From our experiences backpacking as a gay couple, we rounded up our 5 favorite gay hostels in Europe.
Climbing into bed at 4 AM. That wouldn't be like us…
Yet with the disco remixes of all our beloved gay anthems still echoing in our heads, we know we deserve a rest after a long day of exploring the city. We can still hear the laughter of patrons who are leaving the long line of bars and clubs which populate the gay village, and relish in the thought that although we're miles from home, we still feel surrounded by our big gay happy family! This is the feeling of being in a gay hostel, regardless of where we are…
When interrailing around Europe, we found gay hostels a great place to connect with fellow LGBTQ backpackers who have since turned into lifelong friends. We love the cool vibe in them, that exciting traveller atmosphere you don't quite get in hotels. We've put together our 5 favourite gay hostels in Europe based on our experience backpacking across the continent.
Heads up: We just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. That means if you book something through one of those links, we'll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep our blog going – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥
Gay travel in Europe
As a rule, Europe is super gay-friendly! We've never had a problem booking a double bed in a room, particularly in North and West Europe, which has most of the gay-friendly countries in the world. However, the more East you head, the less queer-friendly it becomes, although there are some pockets of fabulousness in East Europe.
If you are travelling around the Balkans or around East Europe, we definitely advise calling/emailing ahead to check they're ok to host gay travellers just to be on the safe side, particularly in the rural areas. If, however, you're heading to places like Berlin, Madrid, Cologne, Brighton etc, we can assure you, you're not going to have any problems!
The flip side to this is that accommodation in North and West Europe is generally very expensive, but cheaper in East Europe. Therefore, staying in a hostel is a great way to save money as well as connecting with like-minded travellers, especially if you're travelling solo.
We love using Hostelworld to find decent, reliable gay-friendly hostels in Europe. As well as having some excellent resources and advice for LGBTQ travellers, they allow you to filter results by reviews and price, which is super handy. Once you've found a place and set on it, you can then just instantly book it and, voila, you're good to go!
01
Gay Hostel Torremolinos
Torremolinos, Spain
In a nutshell
- Men-only gay hostel
- In the heart of Spain's Costa de Sol
- Cute garden and sun terrace
- Close to town center and local beaches
If you're looking for a budget Spanish beachside holiday look no further than Gay Hostel Torremolinos!
Torremolinos is a fabulous Costa de Sol resort located just 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Málaga, and enjoys one of the best climates in Europe. The long, dry summers, without much humidity, make this town an ideal spot to relax in the sun, and Gay Hostel Torremolinos provides a lovely base to do this.
This is an air-conditioned homestay type hotel, with basic but clean and comfy rooms, along with shared spaces where you're bound to make new friends. There's both a cute little sun terrace (with outdoor shower!) and an enclosed garden area where you can relax while working on your tan or you can walk around ten minutes to nearby Playa El Bajondillo for some beach time.
While this is a hostel it doesn't feature any dorm rooms with uncomfortable bunk beds, just clean and comfy double rooms with private bathrooms. It would be perfect for a couple looking for an intimate stay or a single who may like somewhere to bring a date back afterwards (wink, wink)! There's a shared lounge as well, and everything else you might need is just a quick walk away.
STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL
Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ community. Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, voiding any nasty surprises when you check-in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene. Click below to get 10 € (or $10) off our first booking.
02
My-Gay Hostel
Berlin, Germany
Why we love it
- Great location and metro connections
- Clean, secure and comfortable rooms
- Walking distance to gay bars and a gay sauna
- Exclusively for gay men
Not to be confused with the Gay Hostel, My-Gay Hostel is located just down the street from the Gay Hostel in Schöneberg, close to the Nollendorfplatz train station.
It's clean, secure and centrally located to everything. It has everything the Gay Hostel has although it is lacking a fun communal area to meet new people.
It's very close to some great gay bars though, so you definitely won't get bored!
One thing we loved about My-Gay is its proximity to the Nollendorfplatz train station – we cannot stress how handy this is when you're going to different places around the city and relying on the metro. You can also walk to the nearby gay bars and cafes, as well as the gay sauna Apollo.
