THEGAYUK

Tag: Germany News

Get the latest LGBT+ Germany news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Germany.

  • 5 alternative gay-friendly cities to visit in 2021

    5 alternative gay-friendly cities to visit in 2021

    Many of us are eager to travel internationally again and 2021 is just around the corner. Once travel is safe and borders reopen, the question of where to visit next is top of mind. Major destinations like Paris, New York and London all have unrivalled gay scenes and are excellent cities to visit. However, there are endless fantastic places that are often overlooked in favour of their larger counterparts.

    Here are five of the best alternative cities to visit on your next adventure.

    Cologne

    Where in Germany is good for gay tourists?
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    Most visitors to Germany head straight for the capital Berlin but lying some 600km to the west on the banks of the Rhine River is one of the best alternative cities – Cologne. The eclectic range of Veedel or ‘city quarters’ are famed for their independent bookshops, fashionable restaurants and excellent bars – the most popular Veedel is the perennially cool Agnesviertel. You can even find a small collection of LGBT+ shops in Cologne including Best of, with gear like leather, rubber, gay underwear brands and accessories.

    Once the largest city in the Holy Roman Empire, today the city is one of Europe’s most underrated destinations for gay travelers. The Kölner Dom dominates the skyline and is the city’s primary attractions. It’s free to enter but don’t waste your money paying for admission to the tower. If you’re into art, then the Ludwig Museum hosts an impressive collection of modern exhibits and hosts an array of rotating guest shows.

    Manchester

    Where in Manchester is good for gay tourists?
    Photo by Nathan Hilton on Pexels.com

    Billed as the second city in the UK, Manchester is famed for Oasis, Emmeline Pankhurst and the world’s longest-running television drama – Coronation Street. The city is packed with excellent museums, fantastic restaurants and a world-famous gay scene – Canal Street. Manchester’s industrial past is evident in its red brick architecture which still adorns much of the city today, much of which is the canvas for some inspiring street art.

    To explore more of the city’s heritage then visit The People’s History Museum and the Museum of Science and History. The Whitworth Art Gallery and the Imperial War Museum North are another two informative, and free, places you should check out. The Northern Quarter is the city’s bohemian, queer district, filled with eclectic pubs, speakeasy cocktails bars and artisan coffee hangouts making Manchester one of the best alternative cities to visit in the UK.

    Austin

    Where in Austin texas is good for gay tourists?
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    The state capital of Texas is one of America’s underrated gems. The ‘Keep Austin Weird’ slogan can be seen emblazoned on shirts and stickers across the city – a show of determination of Austin’s residents to keep their city a beacon of bohemianism.

    While the city is short on traditional landmarks, there is an abundance of cultural activity taking place in the boutique bars, restaurants and cafes centered in the Downtown region. The University campus is well-worth visiting for its grand architecture – quite unique in Texas and if you enjoy the great outdoors then Barton Creek Greenbelt is just moments from the city center and will satisfy your trekking desires.

    Edinburgh

    city dawn sky sunset
    Photo by Andrej Zeman on Pexels.com

    Edinburgh has enchanted visitors for decades and its rugged scenery, cosy pubs and ancient architecture. While it retains its historic charms, it has also adopted a metropolitan vibe and today is an excellent choice for LGBT+ travellers. Though the city doesn’t have a particularly large gay scene, there are a few gay bars in town worth visiting where you can connect with locals. 

    One of the most popular events in the city is Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Attending for the event is the perfect reason to go on a holiday to Edinburgh to enjoy all the beautiful historical sights, landscapes and culinary delights while also getting knee deep in modern culture. This is Edinburgh’s Christmas, and the Fringe really is the gift that keeps on giving.

    You can also head beyond the capital by car or train and discover the magnificent Scottish Highlands. Inverness is the main city here and can be used as a base to explore the wild outdoors or you can rent a cosy mountain cabin or traditional cottage where you enjoy the beautify landscapes of Scotland. 

    Athens

    brown and white concrete buildings
    Photo by jimmy teoh on Pexels.com

    Despite the fact that Greece is one of the European countries still fighting for full marriage equality it still remains one of the most vibrant gay destinations spots in the world. Mykonos is perhaps the more well-known destination and traditional gay mecca but other Greek cities and islands are not to be missed. Of course, the capital city of Athens is home to the world-famous Acropolis along with a number of other excellent attractions. This ancient city is a collection of structures and fortifications – the most famous of which is The Parthenon. Make sure you also visit the Acropolis Museum, hosting a fantastic collection of Greek art.

