The Complete Gay Berlin Travel Guide: Berlin is one of the best gay travel destinations in Europe. In this Gay Berlin Travel Guide I will share the best gay bars in Berlin, where to find the main gay areas, gay hotels, saunas, the infamous techno scene and share my experience of the iconic queer nightlife, including Lab and Berghain.
If I had to describe my most recent trip to Berlin as a gay traveller in three words, it would have to be liberating, insane and gay; so very gay!
There is an attitude of open-mindedness across Berlin that seems to be embedded into its culture. People don’t seem to care if you are different and I really felt a sense of ‘anything goes’ and ‘you do you’.
Not only that, but it is a beautiful city, steeped in history and activities to keep you entertained all weekend unless the nightlife takes you first.
During my visit, I was here for Berlin Pride hosted by visitBerlin to learn everything about what gay Berlin had to offer!
In this guide I will provide you with the best gay bars in Berlin, clubs, gay and gay friendly hotels as well as some practical advice for your trip!
Gay Berlin: Quick Gay Travel Tips
In a rush? Here are some quick gay Berlin travel tips:
Is Berlin gay friendly?
Yes, Berlin is one the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the world. It has a very open and inclusive culture.
Where is the main gay area of Berlin?
The main gay area of Berlin is Schöneberg, specifically Nollendorfplatz.
Best gay bars in Berlin?
The best gay bars in Berlin are found in Schöneberg and include Prinzknecht, Hafen and Blond.
Best queer club in Berlin?
The best queer club is Berlin is Berghain (mixed but heavily queer), KitKatClub is also a great option for nights like Piepshow.
Best time to visit?
Summer for Berlin CSD (Pride) and festivals like WHOLE Festival.
Gay Area of Berlin
The ‘official’ gay area of Berlin is Schöneberg whose LGBTQ+ community dates back to the 1920s!
Specifically within the Schöneberg area (or locality as it is referred to), you want to head to Nollendorfplatz. This is truly the gay epicentre of Schöneberg and where you will find the highest concentration of gay bars, shops and other establishments.
However, don’t be mistaken, this is not the only part of Berlin that has hidden gay gems for you to find. Whilst Nollendorfplatz is the best area to stay in gay Berlin and the heart of the gay scene, you will still find a gay scene elsewhere including Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain and Prenzlauer Berg/Berlin Mitte.
Places like Lab (I’ll come on to this), are on the east side of the city for example – and you can’t get much gayer than Lab, seriously….
Gay rights in Germany
Germany ranks well being one of the better countries for LGBTQ+ rights, in summary:
Gender identity: changes are legal, no need for surgery.
Discrimination protections: Yes
Marriage: yes since 2017
Adoption: yes since 2017
Beyond the laws, the local attitude felt very relaxed and more than simply tolerant. It’s very common to see gay couples walking hand in hand here and I had no bother.
Is Berlin Gay Friendly?
Yes. Berlin is very gay friendly, it has a long history when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights and activism and has established itself as one of the top gay destinations in Europe.
Combined with the fact that Berlin has well established gay areas, gay hotels, a pride parade attracting thousands of people and a huge gay scene with an open minded attitude, it’s easy to see why Berlin is so popular with gay travellers and why it feels so gay friendly.
Gay Bars in Berlin
Berlin’s gay scene is insane (in a good way) by most countries’ standards! There is something for everyone and everyone is welcome.
It’s worth pointing out that Berlin is well known for its positive and ‘matter of fact’ attitude when it comes to getting it on, so don’t be surprised to find a those type of spaces as standard in most gay bars.
Here are some of my favourite gay bars in Berlin and ones that are recommended by my local gay friends (or for a full guide, check out my dedicated Gay Bars in Berlin Guide):
Berlin Gay Bars
Prinzknecht
This is one of the go to bars for most people to start their night, especially since they often have 2-4-1 drinks specials.
The crowd here is quite mixed but tends to be slightly older. They do play music and I somehow managed to get them to play back to back Ariana followed by Cher.
The main thing about this bar for me was that it was fun, friendly and gave off good vibes.
Hafen
This bar is a little bit more casual to ease you in to the gay scene here in Berlin.
It is in the heart of Schöneberg and is a popular gay bar with regular events, parties and quiz shows.
More Gay Bars in Berlin…
Start with the bars above and if you need more then there are many more to choose from including Blond, Redgold1, Pinocchio, Toyboy Bar, Heile Welt, TABASCO, Dreizehn, Blue Boy Bar, Tramp’s, and K6.
Berlin Gay Cruising Bars/Clubs
I thought a cruising bar would be incredibly intimidating but because of the open culture here, it felt very relaxed and normal!
If you are from a ‘prudish’ country like mine, set your worries aside and check one out!
It’s a life experience and of course you don’t have to do anything – all these bars and clubs still have a completely separate bar and drinking area where you can just sit and chat to the locals, who are all extremely friendly!
Lab-oratory
Go big or go home right?
