The World’s Best Gay Beaches (From Sensational To Secret)

Beach, please…

Beach vacations aren’t everyone’s pitcher of piña colada. But for many, it’s not a vacation unless you’re slathering on sunscreen and flaunting some flesh on a sandy runway. But which gay beaches are the world’s best? Which dunes are the most dapper? From Europe to Asia, and the Americas to Australia…here are our favourite LGBTQ+ beach destinations (along with a secret spot we’re not supposed to talk about)!

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Thailand (the most extra)

If you’re feeling raucous, the town of Patong and its namesake beach on the island of Phuket may be just the dose of sunshine you need. 

Since it was ‘discovered’ in the 1980s, the town has continued to grow and establish itself as a global party hotspot. While not exclusively gay, Patong is *very* LGBTQ+ friendly. You’re also near Paradise Complex, the raucous heart of queer nightlife in Phuket. If you’re after a more subdued vibe, check out Kata Beach. Just fifteen minutes outside of town, it’s popular with surfers and lacks the overwhelming commercial development that Patong is famous for. It really is about the sun, surf, and sand here.

On Koh Samui (the island where White Lotus Season 3 was filmed), Chaweng Beach is also gorgeous and worth a visit.

We offer three different trips through Thailand. All three swing through both Krabi and Phuket and feature plenty of beach time!

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Spain (the most fabulous)

It’s one of the most gay-friendly countries on Earth, with plenty of beaches to discover. Most accessible all year round is Playa del Inglésas, in the resort town of Maspalomas, on Gran Canaria. You can chalk up the agreeable weather to the Canary Islands’ location far south of mainland Spain and off the coast of Morocco. 

If you join our tour through Spain, which wraps up in Barcelona, you can also catch rays at Playa Barceloneta. It’s a mixed crowd, but you’ll definitely suss out some sisters near the unmissable W Hotel. Another option would be to pop your umbrella at Playa Mar Bella, a short walk from Barceloneta, as this spot has turned into the new rainbow runway as of late.

However, if you want to hit up one of the gayest beaches on Earth, take a day trip or extend your holiday in the nearby gay resort town of Sitges. This rainbow wonderland is literally built around Playa de la Bassa Rodona and offers something for everyone.

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Croatia (the most decadent)

The Dalmatian Coast is renowned for its white sand beaches, pristine turquoise waters, and the odd pod of dolphins breaching the Adriatic Sea. The old, walled town of Dubrovnik is one of its most popular destinations. Just a short boat ride away is Lokrum Island, a clothing-optional beach that’s secluded with a relaxed vibe. Head to the southern end to find some Friends of Dorothy. 

Off the coast of Hvar, an island popular with both the yachting crowd and LGBTQ+ travelers, is the smaller island of Jerolim. It’s also clothing optional, and one of the oldest nude beaches in Europe. Head to the eastern shore to find your ‘q’-munity. If you’re in Split, Kašjuni Beach is within easy reach. It’s not explicitly gay, but it’s known for its cozy secluded spots if you want some peace and quiet.

Join us on our flagship gay cruise and you can check out Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split. We also take daily swim stops in secluded coves where you can jump off our private yacht and feel like Beyoncé taking a break between smash world tours. And Beyoncé was right…this ain’t Texas! 

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Cuba (the most unexpected)

Cuba doesn’t have much of a gay scene per se, though you can find dedicated theme nights and drag shows. However! Havana does offer Mi Cayito where you’ll find a full gamut of gays from twinks to bears and sly silver foxes to Sapphic sisters. While not officially a gay beach, it’s fair to declare Mi Cayito as the lively heart of Cuba’s queer community. 

The town of Varadero is where you’ll find Cuba’s most popular and beautiful beach. It’s not gay, but is the place to be if you’re a fan of lavish, mainstream, all-inclusive resorts. In fact, Varadero is regularly ranked one of the best beaches in the world. While here, you can also explore Varahicacos Nature Preserve, which features the Cave of Ambrosio, Mangón Lake, and a 500-year-old cactus known as El Patriarca (the oldest living thing on the island). 

We offer several departures to Cuba every year, including a New Year Fiesta if you crave a holiday over the holidays.

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Galápagos Islands (the most remote)

Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands aren’t known for being any sort of gay (or straight) hotspot, but they *are* the mother-loving Galapagos Islands, and any beach we sashay across instantly becomes the most remote gay beach in the world! 

Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz Island is known for its pristine white beaches and a calm lagoon. It’s named after the black turtles that nest there, but should not be confused with Black Turtle Cove on the same island. 

On Rabida Island’s Red Beach, you may not just see, but actually get to swim with Galapagos penguins. And San Cristóbal’s Playa Mann is a popular spot where the sea lions play. Or venture over to Cerro Brujo (Witch Hill) for some bird watching.

Join our Galapagos cruise and you won’t just wallow in the sun with your new sea lion friends. You’ll get to don your snorkel and discover a whole new world down below!

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Australia (the most laid back)

Aussies take beach time seriously. They’re beautiful. And plentiful. Virtually every waterfront city has a gay or gay-friendly beach. 

