Thursday, November 19, 2009

A Gay Vacation In Germany

By Howie Holben

Germany is well-known for its thriving LGBT culture and for having large communities in each of its larger cities. One of the many reasons that gay vacations to top LGBT hotspots like Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne are favorites with tourists from all over the world. As home to many world-famous Pride festivals, particularly in Cologne and Berlin, Germany is a exceptional for gay adventure travel and provides a welcoming environment for a wonderful trip. As is the case elsewhere, city residents are generally more accepting than rural village inhabitants; however, those planning a gay vacation will find Germany to be a safe, welcoming destination.

Cologne is generally thought of as the LGBT capital of Germany and is a fantastic destination for gay travel. Poised on the banks of the Rhine River and the oldest larger city in the country, Cologne draws travelers from around the world to indulge in this picturesque citys rich culture and history, to get to know its jovial inhabitants and to experience the thriving art scene. As the home of the world-famous Cologne Cathedral and Kolsch beer, Cologne has something to offer to art lovers, history lovers and beer lovers alike.

This welcoming community has no problem with couples of all sorts showing affection in public and has a well-established, highly visible LGBT population. Cologne is proud to be the host of the 2010 Gay Games and home to more LGBT bars, clubs, restaurants, cafs and other establishments than any visitor could experience in a single gay vacation. To display how LGBT-friendly this city truly is, the KolnTourismus Service Centre even offers a Pink WelcomeCard, which provides discounts on LGBT clubs, bars, saunas and shops, as well as free public transportation and discounts for local attractions, such as river cruises, opera, theater and museums.

The cosmopolitan city of Berlin is also home to a strong LGBT community and numerous LGBT establishments. Travelers that partake in gay travel to Berlin may want to consider visiting during Pride season when Berlin holds the annual Lesbisch-Schwules Stadtfest, or Lesbian and Gay City Festival, which is the largest event of this type in Europe. The following weekend, the Berlin Gay Pride Parade and Christopher Street Day Pride Festival draw hundreds of thousands of LGBT participants and friends of the community, making this a great time for gay vacations in Germany.

Whether you are goinr to Germany alone or traveling with a group of friends, a gay vacation to Germany will surely be filled with opportunities to learn about Germany's LGBT community, meet new friends and make lifelong memories. To get as much as you can out of your travels, you may want to participate in gay tours with a travel agency with experience arranging Germany gay vacations.

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