This is considered to be one of the biggest gay cruising clubs in the world – especially during big events like Berlin Pride and Snax.
My first experience here was for Berlin Pride. For Berlin Pride, Thursday has a nude dress code and is one of the most popular nights to go, and whilst the doors open at 10pm, people are queuing from 8pm onwards.
You get a number written on your hand upon entry, this counts how many people are coming in and I saw someone with number 1,112 – so yes, well over 1000 gay men can be in Lab at any one time.
Layout wise, there are many different areas and levels as well as a bar area. Enjoy yourself and explore!
You will find Lab-oratory underneath the well-known Berghain Club and to access it you must walk to the left past the queue for people wanting to get into Berghain and find the door for Lab-oratory.
On entry, you will be asked to change into your outfit for the night (some nights have themes you need to stick to, please check – no seriously, check), your outside clothes will be taken away and a number written on your shoulder for your bar tab.
Entry can be paid by card, bar tab has to be paid by cash.
Boyberry
This replaced Toms Bar which used to be very popular. The Boyberry chain comes from Spain and is typically aimed at a younger audience.
It had a surprisingly diverse crowd which was good to see! The upstairs is a well-lit, very social bar to sit and chat. Downstairs they have lots of much darker areas to explore.
Club Connection
Currently listed as temporarily closed, so if you are in the area then I suggest you double check.
This is a large cruising club/bar which starts with a bar and dancefloor before moving down to the lower levels where all the action happens. Expect anything you can imagine.
This is one for a Friday when they have drinks offers on.
Mutschmanns
Mutschmanns is very busy on a Wednesday, attracting a very mixed crowd. For a small cover charge you get entry and 2 drinks vouchers.
Like most of the bars, upstairs is mainly for sitting and chatting and downstairs for everything else.
Berghain
Of course I have to include Berghain, the most infamous techno club in the world.
Whilst is not be a gay club per se, it was originally a gay space and still remains very queer and open minded.
Known for being incredibly difficult to get into, see my video on TikTok where I explain exactly what my thoughts and observations are on who the club is for and who is getting in.
The focus here is for its techno music, but it really is an anything goes venue with plenty of cruising going on – please go for the right reasons, it felt like such a safe space to be free to be you and do as you please, if its not the kind of night you’d normally go to they will ‘sense’ it and say no.
Timing wise, it opens at midnight on Saturday night, I suggest you arrive at 0900am Sunday morning and spend the day there – best time in my opinion as this is when the locals go.
Gay and Gay Friendly Hotels in Berlin
Berlin’s inherent gay friendly nature means that no matter what hotel you stay at, you should be welcomed as a gay traveller.
Here are my top choices for gay hotels and gay friendly hotels in Berlin:
Gay Friendly Hotels in Berlin
Many hotels have gone one step further and signed a charter to become a member of the Pink Pillow Collection with Visit Berlin. This charter states that:
- all guests are treated with same courtesy, dignity and respect
- to contributing actively in social projects
- to create a work environment of respect and tolerance
- to offer their guests information about the LGBTI* scene
- participate in visitBerlin’s semi-annual LGBTI* information days
During my time in Berlin, I stayed at and can recommend:
Hotel Indigo – Alexanderplatz
Hotel Indigo is well located in Alexanderplatz. It is a modern and trendy hotel with cool décor in the rooms and balconies for some.
Here they have a gym and serve a really good breakfast to get you ready for the day.
Book your stay here.
Holiday Inn Berlin City Center East Prenzlauer Berg
The Holiday Inn really stood out for me. The room was very spacious, modern and comfy. It also served one of the best breakfasts I had during our stay in Berlin which I was very happy about.
It is a little bit further out, but there is a tram stop metres away from the entrance so you can be in Alexanderplatz within 10 minutes.
Book your stay here.
HENRI Hotel Berlin Kurfürstendamm
The Henri Hotel Berlin Kurfürstendamm was very unique. The building itself felt quite historical which gave it more character compared to some of the more modern hotels.
I would describe the room as boutique French chic style with a very comfy bed! The service here was great and we also enjoyed that they serve snacks from 7pm for €5 (we indulged in a cheese board).
In terms of location, this hotel is a 15-minute walk to the gay area of Berlin (Schöneberg).
Check out rates and book here.
Gay Hotels in Berlin
There are also many hotels in Berlin that are just outright gay! (Full gay hotel guide here).
I stayed at the Axel Hotel Berlin, which is in the heart of the gay area making it perfect for a night out and while it may advertise itself as hetero-friendly, is just mainly full of gay men.
For a full list of outright gay hotels in Berlin, take a look at this post: Gay Hotels in Berlin.
Gay Cafes in Berlin
For a cute gay cafe in Berlin I would suggest heading to Romeo und Romeo in Nollendorfplatz.
They serves food, hot drinks and alcoholic drinks so depending on the vibe of your day, it’s a nice spot to hang out.
Especially in summer, the seating outside the cafe is perfectly set up for sitting back with a drink and people watching.
