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Madrid

The Spanish capital is the third largest city in Europe with a population of 3.3 million. After the city was destroyed by air raids in the Spanish Civil War, it started to revere anything hedonistic or modern which means that the best way to imagine Madrid’s culture is to think of Pedro Almodóvar, the best known Spanish director and screenwriter who became popular during La Movida Madrileña, which is the cultural renaissance of Madrid after the death of the Spanish dictator. He became admired because of sexual and political freedom vibrating in his movies. The city gives a more Spanish experience than Barcelona which is more for tourists and fashion lovers.

In 2005, Spain has implemented anti-gay and pro same-sex marriage laws and hosted the 2007 Euro Pride with more than a million participants. And in 2017 Madrid was chosen to host the World Pride! 

Every year there are LGBT events in Madrid like the New Year’s Eve, Sleazy Madrid in spring, Gay Pride in July, LesGaiCineMad film festival in November and the Mad.Bear in December.

The gay centre is in and around the Chueca district with fantastic nightlife and trendy designer venues. It gets very popular and crowded during the first weekend of July with the Pride celebrations. Concerts and live performances are held in a large vicinity so you can find yourself wandering large distances whilst being continuously entertained.

One of the more off-track places in Madrid is the Melasaña district west of Chueca which was the centre of the movida movement. The hipster will find his or her way there drawn by the vibrant environment and lively venues overflowing with young people. It's where you can dance the night away. The centre of Melasaña is the Plaza del Dos de Mayo dedicated to the popular uprising from the repressive French during the Spanish Independence War in 1808. There's a big festival every year on May 2nd commemorating that uprising. Another popular thing in the neighbourhood is botellons which is when people meet in a public place to drink before heading to clubs. They often take place on the Plaza del Dos de Mayo but the police tend to intervene making it either an unpleasant experience or adrenaline-infused! Most bars, clubs, shops and cafes have an alternative, funk and non-mainstream feel but there are a few LGBT venues. Closer to the Gran Via are more red-light district venues with sex shops and clubs where you'll often find beer sold illegally in the street.

You should also check out the Mercado de Motores market on the first weekend of every month in south-central Madrid. The building gets filled with designer, vintige and hand-crafted clothing and accessories and outside you'll find more of a flea market with all kinds of merchandise. There's also a bar outside where you can relax after the shopping extravaganza!