Barcelona LGTBIQ+ Friendly 28/06/2024

Experience diversity in Barcelona! A pioneering city in LGBTQI+ rights

Barcelona is a pioneer in design, the counterculture and setting trends, so it should come as no surprise that it is one of the most open, tolerant and cosmopolitan cities in the world. For decades now, the Catalan capital has been at the forefront of the movement defending gender and sexual diversity. This has made it a destination that welcomes the LGBTQI+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexual identities and orientations). Come and discover everything Barcelona has to offer so you can enjoy your stay in absolute freedom!

A committed, pioneering city

In 1977, just a few days after the first democratic elections in Spain after the end of the dictatorship, Barcelona's Rambla staged a historic march. Thousands of people took part in this pioneering event in favour of the rights of the gay community. It was the first demonstration of its kind in Spain and was a turning point that made Barcelona one of the leading cities that champions sexual and gender diversity.

Today, there have been many advances in legal rights (equal marriage, the trans law, affirmative codes of practice in the workplace, etc.), which have made Barcelona a city that embraces diversity and freedom of expression. There is an LGBTQI+ Centre in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood that promotes sexual and gender diversity and, on 28th June, International LGBTQI+ Pride Day, the city shows its support for the community when it lights up and flies inclusive flags from its most iconic buildings, such as the Casa Batlló, the Glòries Tower and the FC Barcelona Stadium.

Parties and festivals for the LGBTQI+ community: a great choice of events that champions their rights

LGBTQI+ parties and festivals are celebrations that take place in an atmosphere of absolute tolerance and freedom. Make a note of them!

• Pride BCN, in July, is the big party that celebrates and champions the LGBTQI+ community and a major showcase that puts the fight for freedom, dignity and respect in the spotlight.
• Circuït Festival is held at the beginning of August and features a packed programme of events that have made it one of the world's leading LGBTQI+ festivals.
• Berdache Gender Art Festival showcases the performing and visual arts that focus solely on gender and identity. It takes place in July in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.







• Matinée Easter Weekend is one of Europe's main electronic music festivals for the LGBTQI+ community and features sets by top DJs who fill the city with music and dancing.
• Fire! The LGBTI Cinema Festival of Barcelona screens high-quality feature-length films and documentaries with an educational approach over ten days.

If you don't want to miss any of the events, check out the Barcelona LGBTQI+ agenda.

Enjoy our cultural and recreational offer

Shall we start off by dancing? Music, good vibes and fun come together at some of the city's quirkiest gay bars like Madame Jasmine, Priscilla Café, La Casa de la Pradera and Candy Darling. There are also discotheques and legendary venues, such as the Sala Apolo and the popular Arena Experience, that stage drag parties.

Barcelona also has a wide range of specialist bookshops where you'll find novels and essays about sexual and gender diversity. They include the iconic Antinous and others run by new generations, like Prole, Raposa, Crisi, On the Road, Acció Perifèrica and Noa Noa. The Sagrada Família public library has a section specialising in LGBTQI+ books and the Nou Barris library has a section for people who identify as trans.

Barcelona Pride also comes to the museums and shops in the different neighbourhoods in the city with a programme of events that champion LGBTQI+ rights and freedoms. From June to July, the city's museums hold exhibitions, guided tours and workshops that focus on sexual, affective and gender diversity. The city's shops display stickers identifying them as safe spaces that support all members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Love and freedom in the open air

Barcelona's Mediterranean climate is the perfect invitation for you to enjoy the city in the open air by the sea. You can go nude swimming on the Mar Bella and San Sebastià beaches and enjoy popular bars and restaurants that have a lively and respectful atmosphere. There's no room for prejudice!

If you're into sport, you have an entire coastline and countless green spaces at your disposal to help you keep fit. You can even take part in Panteresports, the multi-sport tournament organised by the LGBTQI+ sports club Panteres Grogues every September. It features sporting and recreational activities specially designed to promote LGBTQI+ sport.

Gaixample: an entire neighbourhood to explore

Everywhere in the city shows respect for the LGBTQI+ community and their freedom, but it also has its own gay neighbourhood, the "Gaixample", in the heart of Barcelona's Eixample district. It is located inside a rectangle demarcated by Carrer Balmes, Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, Carrer Comte d'Urgell and Carrer Aragó and is packed with cafés, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, designer, fashion and beauty boutiques in a unique and special setting.

You can also visit the Queer Market, which showcases shops and seeks to promote diversity in the Eixample district. You'll find stalls, information points run by different LGBTQI+ organisations, recreational activities, live music and entertainments, food trucks and much, much more. This event is organised by the Diverse Retail Network and is held twice a year in May and October.

LGBTQI+ hotels. Enjoy your stay in absolute freedom

Barcelona is home to lots of LGBTQI+-friendly hotels, and the first hotel in the world to describe itself as gay-heterofriendly. The city also offers accommodation specifically for the LGBTQI+ community with safe spaces where you can stay with your partner. They include Arc House Barcelona, BCN City Hotels and the Two Hotel by Axel.

Find out more about all of the above and much more in the official Visit Barcelona LGBTQI+ official guide, plan your trip on Visit Barcelona and book your tickets in advance on VisitBarcelona Tickets and enjoy great discounts. You've got everything ready to visit one of the most open-minded cities in the world. We look forward to seeing you!