bavaria’s capital city is internationally renowned for its beer, local cuisine, traditional culture, and, of course, the annual Oktoberfest beer festival. Besides the culinary highlights, Munich has a lively gay scene, primarily located around the city center district of Glockenbachviertel.
Members and travelers of the LGBTQ+ community should put the annual Gay Pride Weekend “CSD München”, the Queer Film Weekend “Verzaubert”, and other gay events during Oktoberfest on their list.
Gay Cologne Travel Guide
Located relatively close to the Belgium and Dutch border, the next city in our Gay Travel Guide for Germany is Cologne. Located on both sides of the massive River Rhine, the city, famous for its Kölsch beer, is part of Europe’s central metropolitan area, the Rhine-Ruhr. The fourth-biggest city of Germany is a well-known gay hotspot for the entire LGBT community and a beautiful destination for lesbian, gay, and queer travelers.
The gay life spans two districts, with the main gay area centered around Rudolfplatz, also known as Cologne’s ‘Bermuda Triangle’, and in the Old Town of Cologne. The Pride in Cologne is considered to be the largest annual Pride event in Europe. Excited to visit CSD in Köln this year for the first time!
Gay Frankfurt Travel Guide
Frankfurt (on the River Main) is Germany’s business and financial capital, located in the center of the country, with an impressive skyline that stands in contrast with the historic buildings of the city center. It also has the largest airport in Germany, Frankfurt International, operating flights from all around the world, connecting to nearly all national airports. Therefore, the city is an international hub for the LGBTQ+ community, boasting a lively and diverse gay scene that attracts a highly international crowd. One of the most significant gay events in Frankfurt is the annual CSD, also known as Pride Frankfurt.
More posts coming soon!
Gay Travel Index 2025
The Berlin-based Spartacus informs LGBTQ+ and queer travelers about how gay-friendly a holiday destination is according to several ranking factors and criteria.
Which country ranks first? Where is it safe to travel to as a gay and LGBTQ+ traveler?
You can use the GTI to prepare for your gaycation and as a guide when choosing a holiday destination.
Best Reasons to visit Germany
If you wonder about the best time to visit Germany, there isn’t a single best time. Although clearly, the spring, summer, and autumn months are, in our opinion, the best time to explore the diverse nature and landscapes of Germany. From May to September, travelers have the best chances to catch longer dry, warm, and sunny episodes to go hiking in the Central German Uplands, to go camping and swimming in the North Sea or Baltic Sea, or plan a city trip to the German cities with their rich cultural heritage and Pride Festivals. Many German cities and towns host various LGBTQ+ events throughout the year, like the Queer Festival in Heidelberg.
In wintertime, when most parts of the country are regularly covered in snow, several central German Ski Resorts and the Winter sports areas of the German Alps are open to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and any other winter-related activities. Additionally, the German cities and states know how to brighten up the dark times of the year with their world-famous Christmas markets, and, yes, there are even Gay Christmas Markets to put on your Gay Germany Travel bucket list!
All Blog Articles about Germany
Must-Try Food in Germany
When visiting Germany, the first thing LGBTQ+ travelers want to try, of course, is the world-famous German Beer. For centuries, Germany has preserved the traditional method of brewing beer in all its variations, protecting the purity of the process by law. And it is true that the beer is considered to be the best in the world. However, the influence of the culinary heritage of the former German kingdoms, which merged into the Federal Republic of today, is diverse and extends beyond potatoes and sausages. Having said that, the sausages are seriously something LGBT explorers should try at least once. The (Bavarian) veal sausage “Weißwurst”, the Thuringian “Bratwurst”, or the Frankfurt sausage are just some that seriously need to be mentioned here.
When you’re starting your gay travels around Germany, particularly in the northern part, be sure to include some traditional fish and seafood dishes, such as sour Herring, on your list. When traveling to the central regions and states of Germany, you’ll want to try the traditional potato, sauerkraut, and cabbage dishes that are an essential part of the German culinary experience. However, beyond tradition, LGBTQ+ travelers in major cities like Cologne, Hamburg, and Berlin will find a diverse range of international trends and influences in German cuisine. Lately, the meat-loving Germans are expanding the vegetarian and vegan food scene as well.
It is recommended to make a reservation, particularly during the peak dinner times from Thursday to Sunday. After dinner, it is customary to place your wallet on the table when you are ready to pay the bills. The approaching waiter will ask if you would like the check. You usually do not have to get up from your table to pay. Generally speaking, card payments are commonly accepted in the city, but be sure to check before taking your seat, as the preferred payment method is often cash, even in major cities.
Plan your Germany Trip with our Couple of Men gay travel guide
Gay Germany Travel Guide: Please consider our information as suggestions, with no guarantee that it will remain the same when you travel there. Although we conducted our research and all opinions expressed in this Gay Germany Travel Guide are honest, authentic, and accurate.
For any clarifications about your plans for traveling to Germany, please email us or follow along and drop us a line on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. See you around the world and next time in Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Munich, and Germany!
Karl & Daan.
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