In terms of price, My-Gay and the Gay Hostel are about the same – you can get a bed in both for around €25 a night, though My-Gay works out to a few euros cheaper. On a personal level, we preferred the Gay Hostel overall, mainly due to the cool communal areas, but everybody's different!
03
Hostal La Zona
Madrid, Spain
Why we love it
- Perfectly located for Madrid's gay nightlife
- No dorms, only private rooms
- Some rooms have lovely balconies
- Bright, white and clean throughout
Situated near Plaza del Carmen, this gay hostel in Madrid is the perfect place to rest your head after a night out in good old gay Chueca.
After spending a few days in this hostel and hanging out in the fabulous Chueca, we can see exactly why Madrid is one of the best places to visit for gay travellers.
Many of the main museums and other attractions of Madrid are within walking distance of the hostel, so public transport isn't really needed here. If you do use it, we strongly advise investing in a city metro pass! With enough rainbow flags hanging from each shop or restaurant window to make you go blind, you'll become engrossed with pride here.
Despite being a hostel, Gay Hostal La Zona doesn't offer dorms, just rooms. This includes basic ones with shared bathrooms to more luxurious ensuites with a balcony looking out onto the square. Definitely try to get one of these – they're great for spotting all the gorgeous Spanish hunks passing by!
04
Hostelle
London, UK
In a nutshell
- Women-only
- Beautiful and colorful dorm rooms
- Close to tube for getting around London
- Well-equipped kitchen and lots of amenities
It's not all about the boys here – for once! Hostelle is a fabulous women-only hostel in London that's very LGBTQ friendly, even if not an explicitly gay hostel.
Hostelle is actually a chain of hostels, so you can stay in one in Amsterdam and Barcelona as well as London, in case you're looking for that feminine touch.
As you might expect, the styling at Hostelle is next level, with lots of beautiful rooms themed around ‘girly' things as well as movies or, like in the photo above, British TV shows! As well as this attention to detail you can expect a very cozy and comfortable stay that feels like you're holidaying with a group of girlfriends, or with your actual girlfriend, of course.
Other amenities include a fully-equipped shared kitchen where you can make your meals, a library filled with books, magazines and games, TV, DVD player and movies to watch, a laundry room and free tea/coffee. There's also a cool rooftop terrace area for relaxing and all the bunk beds come with linen and a reading light, making it super cozy. These are also some of the most comfortable dorm beds you'll ever get to sleep on.
And then, of course, London is right on your doorstep ready to be explored, with the Bethnal Green tube station literally around the corner ready to whisk you into the city center to explore London's amazing gay scene!
05
Kipps Brighton
Brighton, United Kingdom
Why we love it
- Excellent location near Brighton's main attractions
- Super modern and chic hostel
- Free continental breakfast if you book a double room
- Lovely terrace and hostel bar
There's nothing like a trip to a seaside town, and Brighton really lives up to the hype. With gorgeous views of the city from the rooms, matched with the breeze of the seawater air, a trip to Brighton brings together both a naturalistic getaway and a city break.
Kipps is just 500 metres away from Brighton's famous pier and beach as well as being opposite the famous Royal Pavilion, so you're ideally situated here for sightseeing as well as partying.
As we stepped inside the gay-friendly Kipps Brighton, we couldn't help but notice how super chic it looked for a hostel. With brightly decorated rooms, groovy art hanging on the walls, and gaming consoles in the common rooms – this place felt super modern. The staff is very friendly and you can socialize with other guests in the shared areas.
There's a lovely terrace to relax on as well as a small bar for a tipple. The kitchen is also available for guests to do their own cooking and if you book a double room then a continental breakfast is included. The bedrooms are a mix of hostel dorms or privates, also very comfortable, and let's just say it was a great place to grab a kip…!
For more inspiration:
- If you're planning to visit Berlin make sure you also check out our complete gay guide to the city.
- Travelling with your partner? You might also like to read some of our favourite romantic things to do in Berlin as well!
- While you're staying at Hostelle make sure you don't miss the best gay highlights of London.
- Speaking of London, find out why you should attend London's pride at least once in your life.
- You might also like our guide to the best gay pride events in the world.
- Find out our five favourite gay friendly cities in East Europe here.
- Check out which are the most gay friendly countries in the whole world.
- For more gay accommodation in Europe, don't miss our post on gay hotels in Amsterdam!
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