Gay Hamburg Travel Guide: In this Gay Hamburg Travel Guide I will share the best gay bars in Hamburg, where to find the main gay areas, gay hotels, saunas, the gay scene and share my experience of Hamburg CSD (Pride).
When it comes to the best gay cities in Germany, Hamburg has a lot to offer. I was lucky to experience gay Hamburg at it’s fullest, during Hamburg Pride (CSD)…
Prior to my visit, I knew absolutely nothing about Hamburg, let alone what to expect from ‘gay Hamburg’. I didn’t know Hamburg is actually the second largest city in Germany, after Berlin. And I certainly didn’t know it offers one of the biggest and best Pride parades, with over 15,000 participants, plus spectators!
I soon realised that whilst not having the same widespread reputation as the gay scene in Berlin or Cologne (see my Gay Cologne Travel Guide), Hamburg is just as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and still has a vibrant and diverse gay-scene. And just like Berlin, Pride aside, there was a lot to do and see during my time here.
During my time in Hamburg, I was hosted and supported by Hamburg Tourism, who really helped me to see what the city has to offer.
This guide will help you to find the best Hamburg gay bars, gay clubs, places to stay, as well as recommend some activities to fill your time. Hopefully you will find my ‘Gay Hamburg Travel Guide’ useful!
In a rush? Quick gay Berlin travel tips:
- Is Hamburg gay friendly? – Yes, like much of Germany
- Main gay area – St Georg
- Best gay bars – M&V Bar, Toms Saloon.
- Best time to visit – Summer (Pride & Vogelball).
Gay Area of Hamburg
The official gay area of Hamburg is found in the St.Georg district, where the majority of gay bars, clubs and even a couple of saunas are located.
The Christopher Street Day/Pride parade also starts here, travelling down the renowned shopping street ‘Lange Reihe’ which is the heart of the St. Georg district. It’s also on the Lange Reihe where you see most of the gay establishments, proudly flying the rainbow flag.
A few gay bars and clubs can also be found in St.Pauli, which is home to Europes largest red-light district ‘Reeperbahn’. Whilst Reeperbahn is mainly home to hetero-focused bars and night-clubs, a lot of these venues do host LGBTQ+ party nights, especially during Pride season.
Best Gay Bars in Hamburg
Hamburg has an extensive gay nightlife scene, with a variety of bars and dance clubs to suit everyone. Let’s start with the best gay bars in St Georg.
M&V Bar
Whilst most definitely a gay bar first and foremost, M&Vs message is ‘offen fur alle’ – meaning ‘open to all’.
This bar is a household name in St.Georg, and is very popular on a weekend when it holds a dance party.
M&V Bar is also situated on Lange Reihe.
Address: Lange Reihe 22, 20099 Hamburg, Germany
Pick Up Gay Bar
PickUp bar markets itself as a ‘no-frills, basement’ bar, located close to the main train station. The crowd here is often mixed – businessmen, workers, the young gay crowd, to artists and hipsters.
PickUp bar is known for its reasonable drinks prices, and buzzing vibe!
Address: Zimmerpforte 2, 20099 Hamburg, Germany
Bellini Bar
Bellini Bar is one of the long-standing gay bars in St.Georg, open since 2002. The bar prides itself on good music, tasteful design, and perfect service, making this a great choice to meet up with a friend and relax.
Bellini Bar has an extensive drinks menu; I would definitely opt for something off their cocktail menu!
Address: Danziger Straße 63, 20099 Hamburg, Germany
Gay Bars in St.Pauli
The bars above are all located within St.Georg, and are amongst the most popular within Hamburg, but more bars can be found in St. Pauli.
The most popular gay bar in St Pauli is Wunderbar – known for great DJs and fabulous weekend parties – and Olivia Jones Bar – a well-established drag show, cabaret and comedy venue (although bear in mind the shows are in German!)
Gay Late Night Bars in Hamburg
Much like Berlin, Hamburg has a very positive, open-minded and embracing attitude, and this is reflected in the nightlife scene with a selection of gay late night bars to choose from.
S.L.U.T Club – Surely the name here says it all??! This is a men-only club with a very strict dress code depending on the themed night.
