Sunday, October 4, 2009

Germany Was Made for the Gay Traveler

By Howie Holben

With LGBT communities in every large city, Germany is a well-known LGBT haven in Europe. This, of course, is why that gay vacations to Germany's LGBT hotspots, such as Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Frankfurt, are so incredibly popular with visitors from all around the world. Germany is also home to several large Pride festivals, with the best-known being the world-famous festivals in Cologne and Berlin, and is a great gay travel anytime of the year. Travelers will likely find that city dwellers are more welcoming than rural residents; however, all across the country travelers will find a welcoming environment in this popular gay vacation destination.

Cologne is a fantastic choice for gay travel to Germany and is often referred to as the LGBT capital of the country. Cologne is picturesquely positioned on the Rhine River and is the oldest large city in Germany. It is the home of the famous Cologne Cathedral, Kolsch beer, and a vibrant arts and culture scene that draw travelers from all over the world to experience this grand citys rich history and jovial residents. If anyone looks askance at a same-sex couple showing affection in public, it will very likely be a tourist, since this warm, welcoming city has a huge LGBT population that is fully integrated and well-established.

This welcoming community has no problem with couples of all sorts showing affection in public and has a well-established, highly visible LGBT population. Cologne is proud to be the host of the 2010 Gay Games and home to more LGBT bars, clubs, restaurants, cafs and other establishments than any visitor could experience in a single gay vacation. To display how LGBT-friendly this city truly is, the KolnTourismus Service Centre even offers a Pink WelcomeCard, which provides discounts on LGBT clubs, bars, saunas and shops, as well as free public transportation and discounts for local attractions, such as river cruises, opera, theater and museums.

The cosmopolitan city of Berlin is also home to a strong LGBT community and numerous LGBT establishments. Travelers that partake in gay travel to Berlin may want to consider visiting during Pride season when Berlin holds the annual Lesbisch-Schwules Stadtfest, or Lesbian and Gay City Festival, which is the largest event of this type in Europe. The following weekend, the Berlin Gay Pride Parade and Christopher Street Day Pride Festival draw hundreds of thousands of LGBT participants and friends of the community, making this a great time for gay vacations in Germany.

Whether you are goinr to Germany alone or traveling with a group of friends, a gay vacation to Germany will surely be filled with opportunities to learn about Germany's LGBT community, meet new friends and make lifelong memories. To get as much as you can out of your travels, you may want to participate in gay vacations with a travel agency with experience arranging Germany gay vacations.

About the Author:

No comments: