LGBTQ+ Travel Guides, Gay Bars & Hotels Worldwide

Just inside the old city walls behind Sendlinger Tor, Hotel Altmünchen by Blattl puts you in a very useful spot between Munich sightseeing and LGBTQ nightlife. Glockenbachviertel begins just to the south, while Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt are easily walkable in the other direction. This is a small independent hotel with just 36 individually furnished rooms, giving it a more personal feel than the chains nearby. Recent updates have included new beds, mattresses and improved WiFi, while there’s also a hotel bar and a covered courtyard lounge for a quieter drink. The U-Bahn and trams at Sendlinger Tor make the rest of Munich straightforward, although much of what you'll want on a short city break is close enough to reach on foot. GayMapper tip: One of the most convenient all-round locations in Munich if you want the gay bars, Old Town and Oktoberfest all within easy reach.

Right beside Metropolitan Avenue subway station, Hotel Indigo Williamsburg - Brooklyn makes it easy to enjoy Brooklyn without feeling cut off from Manhattan. Williamsburg’s bars, restaurants and galleries surround you, while the alternative LGBTQ nightlife spread across Williamsburg and Bushwick is much closer than the traditional gay scenes of Midtown or Greenwich Village. Inside, local street art and neighbourhood references give the hotel a stronger sense of place than the average chain property. There’s a fitness centre, complimentary bike hire and three places to eat and drink, while the outdoor pool is a major bonus during New York’s warmer months. Larger rooms and suites can also deliver sweeping views over Brooklyn towards Manhattan. GayMapper tip: One of the better choices for a summer Brooklyn trip – particularly if a proper outdoor pool sounds appealing after a hot day exploring the city.

Number 31 feels more like being invited into an exceptionally stylish Dublin home than checking into a conventional hotel. Hidden away near St Stephen’s Green, it combines a Georgian townhouse with a rather fabulous modernist mews, with just 22 individually designed rooms. The location is pleasantly residential but still very central. Grafton Street, Camden Street and the restaurants around the Creative Quarter are walkable, as is The George when you want a gay night out. Service gets particularly strong feedback here, but breakfast is the thing people tend to become evangelical about — worth allowing rather more time for than your usual coffee-and-run routine. GayMapper tip: especially nice for couples who want somewhere intimate and grown-up while keeping central Dublin and the nightlife within walking distance.

Portland does hostels rather well, and Northwest Portland Hostel is considerably more appealing than the phrase “budget accommodation” might suggest. Spread across six buildings – several dating from the late 1800s – it mixes dorm beds, 40 private rooms and an apartment in the leafy Northwest District. There’s a proper guest kitchen, courtyard and garden, laundry, bike storage and an excellent hostel café serving meals alongside local beer, wine and kombucha. Daily events such as walking tours, tastings, live music and trivia make this one of the easiest places on the list for solo travellers to actually meet people. Downtown and the Pearl District are walkable, with Washington Park and the Japanese Garden also well placed. Portland’s LGBTQ nightlife is scattered enough that you’ll probably dip into several neighbourhoods rather than stay glued to one strip. GayMapper tip: A brilliant solo-travel option – spend less on the bed and considerably more on Portland’s food, beer and nightlife.