It may not immediately come to mind when thinking of somewhere to jet off to for a weekend city break, but Madrid is fast becoming one of the most up and coming destinations for any gay man in Europe.
In fact, many Britons are relocating to Madrid in a bid to leave the expensive shores of the UK and seek sunnier climes in Spain. Although the nearest beach is a whopping 218 miles away, with everything that Madrid has to offer, you really won’t be missing the sand. And when it comes to partying the gay way, you’re totally spoilt for choice!
The epicentre of all things gay in Madrid is a centrally located district called Chueca (pronounced chew-aye-ka). Jump on the green metro line, jump off at Chueca and upon exiting the metro station, you will stumble into La plaza de Chueca. This square is always a hubbub of activity and the perfect place during the day to pick up some flyers offering free entry into bars and clubs that night. The square is flanked with bars and cafes that offer outside seating during the summer months.
Once night falls, the gay scene in Madrid really starts hotting up. If you’re looking for a gay club to have a good dance in, head straight for either Cool (Calle de Isabel la Catolica), OHM (Plaza del Callao) or Polana (Calle De Barbieri). The first two are a mix of house and techno music wheras the latter leans more towards the international pop side of things. What’s more, unlike the majority of British clubs, entrance to Spanish bars and clubs usually includes a free drink. Watch out though, there is no such thing as measuring the amount of alcohol in a drink in Madrid, it’s all about the free-pouring.
Although the music may differ, what links all gay clubs together in Madrid are the drop dead gorgeous men and sexy gogo dancers. Latino beats and techno beats will have you spinning around the dance floor practicing your salsa moves till the early hours of the morning.
Once the gay clubs and bars close, there are many after-parties to choose from that continue the clubbing well into the day. Simply ask a local where the nearest ‘after’ is and you’ll be pointed in the right direction.
So, next time you’re arranging a getaway, check out Europe’s new gay hotspot, Madrid.
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