10 Reasons Why Our Spanish LGBTQ+ Tour Will Tickle Your Tapas

Get ready to savour sangria, devour paella, marvel at otherworldly architecture, and wallow in homosexual history! We’re off to Spain for a cultural journey that covers all the worthy highlights. In honour of our 10-day Spanish LGBTQ+ tour, here are 10 fantastic reasons to join our flamenco foray. 

10. Eat and cook and eat some more!

Like nearby France and Italy, Spanish cuisine is a force to be reckoned with. They love their octopus. They brought us paella. And don’t forget the tapas!

Spaniards have turned appetizers into their own distinct style of dining. So we’ve swapped one of our typical group dinners with a night of tapas-hopping through downtown Córdoba. On another night, we’ve arranged a cooking class in Granada, where we’ll prepare our own meals with Spanish flair. Olé!

9. Choo-choo! There’s a Train.

We’ll make the 197-mile (318 km) trip from Madrid to Córdoba in only 2 hours thanks to one of Spain’s most popular forms of transport: a bullet train. Bang bang. This ride slays. And it’s one of many train rides you can enjoy on these other tours we offer.

8. It’s Perfectly Seasoned.

Summer in Spain, to be blunt, can be insufferable. The big cities are packed with tourists. The small beach towns are thronged with thongs (not necessarily in a good way). It’s unbearably hot. And the peak season prices simply rub salt in the wounds. But…we’ll be there in early fall. Temperatures will be balmy. You’ll have breathing room. And you’ll be able to savour the sights, sounds, and flavours at a more leisurely pace. Best of all? You can still justify an afternoon siesta.

7. Churches that say ‘Yes, Gawd!’

What’s a trip to Europe without visiting a bunch of churches that would ruffle the robes of the most staid cardinals. Sagrada Familia is Antoni Gaudí’s most famous work. A fever dream of architecture, it marries Gothic and Art Nouveau styles into something unlike anything else.

You cannot stand back far enough to take in its majesty…and the pinnacle tower isn’t even up yet! It’s been under construction for nearly 200 years, barely surviving civil wars. Gaudí wasn’t even the original architect on the job.

The Seville Cathedral is one of the world’s largest churches, the largest Gothic Cathedral, and was originally built as a mosque.

Similarly, the Mosque Cathedral of Córdoba, like many Spanish temples, straddles Muslim and Christian faiths. Given that the Strait of Gibraltar on Spain’s southern coast is where Europe and Africa meet, it explains how Spain became a bottleneck of faith, culture, and food. For more on this stunning structure, and to learn about the local gay scene, check out Gay Guide: Córdoba.

6. The architecture is Gaudí and beyond.

Along with Sagrada Familia, many projects by Gaudí pepper the city of Barcelona. There are also the gardens of Park Güell (pictured below), the skeletal facade of Casa Batllo, and Casa Vicens (his first major project). His work is defined by stained glass, wrought iron, ceramics, and innovative uses of traditional materials.

5. Visit one of the world’s largest fortress complexes in Granada.

Alhambra is one of Spain’s biggest tourist draws. Literally, physically, and deservedly so. There’s both Islamic and Spanish Renaissance architecture. It spans religions, cultures, and centuries (the original complex is almost 800 years old). And within its walls, you’ll encounter the crumbling remains of the original palace, a mosque, baths, a mausoleum, courtyards, reflecting ponds, and even a convent. 

4. Pair it with our Moroccan Tour.

Up for a double-header of Moorish magnificence that spans 2 continents? This trip can be paired with a brand new tour through one of our most popular destinations: Morocco! It features camel rides, designer gardens, medinas, and mosques. There’s even a stop in Casablanca, the titular town featured in one of the best movies ever. The port town of Tangier, where our tour kicks off, even has an incredibly salty homosexual history that we explore in this blog post.

3. Revel in one of the world’s most LGBTQ-friendly countries.

The country is beautiful. The cities are beautiful. The men, women, theys, and thems are beautiful. And the souls of the country and its people are beautiful because Spain is one of the best places on Earth for both citizens and travelers of the alphabet mafia (the LGBTQ+ community).

2. Learn about Spain’s gay history.

Our trip kicks off in Madrid, where we’ll spend time in the Chueca gaybourhood. Our guide will take time to highlight important sites from Spain’s queer movement, where we can appreciate the efforts of our queer forebears. The first stop will be underneath the stately facades of Plaza de Chueca. To understand this plaza’s significance, we’ll have to step back a few decades in time. 

In the 1980s, Chueca was a no-go zone. But by the 1990s, when right-wing neo-liberal politicians took over Madrid, society became more uptight—especially when it came to controlling who did what and where.

A prime example of this came in July 1998. Just a year after the right-wing Popular Party came into power, authorities decided to crack down on Plaza de Chueca’s numerous terrace tables, which were popular lounging spots for members of the LGBTQ+ community. They invoked dubious (read: homophobic) bylaws about “too much urban furniture” while similar plazas were spared the same fate.

This sparked the lively “defend our neighborhood, defend our terraces, defend yourself” campaign, marking the start of Chueca’s journey to becoming the heart of Madrid’s gay rights movement.

We’ll also visit the colorful Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, named after the beloved activist and politician who championed LGBTQ+ rights. It’s become a symbol of pride and progress, especially following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005. Notably, Spain was the third country in the world to legalize marriage equality, with the Netherlands and Belgium being the first and second. Today, it hosts many events, including Madrid LGBTQ+ Pride, further cementing its role as a place of visibility, activism, and celebration for the community.

Later, stroll through Puerta del Sol, where we’ll find a building that was once a prison specifically for homosexuals. Here, we’ll gain insight into the darker side of Madrid’s LGBTQ+ history, and our guide will point out some of the first businesses that opened in the 1980s, when the fledgling neighborhood was building its new identity.

Once we’ve punched our LGBTQ+ history cards and racked up our step count, we’ll find a spot to sit, sip, and ogle thirst-trapping muscle bears. Or twinks. Or butch lesbians. Or non-binary bonitas. Suffice to say, there will be lots to admire. And we’re not talking about the architecture. 👀

1. Sitges.

This quaint coastal town is not part of our itinerary. But it’s located just outside Barcelona – the final stop on our tour – and it’s one of the gayest destinations on earth. Known for its plentiful beaches (including clothing-optional), raucous events (Carnival, Pride, and Bears Week) and even a film festival, it’s the perfect place to relax and recuperate after 9 days of soaking up all that Spanish culture, heritage, architecture, food and wine.

Peak season will have ended, so while the streets and beaches will be busy, they won’t be overcrowded. If you’re still feeling festive, it’s a great place to keep the party going. Still ravenous for culture? There are 4 museums. And of course the food, views, and people are all spectacular. Regardless of what seasons your paella, we highly recommend spending a couple of days in what many call the gay capital of Europe (after we’ve had our way with you). 

There’s even more to discover on our Spanish LGBTQ+ tour!

Have we given you a hankering for tapas? Inspired a taste for Catalan modernisme? Tickled your proclivity for calamari? Contact us to book, or simply learn more about this trip, about this sublime Spanish vacation.