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Athens - Lovely Gay-friendly Greek City full of history and art

Greece

The gay life in Greece is very open-minded with tons of gay bars around the city that can entertain you. The vibes there are one-of-a-kind with a sense of Mediterranean hospitality and a gay community that is ready to welcome any gay tourist with open arms. You will definitely feel at home in the embraces of the Greeks and I’m sure you will meet tons of gorgeous, gay men who are looking to give you a great time in their country!


Athens is the capital city of Greece, and it is well-known as the birthplace of western civilization. The magnificent city is perfect for all gay travellers alike and there is an abundance of historical attractions to visit. When it comes to nightlife, Greece has a great time waiting for you with tons of gay bars and gay clubs for you to enjoy. Since you are spending your gay vacations in a Mediterranean country, you will be shocked to see the many culinary tastes that are available at your disposal. Come on, it’s the Mediterranean, you need to expect delicious cuisine!


Gay Athens has tons of world-class archaeological monuments that are ready to accommodate gay travellers. There is something special about Greece and I would classify that as affordable luxury. The magnificent neighborhoods will give you that elegant sense of luxury at very affordable prices. The flamboyant nightlife is one-of-a-kind and you and your partner would feel right at home in this lovely, gay-friendly city.


Check out some of the top gay activities you can try whether you are by yourself, with a group of gay friends, or with your partner.


Gay-Friendly Neighborhoods in Athens


Gazi District: This neighborhood is very close to the Acropolis, and is one of the most popular destinations for those gay travellers who love to bar-hop. The gay-friendly environment is surrounded by both queer-friendly and LGBTQ-owned bars, restaurants, and small businesses. One of the greatest factors of this district is that it is in very close proximity to some of the most popular attractions in the city.


Platia Agias Irini: This square is very close to Monastiraki and it is continuing to grow and become more popular. It is a central area for you to learn more about the gay communities in Athens. This popular neighborhood is very gay-friendly and filled with tons of options of restaurants to choose from. You will absolutely love the local businesses there as well! The afternoons are a great time for you to visit the square to fully include yourself in the local, gay community while enjoying the lovely pastries of the local cuisines.


Gay-Friendly Beaches and Saunas in Athens


Limanakia: This is, without a doubt, the most popular gay beaches in Athens. It is really close to the center of the city! You can there in just 30 minutes by car. Since you will be on the coast of the Mediterranean, you will have to expect crystal clear waters and you will get to see some gorgeous men tanning. Every gay traveller’s dream!


Limanakia is popular as a nude beach, so you do have the option to swim in the nude if this is what you like. This beach is pretty rocky so make sure you grab some shoes. It even has tons of hidden caves that you can explore on foot. There are some shops nearby in case you need to buy food or drinks. To get to Limanakia, the E22 bus will take you directly there from Syntagma square.

Astir Beach: Another gay-friendly beach that is located by the Athens Riviera in the Vouliagmeni peninsula. It is not far from the center of the city which allows you to get there by car or bus very easily. If you do decide to go by bus, you will need to head towards Varkiza. You will have a very luxurious time in Astir Beach with tons of comfortable lounge beds where relaxation is promised. Many gay-travellers love to bring some equipment to play some sports. You’ll see that a lot too. Astir Beach is known for people who love to play Racquets, Volleyball, or Water-Skiing.

Alexander Sauna: There are tons of LGBTQ-friendly spas and saunas in the city, but this one is an absolute favourite of mine. It is located in the heart of the Gazi District, Athens’ most famous gay area. Alexander Sauna is a popular place for both locals and gay travellers. You will get to immerse yourself more into the gay community, enjoy some delicious cocktails in the garden, or even enjoy some action with other gay men on the upper floors.

Gay Tours in Athens

Tales of Same-Sex Love: This tour begins with the gorgeous Big Olive Walks. Its journey will take you back in time to the ancient homoerotic stories of Athens. You will get to learn and discover all the prominent figures who were a part of the LGBTQIA+ community back in the day. This includes same-sex relationships between gods and heroes from some of the incredible epics written by philosophers and Greek’s most famous writers. On this tour, you will explore some of the most famous landmarks and truly hidden sites.

Athens LGBTQ Culture & Hangout Spots – Private Tour: This is, definitely, an interesting tour to go on. I can only describe it as a gay cruising and nightlife tour. During the journey, your tour guide will show you around the city, specifically pointing out some of the popular cruising areas, the local gay culture in the city, gay hotspots and meeting points. The tour will end once the sun sets at the very popular Alexander Sauna.