    The Panathenaic Stadium & Olympic Stadium is the oldest ancient building in Athens and is a wonder to behold. Constructed in 335 BC it was the home of the Panathenaic Games and rebuilt in 1896 for the modern Olympics. It seats a staggering 60,000 spectators in its 47 tiers and it is the only stadium in the world which is built entirely of marble. Greek food is also fantastic and is actually much cheaper in the city than on the islands, so Athens is great for foodies on a budget.

    Auston runs the blog Two Bad Tourists and is also a freelance writer. His work has been featured in many publications including The Gay UK, Attitude Magazine, Edge Media Network, The Houston Chronicle and ManAboutWorld Magazine. 

  • TODAY IN GAY | Germany celebrates its first same-sex weddings

    TODAY IN GAY | Germany celebrates its first same-sex weddings

    Bodo Mende, 60, and partner Karl Kreile, 59 tied the knot in south Berlin on the first day where gay marriages were allowed. The law was changed just three months before the first weddings took place.

    Same-sex marriage became legal in Germany after Chancellor Angela Merkel changed her stance on the issue, before that, gay couple were only permitted to be civilly partnered.

    In 2015 Angela Merkel revealed her thoughts on same-sex marriage in an interview posted on YouTube. While she said she supported LGBT equality, it stopped at civil partnerships.

    By extending existing law to gay couples, they would automatically gain the same tax advantages and adoption rights as their straight counterparts.

  • TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | 1933: Nazis start the destruction of lesbian and gay culture in Germany

    TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | 1933: Nazis start the destruction of lesbian and gay culture in Germany

    Today in 1933 the Nazis started their war against the gay and lesbian community in Germany by confiscating materials from the Institute of Sexual Science. The institute’s works were destroyed as part of the regime’s censorship programme, by youth brigades.

    The organisation was opened in 1919 and key in collecting and collating data concerning sexuality, gender and psychology.

    The Nazis burned the books and documents on the streets of Berlin as part of their censorship policy.

    Students organized by the Nazi party parade in front of the building of the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin prior to pillaging it on May 6, 1933. They confiscated its books, photos and periodicals for burning. The Institute had been established by Magnus Hirschfeld, a Jewish homosexual doctor, as a center for sexology. It provided counselling and other services, and sought rights for homosexuals and transsexuals.

    The institute was opened by Magnus Hirschfeld and his collaborator Arthur Kronfeld in 1919.

    Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

    Magnus is also famous for coining the term transsexualism. The institute also employed transgender people. Pioneering modern sex reassignment surgeries were offered here in 1930.

    To find out more visit the wikipedia page

  • HOTEL REVIEW | Mövenpick Hotel Berlin

    ★★★★★ | Mövenpick Hotel Berlin

    Recently I was lucky enough to be able to visit Berlin for the annual Snax sportswear fetish party.

    While I was there, I made sure that I had a great place to stay for the night in order to get party-ready and to have somewhere to rest my head before taking the train home again. The Mövenpick Hotel in Berlin was the perfect answer. Since I knew I was going to be partying all night long on Saturday night, I booked Sunday night as well so I could get home from the club and sleep before taking my late-night train home. 

    The hotel is easy to find from several U or S-bahn stations in Berlin, or of course by taxi. The foyer is tastefully decorated and bright, furnished with comfortable sofas so that any time you might spend in the lobby is a pleasure.

    The Mövenpick hotels have developed the perfect room for people like me who have a hard time sleeping when things aren’t perfectly dark. Especially true when coming home after a long nights party and the sun has been up for a while already. The ‘sleep’ room has full blackout curtains and comes with a little package of goodies to help you sleep which includes an eye mask, herbal teas, chocolates, and little stickers that you can use to cover the standby lights of the devices in the room. Apart from all that, is probably the room’s best feature: the adjustable king size bed. The bed is split into two large beds which each have an electronic control which adjusts the firmness of the mattress. With the push of a button, you can sleep on something as hard as wood, or sink down into the mattress and be enveloped into a plush world of warm. Add to that the pillow selection from a form given when you book, which lets you choose the firmness of the pillows in your room, and the room is sure to give even the biggest insomniac a good night’s (or afternoon’s) sleep. This bed alone was enough for me to fall in love with this hotel. Coupled with the black-out ability of the room, I can say I have never had such a restful nights/afternoon’s sleep in a hotel when travelling. It really was a pleasure, and I wish I had spent more time there.

