Barcelona gay guide: the best addresses

Barcelona is full of good addresses for the gay and lesbian community. Here is our selection of must-have LGBT places.

Barcelona is undoubtedly one of the leading LGBT tourist destinations in Western Europe. The second most populous city in Spain, Barcelona is bathed by a particularly pleasant climate. Established by the sea, 180 km from France, the Catalan city is filled with historical wealth. Today, Barcelona is a prosperous city with international grip in sectors such as finance, trade, art and tourism. Cosmopolite in the soul, the Catalan capital is a place where the LGBT community is very present. Do you want to discover a metropolis where many exits and activities are possible? We take you to discover the best gay activities and addresses in Barcelona!

The must-sees of Barcelona

Before discovering gay Barcelona, a detour to several mythical places is needed. The city is full of curiosities, with bold architecture and breathtaking scenery.

• It is impossible to stay in Barcelona without visiting the fabulous Sagrada Familia. The Basilica designed by the architect Gaudi is an impressive monument where Art Nouveau and Gothic Fioritures blend.
• L’inspiration gaudienne is everywhere in Barcelona: you will not miss discovering Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, original constructions with curved and wavy shapes.
• Aside from urban activity, you can stroll among the gardens and fountains of the Park Güell. Again, Gaudi created a daring work, made of mosaics, columns and ondulations.
• Near the Gothic Quarter, you can walk on _La Rambla_A great pedestrian avenue. It is a very lively place, with the presence of many artists like painters or musicians.

Activities in Barcelona

The capital of the Catalonia is immense and there are many activities.

• Do you want to discover a neighbourhood where architecture flirts with mysticism? See you at Barri Gòtic, located in the historic center of Barcelona. You can explore the many streets where the medieval Gothic architecture dominates and time seems to have frozen.
• Do you like art? Barcelona has an impressive collection of museums dedicated to great artists. If you have time, go to visit Picasso Museum, where are exhibited no less than 4,000 works of the cubist painter. Among the other must-see museums, there is the Fundació Joan Miró, dedicated to the eponymous artist, but also _CosmoCaixa_a museum dedicated to science and nature.
• If you prefer sports activities rather than walks, know that Barcelona is a coastal city. It is possible to practice many nautical activities (jet-ski, flyboard) including proposed by Aventura Náutica.

The gay neighborhoods of Barcelona

Like any gay city that respects, the Catalan city has a neighbourhood where LGBT community stays . This is about the Eixample (or Gayxample ), located between La Rambla and the Avinguda Diagonal , in the center of the city. This neighborhood is not a strictly gay neighborhood, but this is where most of Barcelona’s best gay addresses are located. Many institutions and Airbnb welcomes the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual community.

Not far from there is one of the best gay hotels: hotel Axel . The hotel, renowned for its jovial and casual atmosphere, has its own application, AxelPeople . This allows the hotel’s guests to exchange between themselves and to promote possible meetings.

The village Sitges is also appreciated by the gay community. Located in the south of Barcelona, it is possible to get there easily by train. Gay beaches, gay-friendly restaurants and bars await you!

Gay restaurants addresses

Want to discover Catalan gastronomy? Or just fill your appetite? In Barcelona, restaurants are not missing.

• Aunt D’Divine, rue (carrer) de Balmes, you can taste delicious Mediterranean dishes. The particularity of this restaurant is that it offers shows of drag queens, in a colorful setting where the laughs are guaranteed!
• In a much more soft style, go to _Castro_Casanova Street, where you are offered a traditional map, with products from local markets.
• Do you prefer Spanish pizza? No problem, Little Italy opens its doors rue del Rec. This gay-friendly restaurant is renowned for the quality of its dishes and for its warm atmosphere.
• Other notorious restaurant for the LGBT community of Barcelona: Casa Jaime, rue del Consell de Cent. Fried tapas and calamars are delicious!

Gay bar addresses

Want to relax in a friendly and warm environment? In the Eixample gay district, you only have the embarrassment of choice.

• The Boys Bar BCN welcomes Diputació Street. Here you can drink, discuss, drag into a serene and casual atmosphere. This bar also offers theme parties: latino atmosphere, strip-teasers, gogo dancers...
• Another key address is the Plata Bar, rue del Consell de Cent. You can drink delicious cocktails served by a friendly and welcoming team. In a modern and colorful setting, it is a perfect place to spend a good evening with friends and to meet.
• Do not hesitate to go for a tour at the bar _El Born_Passig del Born Street. Cocktails are fabulous with presentations that come out of the ordinary.

Gay nightclub addresses

Beautiful to discover day by day, Barcelona is also part of the city's vibrant nightlife. The Spaniards like to party, it is undeniable.

• Arena is well known to gays and lesbians in Barcelona: it is a group of LGBT clubs, all located in the Gayxample. L’Arena Classic is a reference among the good gay addresses of Barcelona. Open to gays and lesbians as well as heterosexuals, it allows you to dance and enjoy rhythmic and engaging music.
• L’Aire is a lesbian club that is renowned for its oriented techno and house music. An ideal place to spend pleasant moments between girls!
• For men, go to Metro Disco. Once inside, you can dance and drag on techno music. If the heart tells you, you can also take a walk in the backrooms to discover more daring pleasures...

Gay relaxation places

To relax and enjoy moments of complicity, did you think of the sauna? The last resort in Barcelona is the sauna Buenos Aires . With its huge spa, various sauna areas and backrooms, this place offers a real invitation to serenity and masculine pleasures. The hotel also features a massage room, a bar and a video corner.

If you want to spend a good time in front of a colorful high show, book your evening at Dietrich , a gay cabaret located rue del Consell de Cent. You can drink a drink in a warm and serene atmosphere, then enjoy a show of comical, extravagant but also touching dredges.

LGBT events in Barcelona

One of the main LGBT events in Barcelona, of course, remains Gay Pride , or walk of the Fierties. It takes place every year during June. It is an opportunity to participate or admire a parade where you proudly wear gay and lesbian colors and identity. Many activities take place around this event, with the aim of changing mentalities and highlighting the LGBT cause.

Another important event that takes place in August: Circuit Festival Barcelona. This international event brings together gays and lesbians from all over the world with a single goal, that of having fun! On the programme, seaside activities, contests, theme nights in bars and clubs... This festival is a unique opportunity to discover an even more festive and endiabeted gay Barcelona!

Other addresses

As a coastal city, Barcelona has beautiful beaches. The most popular gay beach if located in Sitges , where almost a third of tourists are gay. The main beach is located at the restaurant level Picnic . This is where many homosexuals find themselves to swim, to tan and to drag. If you’re a naturism enthusiast, know that a non-official nudist beach is a 10-minute walk from the main beach on either side. In Barcelona, the beach Mar Bella is also attended by the LGBT community.

Do you like reading while sipping a fresh drink? The bookstore Antinous near La Rambla is a popular place for gays and lesbians in Barcelona. You can obviously find books on the homosexual environment, but also souvenirs and a large number of DVDs to various content.

Good stay in the Catalan capital!