At the start of our Summer Down Under tour, you can check out St Kilda, just a short walk south of downtown Melbourne. 

The same tour wraps up in Sydney (in time for Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras), which offers a plethora of LGBTQ+ (and LGBTQ-friendly) beaches. The most popular of them all is the northern end of Bondi Beach. Once known for working-class immigrants and the modesty policing of women’s swimwear, it’s now one of the sexiest highlights of life in Sydney and is regularly featured in television series both locally and abroad. It even boasts its own gay subculture. 

If you like to strip right down, Lady Bay (also known as Lady Jane Beach) is clothing optional. And if you want the shore without the sand, Boy Charlton Pool is a great place for the gays to catch some rays just a few minutes from the Central Business District. Having mentioned a lady and a boy, we’d be remiss not to mention Manly Beach. It’s not gay per se, but it offers a more relaxed vibe than Bondi. 

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Greece (the most glamorous)

Ah Greece. The country that brought us democracy, baklava, and some of the oldest known same sex shenanigans. It’s home to tons of beautiful beaches and islands. Mykonos especially is renowned as a global gay party hotspot. Super Paradise Beach is the biggest and best of them all. There are a lot of nudists, plenty of parties, and an incomparable jetset vibe. Though it has traditionally been known as a gay beach, the crowd has become more and more mixed as of late.

If you want something a little more laid-back and a lot more…well…gay, Elia Beach will be the better option on Mykonos. If you find yourself on the island of Crete, check out Kokkini Ammos or Kalamaki. Both are remote and laid-back…even bordering on hippie vibes.  

Our Aegean Sea Gay Cruise stops in Mykonos (along with Santorini, the island famed for its Cycladic architecture). You can learn more about Mykonos specifically in this blog post.

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The Philippines (the most beautiful)

The island of Boracay’s White Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and one of the biggest draws for international tourists. 

It’s a mainstream beach, but head for Stations 1 or 2 and you’ll surely find some ‘family’. But if you want a really, really gay time, head to the town of Puerto Galera, which is home to another White Beach. 

This one is The Philippines’ unofficial LGBTQ+ beach. It’s only a short ferry ride from Luzon, the largest island in the nation, and is known for being quaint and peaceful. You might find a drag show or some gay nightlife, but don’t expect it to be a non-stop party. Rather, it’s a more subdued vibe that boasts stunning natural beauty, similar to the islands of El Nido and Coron in the Palawan archipelago.

We luxuriate in Boracay, Palawan, and several other tropical islands on our Island Hopping Adventure. 

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Costa Rica (the best sunsets)

The eco tourism capital of the world is bound to have some glorious sandy expanses. It’s not an explicitly gay destination, but very accommodating and popular with our peeps nonetheless. 

Our eco adventure through this glorious country ends at Tamarindo Beach, home to a sublime surf town where you’ll have the day free to explore and soak up the sun on your own. But if you find yourself in Costa Rica, consider checking out Manuel Antonio Beach, located in the impressive national park of the same name. There’s an unofficial gay section known as La Playita with some bars and clubs that cater to our team (if you’re craving libations or festive nightlife).

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Turkey (the most underrated)

The island of Bodrum is considered Turkey’s Mykonos. It’s jetset, glamorous, and warmly welcomes queer travelers. 

The beaches in Bitez and Gümüşlük are especially popular with our community. And once the sun goes down you’ll even find bars and clubs to keep the good times going. In the province of Izmir, Alacati and Çeşme are known as Turkey’s most liberal, gay-friendly towns. And both have namesake beaches. You can check out Bodrum specifically on our Turquoise Coast Cruise.

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Mexico (the most festive)

For North American gays, Mexico has always been a popular (and easy) beach escape. Puerto Vallarta has grown tremendously over the past decade, attracting throngs of sun-seekers during the winter months when snowbirds come flocking in to perch on the Blue Chairs of Playa de los Muertos. Though its name might imply that this particular beach is “dead,” it’s teeming with life all year round, as it plays host to huge LGBTQ+ events like Beef Dip and Vallarta Pride.

For those looking to veer off the beaten path and visit somewhere more Bohemian, head to Mexico’s southern coast and check out Playa del Amor in Zipolite. This is currently *the* secret spot that many keep quiet about to protect it from overcrowding. Though it appears Zipolite may be on track to become the “new PV,” we doubt it ever will, as it lacks the infrastructure, roads, and available land to sustain that level of growth. Besides, many of those who seek out this gay utopia would prefer it stay as hidden as it is.

Though we don’t offer beach trips in Mexico, you could easily extend your Mexico City: Aztec Adventure with a few days in PV or Zipolite. It’s worth mentioning that Mexico City is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly destinations in the world, with a cosmopolitan vibe unlike these aforementioned beaches.

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USA (bi-coastal gay beach options)

We’d be remiss not to mention several famously gay beaches within the USA, including New York’s Fire Island, Fort Lauderdale’s Haulover Beach, Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach, Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, Black’s Beach in San Diego, and Baker’s Beach in San Francisco.

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Has all this beach talk raised your UV index? Reach out to us if you have more questions, or think you might be ready to pack your budgie smugglers.