    Outside the room, the Mövenpick Berlin has a fully stocked cocktail bar and restaurant, as well as a buffet breakfast, which for me was a godsend after spending a few hours dancing at Snax. The best thing about Sunday morning breakfast is that it runs until 1 pm, so if you’re like me and like to spend all night out partying, you can safely return home to the hotel to get some food whenever you want. 

    The hotel staff are attentive and always ready to provide you with whatever you need. In my case, it was a lot of extra black tea and fresh milk, which I found waiting for me in my minibar upon my return from being out for the afternoon. 

    The Mövenpick hotel can be found on Schöneberger Straße, a short walk from the Anhalter S-Bahn station, or the Ubahn stations of Gleisdreieck, Mendelsohn-Bartholdy-Park, and Kochstrasse. Bookings can be made directly on the hotel website.

  • 4 things to do on a quiet weekend in Hamburg

    Hamburg, here we come.

    I’m not usually one for quiet weekends, for me, a quiet weekend usually means I didn’t go out Friday night but didn’t get home on Saturday night until Sunday afternoon. I had a weekend spare, and a friend of mine was having a birthday in Hamburg so I popped up and spent a couple of days touring the city on a surprisingly warm summer day, while still managing to fit in a night at a great club on the city’s party strip, the Reeperbahn. Aside from clubbing and meeting hot German boys, here are 4 things to do in Hamburg on a quiet weekend.

    Take a harbour tour. The city of Hamburg is home to the largest commercial harbour in Germany, and the third busiest in Europe. Unsurprisingly, this makes it Hamburg’s largest tourist attraction. Most of the attractions of Hamburg can be found around the water, in fact, the water is almost everywhere: the city has more bridges than any other city in the world, with 2300 bridges within the city limits. While Hamburg is a very walkable city, and there is plenty to see when you travel around the city by foot, but there is nothing quite like taking a harbour tour and seeing it all from the water. The harbour boat tour company Barkassen-Mayer provides several boat trips throughout the day, and are easily found along the main harbour terminal near the Hamburg Hard Rock Café. The tour takes about an hour and takes you past several interesting features of the harbour, including military installations and the largest ships to be found in the port.

    Take an open-topped bus tour with Red Double-Decker Busses. Like many cities, Hamburg has a hop-on-hop-off open-topped bus tour. The buses run all day long, and stops are all over the city. There’s even a helpful tour-guide to point out all the interesting things there are to see along the way. To make things easier, you can catch the bus at the main station, and take it down to the harbour to get the boat tour and continue the bus tour to another part of town. A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon when nothing much else is happening.

    Visit the Hamburg Miniature Wonderland. Not content with having the largest port in Germany or the most bridges in the world, Hamburg is also home to the world’s largest model railway. A really fun way to spend an afternoon – particularly on days when the weather isn’t the best for being outside.

    Visit the Elbphilharmonie viewing platform. While bookings to get seats inside the brand-new Hamburg Phil are booked out until sometime in mid-2019, the open-access viewing platform is open to the public for free every day. Free tickets are available online or from machines at the entrance.  These give you access to the 6th-floor viewing platform, which aside from providing a great view over the harbour, are also home to a number of great bars and restaurants which offer an excellent view with your dinner or drinks. After spending the weekend touring the city, a relaxing drink overlooking the harbour is the perfect way to wrap up a weekend in Hamburg.

    While staying in Hamburg, you’ll need a convenient and well-appointed hotel. The Radisson Blu Hamburg Airport is a great option as it puts you a short walk from the airport, and is on the metro line that runs directly to the main station and on to the main party district of Hamburg city. The Radisson offers the level of comfort you expect from a high-quality hotel. The rooms are spacious and the large beds are comfortable and probably can give you a great night’s sleep – but whoever came to Germany to use a bed to sleep? They do however offer a great bar in the lobby, and the breakfast buffet is also excellent, with a wide range of options to suit all your needs. I’m a particularly big fan of the whole smoked salmon, but that’s just me.

    The best way to get from A to B in Hamburg is the public transport system. Metro and buses run 24 hours to all parts of the city and there are handy machines at every metro station (including the one at the airport) where you can buy a Hamburg card which gives you unlimited travel on the HVV public transport system, as well as discounts on many museums, tours, and restaurants. Cards are also available online, can be purchased for groups of up to 5 people, and are valid for the day of purchase until 6 am the following day.

