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TripOut Gay Travel:
Madrid

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Gay Friendly Rating: Gay Friendly Rating Very welcoming; this place is gay-tastic!
Want some hot times in the Spanish capital? "Chueca" it out! And don't miss Pride in Madrid. It's one of the greatest parties on Earth!

Madrid Fast Facts:

  • Gayborhood While the gays love to party down in the Chueca neighborhood, they hardly confine themselves to it gay-ghetto style.
  • Parading By the Prado Madrid Gay Pride is typically the first weekend of July. And it's wild!
  • Seasons of Love Most locals say their favorite time to be in Madrid was either May, June or July, or in September and October. Skip August because everyone will be at the beach!
  • Afternoon Delight As in most of Spain, the city shuts down anywhere between 2pm to 5pm for siesta, which we found is really the only time Madrilenos actually do sleep.
  • Go Metro! Despite its large size, Madrid is a city best done on foot. Tight and congested streets, means driving isn't worth it. The easiest way to get around is by the Metro, which costs 2EU and runs from 6am to 1:30am. The bus system runs all night but it a lot more difficult to figure out.
  • Get Carded If you plan on attacking Madrid in super-tourist fashion, check out the Madrid Card, which gives you free entry to museums, free rides on the Madrid Vision tour bus, discounts to restaurants, shops, theaters, etc.
  • Mixed Up Madrid is home to more mixed bars and clubs than most cities in the world and for good reason. Madrilenos have mostly moved on from the whole intolerance thing. Holding hands with your boyfriend or girlfriend will largely go unnoticed.
  • Tongue Action About a 25% of the population of Madrid speaks good English, and another quarter speaks a little, so it's helpful to have some knowledge of Spanish. French, Italian and Portuguese may also open some doors.
  • The Tourist Office of Spain and Turismo Madrid are members of the IGLTA, the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, which supports and promotes LGBT travel around the world.

Madrid: Hot Nights in the Spanish Capital

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Don’t be fooled, folks. While Barcelona may seem to get mostly all the gay attention, its bigger, northern sister is poised to take over. Yes, Madrid—having undergone a facelift over the past 15 years, transforming what was once a depressed,... Read More Madrid: Hot Nights in the...
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Madrid Top 5

Don't leave town before checking out...
  1. Prado Museum
  2. Madrid Gay Pride
  3. Retiro Park
  4. Corazon Loco (The Crazy Heart)
  5. El Museo Chicote

Recommended In Madrid:

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More Madrid: Related Websites

  • http://madridcard.com Check out the Madrid Card that gives you free entry to museums, free rides on the Madrid Vision tour bus, discounts to restuaruants, shops, cafes, discos and theaters.