Gay Points of interest in Berlin
Wait…it’s not just about the gay bars in Berlin?!
Berlin has so much queer history to explore, please make sure to take the time to visit a few of the important spots below.
Pink Triangle memorial – you will find this on the exterior wall of the Nollendorfplatz U-Bahn station. This honours and provides historical information about the persecution by the Nazis of LGBTQ individuals.
Memorial to the Persecuted Homosexuals under National Socialism – find this memorial at Tiergarten, Ebertstraße. This is a standalone concrete column with a small screen to look inside where you will find a film playing on loop.
The Magnus Pharmacy – in Nollendorfplatz, The Magnus pharmacy at Motzstraße 11 is named after Magnus Hirschfeld, the founder of the homosexual rights movement. Walk by and read up on the information in the window.
The Nollendorfplatz station lights – wait until dark and then head to Nollendorfplatz station, every night the roof is lit up in rainbow colours.
The Aids Memorial – The memorial bears the inscription AGAINST OBLIVION in 22 different languages. It serves as a reminder that HIV is still a threat and can infect anyone regardless of orientation, religion, or ethnicity. The memorial stele is also a memorial against stigmatization and exclusion and for diversity and acceptance.
Gay Map of Berlin
If you would like a visual representation of how everything is spread out over the city, take a look at my gay map of Berlin below. You can see how many gay bars are all close together near Nollendorfplatz for example:
Berlin Gay Events & Festivals
Berlin Pride/Christopher Street Day
The city is taken over by gays from all around the world!
Berlin Pride is held towards the end of July each year and is one of the largest prides in Europe. If you are thinking about adding a European Pride to your list, add Berlin!
The parade was incredible. Set to start from 12-2pm the parade went on much longer and was bigger than I could have imagined.
I loved this particular parade as it was a lot less commercial than others I have attended and much more open to public participation throughout.
The parade route normally starts south of Tiergarten park, before coming through the park and finishing near the Reichstag building.
You are allowed to drink in the street here so go wild!
Berlin Canal Pride
Clearly one pride parade is not enough because the Thursday before the main weekend huge canal boats turn into parties on the Spree (the river running through the city).
I was on the boat for Visit Berlin and the Pink Pillow Collection along with almost 400 other party goers! The DJ had everyone on board dancing until we docked ready for the after party on shore!
KitKat Club – PiepShow
My favorite club of all time. Going into KitKat Club is like Alice falling through the looking glass and into wonderland – it’s a wild ride, with the unexpected at every turn. Not just a club, it is an experience.
Whilst KitKat Club is a play positive space and club and pretty queer at anytime, they specifically have a queer party/event called PiepShow once a month.
So if you fancy a Queer Techno rave with many different rooms throughout the entire club, often drag cabaret floor, shows and more, pencil this one in.
Please note, they do a vibe check at the door and you are expected to change into a KitKat style outfit once inside.
Snax
I so badly want to go – Snax party takes Lab and Berghain and merges them together into one huge insane party.
Snax happens twice a year, once in Easter and once in Winter. Each has a different theme so check which suits you best.
Berlin Folsom
Berlin Folsom is basically the k1nky, feti5h version of Berlin Pride and runs over a weekend in September each year. If that is your scene or a scene you want to explore, this is a great option to get into it.
Berlin Hustlaball
3 days, 3 events and just one ticket. Every October look out for Berlin Hustlaball, a weekend long run of gay events and hedonistic parties.
Whole Festival
This has been getting super popular in recent years and is high on my hitlist for events I want to attend.
Part rave, part reunion, part fever dream—this is where inhibitions come to dissolve and queer people come together.
Whether you come to stomp it out on the dancefloor, learn new things at a workshop, skinny dip in the lake, or meet your potential new partner, WHOLE looks like an unmissible experience.
Gay Parks in Berlin
Tiergarten Park is well known for its gay area and for cruising later on in the day. It is legal to sunbathe nude here and with Berlins tolerant attitude, everyone seems pleasantly carefree about it.
To find the gay area of the park is quite easy. It is the first section immediately south-west of the Victory Column.
There are other gay cruising areas/parks around the city, however Tiergarten is by far the most popular.
Other areas to explore include:
- Volkspark Friedrichshain close to the Marchenbrunnen Fountain.
- Volkspark Hasenheide during the daytime.
- Grunewald near the S-bahn station.
Getting around Berlin
Berlin is massive. There is no way you are going to be walking from place to place around the city.
The best option as a tourist will be to get a Berlin Welcomecard which covers your transport for a specified period of time (bus, tram, S-bahn and U-bahn) as well as giving you discounts on the most popular things to do.
You can choose how many days your ticket lasts, for example 4 days would be 34 euros. Check out all the options here.
Once you have your ticket, validate it in one of the machines and you are good to go. All transport is very regular and you can use google maps for up to date times and routes.
I loved Berlin! It left me exhausted but elated. When it comes to cities for a gaycation, this is up there with the best! Who else has been to Berlin, let me know your experiences.