  • Germany celebrates first gay marriages


    Due to licensing this article must be read on our website

    Germany celebrates its first gay marriages Sunday as same-sex unions become legal after decades of struggle, but campaigners say the battle for equal rights isn’t over yet. Wedding bells will ring out in Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover and other German cities where local authorities will exceptionally open their doors on a Sunday to allow gay couple to… (more…)

  • TRAVEL | 25 Hours in Berlin

    When the 25 Hours Hotel opened in the City West of Berlin, it added a note of culture, nature and cosmopolitan all under the roof of what used to be a 1950’s grotty industrial office building.

    I could probably count on one hand the number of fun hotels that I’ve stayed at and this is definitely one of them. The hotel is neighbours with the iconic Berlin Zoo and so the theme of being in a jungle is carefully distinct especially with a personal hammock in your room to crafty spaces to lounge, dine and drink. Since the cocktail scene in Berlin has taken off and caught up in the growing desire for craft drinks and an obsession with rooftop bars, this hotel plays host to the popular Monkey Bar and Neni Restaurant – both positioned on the 10th floor with 360-degree panoramic views of bustling Berlin.

    Along with my guest, we are often suspicious of hotel restaurants and long lines of people waiting to gain entry into any bar however whilst dining at Neni with one of South Australia’s renowned food bloggers our doubts rapidly melted away into the leafy surroundings and heavenly balagan style dishes. After dinner which was showered with dramatic views and superb service we cut across the corridor and entered the Monkey Bar where we immediately noticed why the line to get into this celebrated bar was impressive – even on a random Tuesday night.

    When you eventually pull yourself away from the hotel you can adventurously explore Berlin with one of the hotel’s bikes or even one of their Minis (yep this is one of the impressive perks for guests). Make your way to the former East and weave through the updated streets until you arrive at the Hackesche Höfe.

    Once you have worked up an appetite the simply named Hackesche Hof Restaurant & Café is one of the areas favoured dining spots where a feast of people watching and exceptional food and drink are served. This restaurant has some impressive photos of the area which makes a dining experience here quite classical. Also nestled in this courtyard area is The Chämaleon Theater a unique theatre stylishly set in an art nouveau ballroom where cabaret style seating allows guests to eat and drink during performances. Hosting the latest contemporary circus creations such as the charismatic Scotch & Soda, described as a whiskey-fuelled circus party accompanied by live music.  The Chämaleon Theater continues to break all language barriers by welcoming the arrival of the forthcoming show Parade where acrobatics meet multimedia.

    British Airways conveniently has a direct route from London City airport to Berlin Tegel, however, be warned with all the monkey business in Berlin you will need more than 25 hours in this whimsical city.

     

  • THEGAYUK Meets… Male Fashion Blogger Mr Matthew

    At the beginning of the German Summer, I had the pleasure of visiting the city of Dresden for the local Pride Festival, known locally as Christopher Street Day (CSD) after the street in New York which is home to the infamous Stonewall Hotel.

    I caught up with local fashionista Mister Matthew, to discuss being a male fashion blogger in a small city in Germany. Mister Matthew’s blog (in German) is a great source of fashion advice for men wanting to give their wardrobe a bit of European flair.

    Aaron Holloway: Why did you decide to make a fashion blog?

    Mister Matthew: I always liked to show myself on the internet. But one day, social media was not enough anymore. My boyfriend taught me the idea of creating a place on the internet, where I can do whatever I want, where I can be the boss, the leader. He created a website for me and thought me some things about web hosting. Since that day, it was in May 2014, I have my own Blog. To write about the topic of fashion was quite clear because I always loved to dress myself up. I spend hours and hours with choosing the right piece of clothing. So I made fashion and style the main topics of my Blog. But there are a lot of more things that I am talking about, just like cosmetics, travel, lifestyle, events and so on.

    AH: What makes your blog different from others?

    MM: There are so many female fashion blogger in the scene it is almost scary. As a male fashion blogger, I am a bit more unique, which I like. I do not like to compare myself too much with different bloggers, but if I have to, I need to say that I make a painting for every outfit that I show on my blog, which is quite unique. With my blog and my fashion, I always try to be political or maybe provocatively. For example last year I showed a burka experiment on my Blog, which was quite crazy.

    AH: Is Dresden a fashion city?