Toms Saloon – Toms Saloon is the oldest gay bar in Hamburg, open since 1974, and was in fact named after ‘Tom of Finland’ who came to Hamburg in the early 1970s. Nowadays the bar is famous for housing the largest, private collection of Tom of Finland originals.
Inside there are 3 rooms. Firstly, the main bar, decorated with the famous drawings. The second room is another drinking room but with movies playing. And of course, there are even more rooms to explore and enjoy.
Even if this is not your sort of place, it is definitely worth a visit purely for the main bar area and to visit the Tom of Finland gallery, which is so iconic!
Gay Saunas in Hamburg
If the cruising bars aren’t enough for you, there are 3 gay saunas in Hamburg to choose from:
- Dragon Sauna – Dragon Sauna has been open for over 20 years, and is in the heart of St.Georg. Spread across 2 floors, Dragon Sauna features a Finnish sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and a bar.
- Apollo Sauna – Slightly smaller, Apollo is popular with the slightly older crowd. Apollo offers a steam room, dry sauna etc
- Mens Heaven Sauna – Mens Heaven is larger than the others, spread across 4 levels. Inside you will find a sauna, steam room, and a TV and lounge area. It is also popular for its inhouse massage service.
Mens Heaven also has themed events from time to time, such as a Foam Party on weekends.
Gay Friendly Hotels in Hamburg
Whilst there doesn’t seem to be any outright ‘gay hotels’ in Hamburg, given the inherent gay-friendly nature of Hamburg, almost every hotel will be welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers.
However, there are some hotels that tend to be the go-to choices, and it is hardly surprising that many of these are close to the St. Georg area.
These are my top choices for accommodation whilst in Hamburg:
Hotel Wedina
During my stay I was hosted by Hamburg Tourism, and the Hotel Wedina was one of the properties hosting me. If you want a unique hotel with a lot of character this is the one to choose!
The hotel has four different buildings, each with their own style of architecture, room type, and individual décor in each room.
Much of the hotel has been recently renovated and they offer everything from compact rooms, to duplex rooms you could easily live in!
The staff here are also really friendly and the breakfast was excellent. Also making this a top choice, the hotel is within walking distance of all the gay bars of St. Georg!
Superbude Hotel St Georg
Superbude was the second property hosting me during my visit.
I couldn’t have been happier with my stay at Superbude, it markets itself as such to let guests know that it is a trendy boutique hotel, at an affordable price.
Superbude is aimed at all types of traveller – solo travellers, backpackers, business guests, and even groups as they have rooms sleeping up to 6 people.
What I loved here was the innovative design and décor – plungers on the walls designed as coat hooks, chairs in the lounge made from wheelbarrows – it was a quirky, fun, trendy hotel with a very cool vibe. And I loved that they were flying the rainbow flag during Pride!
ARCOTEL Rubin
I have included this hotel due to its location, right in the heart of St. Georg, and just a short walk from various gay bars.
ARCOTEL is a very modern, contemporary hotel, and is popular with gay guests thanks to the onsite fitness room, spa and sauna.
It is also great value for money, even given its great location!
Hamburg Gay Pride/Christopher Street Day
I did not know what to expect from Hamburg Pride, but I was shocked by the size of it! To someone like me, it felt equally as big and busy as Berlin!
Hamburg Pride is usually a week long, with various events such as a Boat Parade to kick Pride Week off, finishing with the main party and Pride Parade on the first Saturday in August.
My highlights of Hamburg Pride included:
Hamburg Pride Parade
The parade was amazing, and to me felt almost as busy as Berlin! The parade route starts in St. Georg, travelling down the Lange Reihe, through the streets of Hamburg and ending at Binnenalster Lake.
Just like in Berlin, I drank in the street and it didn’t take long for me to find a float that was playing music I liked and I soon joined in and danced alongside!
Hamburg Pride – CSD Street Festival
One of the highlights of Hamburg Pride is definitely the Street Festival, which takes place Friday – Sunday of the Pride Weekend.
