Gay Barcelona · City Guide

 

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and is the second-largest city in Spain. Barcelona is also the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast. Rich in cultural heritage, Barcelona has a global reputation and is a major tourist destination. Famous attractions are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech I Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The city also boasts a lively and vibrant gay scene with LGBT+ individuals living openly and proudly. There is a plethora of gay bars, clubs and hotels and there is no shortage of fun to be had in Barcelona.

Gay Rights in Spain

When it comes to gay rights, Spain is one of the most progressive countries in the world, although this reflects dramatic changes that have only occurred in recent decades.

The age of consent is 16 for everyone. Same-sex marriage is legal. Same-sex couples can adopt children. Gay men can serve openly in the military and LGBT visibility exists in most areas. There are anti-discrimination laws for employment, provision of goods and services and against hate speech.

Gay Scene

Barcelona has a vibrant gay scene with numerous bars, cruise clubs, saunas, nightclubs and regular large-scale dance parties. The Barcelona LGBT festival is usually held in late June with the community coming together for a week of culture, sport, entertainment and celebrations. In recent years, Barcelona has become Europe's gay summer party hot spot (taking that title from Ibiza). The annual Circuit Festival - held over 10 days in August attracts tens of thousands of the best-looking guys from around the world to take part in this amazing event.

Most of Barcelona’s gay bar & clubs are within the "Gaixample" district. This is a three-block area north of Gran Via Del Les Corts Catalanes between Urgil and Universitat metro stations. The neighbourhood is home to some of the city's biggest and most popular gay venues including Pervert Club and Arena Madre. 

You can read the Travel Gay guide to the "Gaixample" district here.

Gay hotels in Barcelona

Barcelona is home to some of the worlds most stunning boutique hotels and accommodations, many of which are housed in the city's gothic and modernist buildings. These locations provide the perfect romantic destination for gay travelers wanting to experience Barcelona in style. Hotels such as the Alma Barcelona, Mandarin Oriental and The Grand Hotel Calderon all offer guests a luxurious stay in one of the city's grandest neighbourhoods, Passeig de Gràcia.

Of course, there is a range of hotels for all gay travelers and for those with a smaller budget, there are multiple gorgeous hotels located in and around the "Gaixample" district. These hotels offer guests an affordable base from which to explore all that "Gaixample" has to offer.

Most hotels in Barcelona can be considered gay-friendly as staff must treat all guests the same regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, as outline in the country's anti-discrimination laws.

Gay saunas in Barcelona

Barcelona boasts a large selection of gay saunas, many of which are open 24/7. One such example is Sauna Casanova, a large and well-maintained sauna with a central location. Sauna Casanova attracts large crowds of both locals and tourists and is open 24 hours. The sauna boasts a range of facilities including open showers, dry sauna, steam room and 6-man jacuzzi.

Saunas such as Casanova can be found easily in Barcelona and tend to be welcoming and inclusive.

Gay massage in Barcelona

There are numerous gay massage venues and services throughout Barcelona, and the majority offer goof-quality massages in clean and comfortable environments.

Under Pressure Massage is Barcelona's gay massage institute and is conveniently located in the "Gaixample" district and close to many of the city's landmarks. A range of massages and therapies are on offer at Under Pressure Massage including deep tissue procedures.

Gay Massage Barcelona is a male massage venue specialising in erotic, tantric and sensual massages. The studio is located in the city centre and hosts a mix of local and foreign clients. Gay Massage Barcelona is one of the city's top-rated massage services.

Getting to Barcelona

Barcelona is served by Barcelona El Prat Airport which is located about 17 km from the city centre. It is the second-largest airport in Spain and offers connections to most major European destinations. There are relatively few long-haul flights from Barcelona. Travellers from Asia are likely to need to fly via a major European hub.

There are two terminals. Terminal One opened in 2009 and is one of the largest in the world. Terminal Two is the older, original terminal.

The most popular and convenient method for tourists to get to the city is by taxi.  These are available immediately outside of the terminals. Expect to pay around €35 to get into the city centre.

Terminal 2 has its own train station on the line which runs to Barcelona Sants railway station and the fairly central Passeig de Gràcia railway station to provide transfer to the Barcelona Metro system. The initial journey costs €4.10. Passengers for T1 must take a connecting bus from the train station to Terminal 2.

Getting around Barcelona

Bus

Buses are an efficient way of getting around Barcelona and have the added bonus of allowing you to view the city as you travel. Buses can be stopped at shelters by waving at the driver to indicate that you'd like to board. Tickets are generally inexpensive and passes can be purchased for weekends and weekdays.

Metro

The most popular way to travel amongst locals, the metro is frequent, cheap and fast, making it the perfect travel alternative. Tickets can be purchased with either cash or card and the majority of stations are completely accessible for users of reduced mobility.

Taxi

Barcelona's official taxis are black with yellow doors and tend to be cheaper than alternatives such as uber, although such services are still popular and efficient.

Things to do in Barcelona

There are limitless possibilities when it comes to things to do in Barcelona. However, the most important attractions include:

 

 

• Wander down Las Ramblas
• Soak up the wonder of Sagrada Familia
• Explore Gaudi at Casa Batllo
• Spend the day on one of the city's beaches
• Shop at La Boqueria
• Catch a football game at Camp Nou
• Be immersed in the Barcelona City History Museum

 

 

FAQs

Visa

As Spain is a European Union member state, travelers from other countries within the union can enter the country without a visa. However, travelers outside of the EU will need to apply for a Schengen Visa, which permits travel throughout the Schengen Visa region. Check the visa requirements for travelers from your country before traveling.

Money

The currency in Spain is the Euro. Cash dispensers are widely available. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Photo ID may be required if paying by card in some shops.

Tipping is not an expected practice in Barcelona and as such most locals only tip when they feel they have received great service. If you do want to tip service providers, then 5% is standard for great service and 10% for excellent.

When to visit

Spring is generally considered the best time to visit Barcelona as the temperature tends to be warm, but nowhere near the highs experienced in peak summer months, and the city is usually less congested with tourists. A range of fascinating cultural events and festivals take place in the spring which offer something for every gay traveler.