Madrid Gay - Madrid City Guide-Madrid Apartments for Rent

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Madrid is a city that caters for all tastes and inclinations. Whether you're gay, lesbian or bisexual, there are activities, bars, clubs, and places of interest for everyone to enjoy and share.

Perhaps one of the best-known gay areas in the city is Chueca. This neighbourhood, or barrio, is right in the centre of Madrid, just off Gran Vía. You can get there easily by Metro (Line 5, Chueca Metro station or simply walking from Gran Vía. The streets here are a literal rabbit's warren, so it's wise to get your bearings before you go wandering around.

Hundreds of gay-oriented businesses, including bars, coffee-houses, restaurants, design shops, clubs, and clothiers are available for the intrepid explorer, and you can wile away many hours in this section of the city. Chueca has found a new lease of life in recent years, with the gay population investing money in local business and property.

There is a pleasant atmosphere in this district. Gay and straight people intermingle comfortably, and same-sex kissing and handholding is a common site. The northern end of the neighbourhood is mainly the area of straight college students, but the central Plaza Chueca provides a vibrant mixture of heterosexuals and homosexuals.

Click here for a Chueca map

Apartments within 1km of the central Chueca Square, in the gay area of Madrid:

Although are no distinct lesbian areas or clubs, lesbians do congregate and hang out in many of the bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, mixing well with the rest of the gay community.

Madrid's Gay Pride parade (Dia del Orgullo Gay) takes place on the last weekend of June, when Chueca becomes the centre of attraction and a truly vibrant and active area for gays and straights alike. Madrid was designated EuroPride capital for 2007, and there was a series of meetings to celebrate the event in the week leading up to the traditional Gay Parade procession on the 30th June.

There is actually a lot more to the gay/lesbian community in Madrid, all of which could fill a full directory, but the best way to see it is by getting out and about and looking around for yourself. Just an hour wandering the streets of Chueca will show you a whole host of things to do and see. It will keep you busy for days. So all gay travellers are advised to enter the city with lots of energy, a desire to have fun, and an open mind.