Hello gaybies… Planning a trip is exciting. Thinking about the food, the streets and the photos you’ll take. But for us queer people, there’s another checklist that quietly runs in the background.
Will we be able to hold hands without attracting unwanted attention? Will we have to explain ourselves? Will we feel comfortable being who we are? Will this place welcome us? And it matters so much that we’ve grown used to asking these questions before we book a ticket.
That’s why some destinations stand out for reasons that go far beyond beautiful landscapes or famous landmarks. They show the possibility of travelling without constantly editing yourself. That is Spain.
It has built a reputation as one of the world’s most LGBTQIA+-friendly destinations. It’s a country where diversity isn’t confined to a single celebration or a single month. It’s reflected in every corner of the calendar and the country… be it neighbourhoods, festivals, nightlife, culture, and the list goes on and on.
Like many people online, we’d caught glimpses of Spain long before we ever seriously thought about visiting. Maybe it was the unforgettable spectacle of Eurovision. Maybe it was clips from Madrid Pride filling our feeds every summer. Maybe it was photos from Ibiza, stories about Barcelona’s beaches, drag performances that somehow kept getting more elaborate, or creators documenting queer festivals we’d never even heard of before.
The more we look, the more we realise there isn’t just one version of queer Spain. There are celebrations for bears, festivals created for queer women, circuit parties by the coast, drag shows, historic queer neighbourhoods, intimate cafés, museums, beaches, local traditions, and communities that have shaped Spain’s cultural landscape for generations. Every discovery seemed to lead to another one, making Spain feel less like a destination with a single “gay area” and more like a country where queer life exists in so many forms.
Of course, Spain is so much more than its LGBTQIA+ scene. It is home to remarkable history, world-renowned architecture, cultures, cuisines and coastlines. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into Spain through stories, recommendations, conversations, and experiences.
We’ll take you to destinations worth adding to your bucket list, introduce you to neighbourhoods, discover hidden gems, and spotlight festivals and experiences that make Spain such a diverse place to visit.
And and and… along the way, some of our favourite queer creators will also be sharing their own perspectives, travel inspiration, and reasons why Spain deserves a spot on every queer traveller’s wishlist.
As part of Spain, Where Diversity Lives, a campaign by Tourspain in India in collaboration with Gaysi Family, we hope to offer something more than a travel guide. We hope to create space for curiosity, conversations, and inspire diverse journeys.