Gay Events in Athens

Gay Pride: This is one of the biggest gay events in Greece that takes place in early June during the International Gay Pride Month. Even though it isn’t one of the biggest pride events in Europe, it sure is a fun and exciting event where you will get to meet tons of gay locals and enjoy the parade that takes place on Saturday evening. Once the parade is over, the entire gay community will join together for an outdoor show and an after-party.

Outview: This annual queer-friendly event is one of the biggest and most popular gay film festivals in Europe. Here they showcase films made by international LGBTQIA+ film-makers that specifically target the queer community. Truly an inspiring experience!

I hope you have the gayest of times in Athens!

Recommendations

Hotels

An important thing to note in Athens is that most hotels and hostels are labelled as gay-friendly. That is why I love this city. Everyone is so welcoming and it doesn’t matter who are you or who you love. You will be embraced with open arms and friendly atmospheres that are welcoming to the local gay community and international gay travellers. You can check out some of the hotels and hostels below that are popular for gay tourists:


1. Alexander Apartments


If you are on your gay holidays to Athens, I would recommend staying here! It is right under Alexander Sauna, which is a popular gay sauna in Athens. You will get to have your own apartment that comes with a bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. What more do you need from that? If you do stay at the Alexander Apartments, you will also have free access to the Alexander Sauna. Awesome, right?


2. Fresh Hotel Athens


This popular hotel is right across the street from the Athens Center Square. Its gay-friendly environment will definitely make you feel safe and secure. It offers some incredible views of the city with a rooftop bar, 24-hour restaurants, and a lovely sauna to relax in. Whether you’re travelling by yourself or with a partner, you would love it!


You will find this hotel across the Athens Center Square, and it is a perfect gay-friendly hotel located in the center of the city. The hotel offers a mind-blowing view of the city, and it features a rooftop bar, 24-hour restaurants, and a sauna to relax with your gay lover after exploring the city.


Check out the links below for some useful websites where you can book your stays. The first link is one of the most popular gay accommodation platforms:


1. Misterbandb


2. Booking.com


3. Agoda


4. Hostelworld


5. Hotels.com


6. Expedia


7. Wotif


8. Hostelbookers


9. Lastminute


10. Kayak


If you need more help, please contact me!

Bars/Clubs/Saunas

Finally, we’re here at the nightlife of Athens! I, personally, love it with all my heart. Not only are there tons of gay bars and clubs, but regular places are all labelled as gay-friendly. It would be very disappointing if you don’t give them a try.


Whether you’re there for a light drink, a raving party, or a special event, you will wish you never left. Some of the bars and clubs you can visit are Kouckles Club, Moe, Crazy Daisy, EN Merei, Sodade 2, The Apartment, S-cape, Noiz, etc.


Gay Bars and Clubs in Athens


1. ATTRAXX Cruising


2. Big bar


3. Sodade2


4.  Noiz Club


5. Ενοδία - Enodia


6. Rooster 


This all-day, gay hangout is perfect for pasta, pizza, & comfort food. It is boasting with art & photography exhibitions. Click the Rooster link to know more about what they are offering and when. 


7. Samis Bar


8. TRAP BAR (no website)


9. S-Cape 


10. Shamone Club


11. Koukles Club Drag Queen Show


Gay saunas in Athens


1. Alexander Sauna Men's Club 


2. FLEX Sauna 


Most of these places are very close to each other. That's perfect for those who want to visit as many places as possible in one day. 


Have fun guys!

Transport

Athens Airport is the biggest airport you will find in Greece. It is not too far from the center of the city, around 35km. What I love about Athens is that they have a very sophisticated and well-developed public transportation system. You really don’t need a car here.


Check out the links below to know more about how you can get to the city:


- by metro line 3 


- by train


- by bus


- by taxi


Athens has some great express buses that will take you from the airport to every single corner of the city. If you want to add a little comfort to your trip, the airport can help you book a direct transfer from the departure areas to your hotel or hostels.


Click this link if you want to check out the transfer options to the ports.


Below are some of the best airlines which connect Europe to the world:


1. British Airways - U.K National Airline


2. Lufthansa - National German Airline


3. Air France - National French Airline


4. KLM - National Dutch Airline


5. SWISS - National Swiss Airline


Some of the most useful sites to book flights are:


1. Skyscanner


2. Kayak


3. Lastminute


4. Momondo


5. Opodo


If you need more help, please contact me!


Have a safe journey!

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