    MM: Not really, no. I like the architecture and the sense of art from the city. Dresden is a really nice place to live, but not a fashion city. In relation to London, Paris and Milano, Dresden is just like the people never ever heard of something more than just basic-fashion. Sometimes it’s quite depressing, sometimes It’s good because I can be more unique that way.

    AH: What is your favourite item of clothing?

    MM: My favourite item of clothing is a huge, heavy, beautiful coat. I just love autumn and winter, because I love the fashion in it so much. I could not live without a real good coat. It always looks nice in combination with leather shoes.

    AH: What would you say is the best part of your job?

    MM: The people. My Blog/my job brought me together with so many beautiful people, just like you. Writers, readers, photographers, designer, blogger… the list is endless. I just love to meet or get in contact with people because of my Blog. There have been so many in the last 3 years, it’s insane. I meet the most people because of my Blog at Fashion Weeks or Events.

    AH: What is the best Fashion Event to travel to?

    MM: I think it depends on what kind of fashion and what kind of events do you like. Some people like it bigger, some people like it smaller. For me, Berlin Fashion Week was the best Fashion Event for me to travel to. But I am pretty sure, there will be different events in the future that I’ll like more.

    AH: What is the best perk of being a blogger?

    MM: The benefit I like the most is the fact that I am able to manage my time by myself. I do not have a boss or something. I do not have a strict work plan. That is quite refreshing and after 12 years of school just really cool.

    AH: Are you given the clothes you feature on your blog or are they personal items that you love?

    MM: It’s a mixture of both things. I show a lot of things that I bought for myself, of course. But I also get featured with fashion from different labels and designers. To be honest: I really love it to get fashion for free, because I love fashion so much. And at the end of every month, my money is empty because I freaked out at the shop around the corner.

    AH: What advice would you have for people interested in being a blogger?

    MM: Just be yourself and please: be as much as creative as possible. I think the blogger scene could need a little bit more of creativity.

    AH: Where can we see more of Mister Matthew?

    MM: On my Blog, of course, or at the German television series “Diktator”, that aired a few months ago on German Television.

  • Four totally gay things to do in Hamburg

    We sent Travel Editor, Nick Baker to Hamburg, to find out how gay it was…

    I’m a big fan of exploring new cities, and when you book a trip to Germany there are a few cities that pop to the forefront of your mind. You may fancy the hipster-chic of Berlin, or the traditional beer-fest that is Bavaria, and so cities like Hamburg are often overlooked.

    Amidst the melee of middle-class stag dos, I stumbled onto the streets of Hamburg. Striving to slightly distinguish itself from the hipster-haven that is Berlin, Hamburg has a nautical history that is evident in most of its decor. Since 80% of the city was obliterated by bombings during World War II, the millennial-style spaces inhabit less-than-ancient warehouses and dockyards.

    The gay scene is different in every city in every country around the world, so don’t expect Hamburg to be just like any other German city. Here are a few of the totally gay things you should try and do whilst you’re in Hamburg.

    1. The Drinking!

    You can, of course, go day drinking, in fact, we would highly recommend that you do given the city’s excellent selection of beers. However, don’t expect there to be a bustling gay crowd during the day, even on the weekend. The Germans love to go drinking and they love to go partying, but unlike the Brits, they don’t start early. Bars won’t get busy until about 10 pm and the clubs won’t even tend to open until about 2 am.

    2.  The Saunas

    Again, of course, you can go to one of Hamburg’s gay saunas at night, but the crowd is better during the day… I’ve been told. My sources say that the best time to hit up a gay sauna in Hamburg is Sunday afternoon when people have recovered enough from the night before. Getting in at 6 am means that it will be a few hours before many of the good gays resurface and head to the sauna to sweat out the sin from the night before.

    3. Towel Policy

    Here our British modesty tends to be our downfall, but when in Rome (Hamburg), do as the Romans (Hamburgers). No one wears a towel in the sauna, whether it’s a gay sauna or the one at your hotel. And while you may not enjoy an eyeful of that old straight guy’s crotch, there’s no reason not to give him a sneaky peak of the goods while you can. You might just make his day.

    4. Hotelling LGBT Style

    While we are proud to support the LGBT-friendly hotels that have become a staple mark of Hamburg’s gay district, you don’t need to limit yourself to the hotels in St. Georg. There are plenty of cool, trendy, friendly, hipster hotels dotted around the city that are never too far away from the gay parties. I stayed at the adorably chic 25Hours Hotel in HafenCity, which wasn’t necessarily the closest location to the gay scene, but was easily one of the coolest hotels I’ve ever stayed in.

