Barcelona’s largest and most popular gay beach is Platja de la Mar Bella located at the far left of the beaches (facing the sea) closest to metro stop Poblenou (line 4). However, with the great weather, slews of tourist sites and can’t miss annual events, the beaches really are a great addition to the city offering an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a cocktail or afternoon meal. Overall, the city’s beaches aren’t the best the country has to offer.
Platja de la Mar Bella – Barcelona, Spainīarcelona is one of Spain’s top gay destinations in part due to its unique blend of big city life and relaxing beach vibe. After walking down several flights of stairs, you’ll arrive at a wide stretch of sand, complete with a beach bar offering drinks and sunbeds for rent. This beach is located within a cove so it’s not as visible from the main road. You’ll find a mix of both nude and non-nude sunbathers here, so anything goes. It’s probably the 2nd most popular gay beach. Also located in Sitges is Platja dela Balmins, the primary nude beach. However, Playa De la Bassa Rodona is the official gay beach and preferred by most speedo-wearing, six-pack-flaunting, bronzed gay men. Since the town as a whole is incredibly gay-friendly, you’ll find LGBT beachgoers at most of the 17 beaches. Playitas Beach – Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica Playa De la Bassa Rodona – Sitges, SpainĪ beautiful, small, gay-friendly town 45 minutes south of Barcelona, Sitges is a perfect spot for long stretches of white sandy beaches. Ipanema Farme de Amoedo Beach – Rio de Janeiro, BrazilĢ5. Playa de los Muertos – Puerto Vallarta, MexicoĢ3. Baker Beach – San Francisco (California), USAġ8. Herring Cove/Race Point – Provincetown (Massachusetts), USAġ6. Queens’ Riis Park Beach – New York, USAġ4. Atlantic Beach – San Juan, Puerto Ricoġ3. Laurent d’Eze Beach – Eze (Nice), Franceġ2. 12th Street Beach – Miami (Florida), USAġ1. Ginger Rogers Beach – Los Angeles (California), USAġ0. Sebastian Street Beach, Fort Lauderdale (Florida), USAĩ. El Gato/Eden Beach – Torremolinos, Spainħ. Platja de la Mar Bella – Barcelona, SpainĦ. Playa De la Bassa Rodona – Sitges, SpainĢ. All, however, are great spots to enjoy the summer sun along with other friendly, like-minded LGBT beachgoers. Some lean towards clothing-optional, others have cruising areas and a handful of these top gay beaches are mixed among the hetero-friendly ones. Some beaches are secluded and difficult to reach, while others are found right in the heart of popular gay-friendly destinations. We’ve actually been to almost all of these beaches and highly recommend you add them to your travel itinerary. From North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe, to Oceania and even Africa, these are the best gay beaches in the world. Over the past 8 years, we’ve traveled the world in search of some of the best gay beaches. Even better is finding a gay-friendly beach where you can truly be yourself without fear of judgment or harassment due to your sexual orientation. Sadly, Pat and Nancy have both passed away, but the Wild Side West continues to be lesbian-owned and committed to continuing their legacy and spirit.Nothing beats a nice, relaxing day at the beach soaking up the sun and taking a dip in the cool waters. The art pieces have changed and grown organically over the years, and you will always see something new or different around. The Wild Side West has continued to build up its signature art-covered walls, ceiling, and outdoor sculpture garden. Likewise, the bar owner and staff are actively engaged in the community. Pat and Nancy took these items and turned them into art, decorating the beer garden downstairs and defiantly refusing to back down.īernal Heights has become an amazingly welcoming, diverse neighborhood that embraces the bar and its GLBT pride. At that time, being out and running a lesbian bar was still a radical act, and a few neighbors at first protested by leaving broken toilets and dumping other household objects in front of the bar. The Wild Side West moved to its current location in Bernal Heights in 1976. Founded by out and proud lesbians Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White, the bar originally opened in Oakland as the Wild Side after the Barbara Stanwyck film "Walk on the Wild Side".
The Wild Side West has been a San Francisco Bay Area local lesbian bar since 1962.