This is usually held at Jungfernstieg, which runs alongside the bottom edge of the Binnenalster Lake. The area is filled with stages, bars, food trucks, and even a DJ and small dance floor. Given that this is where the parade route finishes, most people tend to follow the parade and then spend the rest of their Saturday night dancing here.
Vogelball
Each year during Pride Week the Vogelball takes place, and this year celebrated its 9th year.
The Vogelball is essentially a large, queer masquerade ball/electronic music festival. Full of confetti, elaborate costume and glitter, Vogelball usually attracts a few thousand partygoers, and has a well-known lineup of headliners.
Hamburg Winter Pride
Hamburg Winter Pride is an annual event, running for almost a month from the end of November to just after Christmas. Essentially a ‘gay Christmas market’, Winter Pride is held on Lange Reihe in St. Georg. Locals and tourists get together to enjoy Gluhwein, food, Christmas shopping, and dance to the DJ on Fridays and Saturdays.
Getting around Hamburg
I was not expecting Hamburg to be so big – I didn’t know it was the second largest city in Germany! And just like Berlin, there is no way I can walk from place to place when sightseeing.
The easiest way to travel is with the Hamburg CARD. As well as providing unlimited public transport on both the U/S Bahn train, bus and ferry, it also gives up to 50% discount on a variety of popular tourist attractions, as well as discount in various restaurants.
The Hamburg CARD can be purchased online, from any of the transport ticket machines, or from a tourist information office.
Prices vary depending on whether a single person wants to use the card, as well as how many days it is needed.
For full information on the Hamburg card, click here.
Things to do for Gay Travellers in Hamburg
Although I was primarily visiting Hamburg for Pride, I still wanted to spend some time being a regular tourist, and enjoying what the city has to offer. I was not disappointed!
Hamburg is a beautiful city, and has plenty to keep me entertained as a tourist. Here are my top recommendations:
Elbphilharmonie Plaza
The Elbphilharmonie is a concert hall, found in the Hafencity district of Hamburg. One of the tallest buildings in Hamburg, it is actually one of the largest concert halls, and one of the most acoustically advanced in the world.
The 8th floor of the building, the Elbphilharmonie Plaza, is an observation deck, and is open to the public. The Plaza provides an incredible view of the River Elbe, the modern HafenCity area of the city, and the harbour itself.
For security reasons only a certain number of people are allowed in the Plaza at any one time, so tickets are required to visit. Tickets are free if arranged through the office onsite (only available for the same day and you may need to wait depending on availability), or can be purchased online for 2 euros (no queuing and you can arrange for a future date).
Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland is home to the worlds largest model railway, and has been voted as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany. It is very impressive to see how much work has gone into creating the models, and how intricate all the pieces are.
The attraction is divided into sections, each one a replica of a country or city in miniature size! Examples include floating gondolas in Venice, moving ski lifts in Switzerland, and even a miniature airport!
Red Double Decker Bus Tour – ‘Die Roten Doppeldecker’
Red, double-decker, open-top buses are now part and parcel of city sight-seeing all over the world. Die Roten Doppeldecker has been operating in Hamburg for over 40 years, and today is one of the most popular ways of seeing the major sights of the city.
There are a variety of tours to choose from, all operating on a ‘hop-on hop-off’ system during the day if you wish to spend longer at any given attraction. Commentary is given live in German, with a GPS-controlled audio commentary also provided via headsets in 9 further languages.
Harbour Cruise
Hamburg Harbour is a major part of the city. Part of it has been declared a UNESCO World-Heritage site, it features many well-known and unknown bridges, container terminals, historic cargo ships and more.
A harbour cruise is the best way of seeing all these up close, as well as a waterside view of the Elbphilharmonie and the HafenCity district.
Gay rights in Germany
LGBTQ+ rights in Germany are some of the best found in Europe. To summarise:
- Gender identity: changes are legal, no need for surgery.
- Discrimination protections: yes
- Marriage: yes since 2017
- Adoption: yes since 2017
Laws and protections aside, the general attitude towards LGBTQ+ people in Germany is more than just tolerant, but rather welcoming.
Hamburg certainly took my expectations and blew them away. If you are looking for a slightly lesser known gay city break, and fancy trying somewhere a little different, I strongly recommend you check out Hamburg! I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!