    Designed with a distinctive maritime theme, it oozed millennial and was a great place to hang out (especially when your bloody Easyjet flight isn’t until 9:45pm and your checkout time was at noon). Free wifi, portable speakers you can take around town with you, and a short ride to St. Georg on the nearby 24-hour Meßberg underground.

    Plus they make THE best soy latte that I’ve ever had!

    Check out Hamburg Tourism for more information on Hamburg, and you can find out more about the Hamburg Lesbian and Gay scene here.

  • Germany votes to allow same-sex marriages

    German same-sex couples are one step closer to being able to legally get married.

    Although gay couples can have civil partnerships at the moment, the law does not permit same-sex marriages.

    MPs in Germany voted overwhelmingly to legalise gay marriage on the last day of June. Nearly four hundred MPs voted in favour of allowing same-sex marriage. The votes were split: 393 members of parliament voted in favour of the bill, with 296 voting against and 4 abstentions.

    Up until now same-sex couples in Germany were only able to get a civil partnership.

    Legal code in Germany will now be changed to read “Marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same sex.”

    Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel was on of the MPs who voted against the law – having all set out her thoughts that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. During a YouTube interview she said, ” “For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. That is my concept, but I support civil partnerships.”

  • 4 Gay Things NOT To Do In Hamburg

    4 Gay Things NOT To Do In Hamburg

    I’m a big fan of exploring new cities, and when you book a trip to Germany there are a few cities that pop to the forefront of your mind. You may fancy the hipster-chic of Berlin, or the traditional beer-fest that is Bavaria, and so cities like Hamburg are often overlooked.

    Amidst the melee of middle-class stag dos, I stumbled onto the soggy streets of Hamburg. Striving to slightly distinguish itself from the hipster-haven that is Berlin, Hamburg has a nautical history that is evident in most of its decor. Since 80% of the city was obliterated by bombings during World War II, the millennial-style spaces inhabit less-than-ancient warehouses and dockyards.

    The gay scene is different in every city in every country around the world, so don’t expect Hamburg to be just like any other German city. Here are a few things you should not expect to be able to do whilst visiting Hamburg.

    1. DON’T go day gay drinking

    You can, of course, go day drinking, in fact, we would highly recommend that you do given the city’s excellent selection of beers. However, don’t expect there to be a bustling gay crowd during the day, even on the weekend. The Germans love to go drinking and they love to go partying, but unlike the Brits, they don’t start early. Bars won’t get busy until about 10 pm and the clubs won’t even tend to open until about 2 am. So while a casual day gay drink on Lange Reihe would be nice, it won’t be especially exciting.

    2. DON’T go to a sauna at night

    Again, of course, you can go to one of Hamburg’s gay saunas at night, but the crowd is better during the day… I’ve been told. My sources say that the best time to hit up a gay sauna in Hamburg is Sunday afternoon when people have recovered enough from the night before. Getting in at 6 am means that it will be a few hours before many of the good gays resurface and head to the sauna to sweat out the sin from the night before.

    3. DON’T wear a towel at the sauna

    Here our British modesty tends to be our downfall, but when in Rome (Hamburg), do as the Romans (Hamburgers). No one wears a towel in the sauna, whether it’s a gay sauna or the one at your hotel. And while you may not enjoy an eyeful of that old straight guy’s crotch, there’s no reason not to give him a sneaky peak of the goods while you can. You might just make his day.

    4. DON’T only stay in gay hotels

    While we are proud to support the LGBT-friendly hotels that have become a staple mark of Hamburg’s gay district, you don’t need to limit yourself to the hotels in St. Georg. There are plenty of cool, trendy, friendly, hipster hotels dotted around the city that are never too far away from the gay parties. I stayed at the adorably chic 25Hours Hotel in HafenCity, which wasn’t necessarily the closest location to the gay scene, but was easily one of the coolest hotels I’ve ever stayed in.

    Designed with a distinctive maritime theme, it oozed millennial and was a great place to hang out (especially when your bloody Easyjet flight isn’t until 9:45pm and your checkout time was at noon). Free wifi, portable speakers you can take around town with you, and a short ride to St. Georg on the nearby 24-hour Meßberg underground.

    Plus they make THE best soy latte that I’ve ever had!

    Check out Hamburg Tourism for more information on Hamburg, and you can find out more about the Hamburg Lesbian and Gay scene here.