Gay beach

Whether you want a resort vacation, wildlife safari, city break, luxury cruise, wellness retreat, honeymoon, once-in-a-lifetime adventure or weekend escape, the trip curation experts at Mr Hudson make travel planning a breeze.

Some are fun gay beaches year round, while others are best visited during the summer season. 

Once you’ve arrived at these paradises, keep in mind our suggestions for proper gay-beach etiquette. Stay longer in paradise with a busy schedule covering the top things to do in Key West.

Key West | Photo: Meric Dagli

Photo: Stefan Schranz

When visiting Higgs Beach in Key West, your stay should reflect the laid-back yet luxurious spirit of the Florida Keys.

When someone says “See you at the Blue Chairs,” they could mean the Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea (Malecón 4, Zona Romántica, Puerto Vallarta) or anywhere in the vicinity. Officially part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this hilly island is dotted with cacti, shrubs and other flora that thrive in this semiarid climate. Though it’s a short drive from Key West, the detour is worthwhile for travellers seeking tranquil luxury.

To your west is Higgs Beach Dog Park while also nearby you’ll find the Key West AIDS Memorial and the slavery-era African Cemetery. The host of a popular Pride event each June, Kauai also has an inclusive vibe. This beautiful clothing-optional beach is set against gentle dunes and occupies an undeveloped span of the Costa da Caparica, which is blessed with sunny and generally dry (at least, from March through September) weather.

Otherwise known as Will Rogers State Beach and the only gay beach in Los Angeles City proper, here you’ll find the sunny stomping ground of the West Hollywood gay crowd, at its most lively on the weekend. The Madison is perfectly situated to give you quick access to both the beach and the vibrant nightlife for which Fire Island Pines is known.

Despite Miami being a firm contender for the state’s gay crown, Key West is not without its options, hogging many of the best gay beaches in Florida on its sandy shores.

Situated just minutes from the beach, it allows easy access to both the vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and Miami’s cultural highlights. Durban is home to one of the world's largest concentrations of Asian Indian immigrants, so it's packed with superb Indian restaurants.

Where to stay

Perched overlooking the sea in Durban's bustling North Beach neighborhood, Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani (rates start at $93 per night) is one of the largest resorts in the city, and it offers plenty of amenities, including a rooftop pool, full-service spa and bikes to pedal along the beachfront.

The main beach is huge, but you’ll need to climb the stairs over the rocky cliff at the eastern end to reach tiny Playa del Amor, which is where gay men congregate. Take the Santa Monica Blue Bus 9 to Santa Monica State Beach, following the vast stretch of palm-edged shorefront towards Lifeguard Tower 18 where the gay crowd congregates.

Found off of Sebastian Street near the Ritz Carlton, this gay beach comes lined by gay hotels and resorts from Sunrise Boulevard all the way to Las Olas. You can explore ruins that tell the story of the city’s Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras and the renowned Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

The presence of Aristotle University, with its nearly 100,000 students, brings art, culture and a youthful vibe to Thessaloniki, which is also famous for its many annual festivals, including the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in late autumn and a very fun Pride celebration, held over five days in June.