Gay tourism in Madrid, Spain

Leisure

Madrid is a hotbed of cultures and nationalities and very cosmopolitan, but the city has fortunately managed to retain its unique Spanish charm. Madrid has a thriving gay and lesbian community and welcomes the full range of humankind, from its most traditional to its uttermost outrageous.

Madrid’s gay heart is the neighbourhood called Chueca (getting off at metro station Chueca brings you straight into the centre of this neighbourhood). Chueca starts just north of the Gran Via, 50 steps away from don Quijote Madrid.

Madrid offers a multitude of gay-oriented bars and cafés, shops, clubs, cinemas, theatres and other entertainment options covering the whole spectrum from the sophisticated and refined to the low and depraved, priced at corresponding levels!

Weekend nights in the Chueca neighbourhood must be seen to be believed: those of you familiar with Pedro Almodóvar’s movies will witness some of the scenes you always thought were the product of Almodóvar’s fertile imagination played out in real life on the streets before you! For the city’s trendiest bars, clubs, restaurants and shops, Chueca is definitely the barrio to go to!

In addition to all the excitement the city of Madrid has to offer, the don Quijote school in Madrid offers you a comprehensive leisure programme that includes a one hour daily culture class, a guided city orientation walking tour, optional excursions, a free welcome dinner to get to know your fellow students and your welcome pack with a student card which, among other benefits, gains you access to specific museums at reduced rates.

For more ideas on making the most of your time in Spain, we recommend you to take a look at the Don Quijote Quick Guide to the Best of Gay Madrid as well as the Don Quijote 10 Great Things to See and Do in Madrid.