Greece is a well-liked European summer season vacation spot, and taking a visit to the mainland or one of many Greek islands is on many vacationers’ bucket lists—a variety of foreigners are even transferring there indefinitely. Greece is, arms down, one of the lovely nations to go to in Europe, providing a variety of range in its landscapes, sights, and gastronomy.
Similar-sex sexual exercise has been authorized in Greece for the reason that Nineteen Fifties, and anti-discrimination legal guidelines for employment have been in place since 2005. As of February 2024, Greece made the momentous achievement of turning into the primary Orthodox-majority nation to legalize same-sex marriage and grant homosexual {couples} the correct to undertake. Lastly, Greece is making strides in the correct path towards LGBTQ+ equality after beforehand lagging behind its Western European neighbors.
In addition to its historical past (and meals, after all!), Greece might be most well-known for its islands. There are greater than 6,000 islands which can be a part of Greece, with roughly 200 being inhabited. Deciding on which island to go to could be overwhelming except you slender down your parameters. Whereas you could find quite a lot of choices throughout the completely different islands, it’s greatest to decide on the sort of expertise you’d most prefer to have. Although you may not count on it, the islands range drastically, and you could find all the things from nature and landscapes, occasion or leisure, luxurious to funds, historical past, gastronomy, and water actions. Many of the predominant islands are related by a community of ferries, and among the bigger ones even have airports.
After visiting Greece many occasions previously few years, we’ve provide you with a listing of our high 5 locations for LGBTQ+ vacationers. Whereas Greece might not be as progressive as some nations in Western Europe concerning LGBTQ+ rights and widespread acceptance, these 5 locations are positively among the many most welcoming. In fact, Mykonos is the quintessential homosexual haven in Greece, however LGBTQ+ guests will even discover nice choices and welcoming locals in all 5 areas.
Athens
Athens is thought for its wealthy historic and cultural relics. Ruins, historical structure, and an exquisite panorama make this journey to the cradle of civilization a wide ranging one. Athens is a spot it’s important to see no less than as soon as in your life. The Parthenon atop the Acropolis is a must-visit attraction and historic web site, and an accompanying go to to the Acropolis Museum is a superb alternative to totally immerse your self in its historical past. On the Acropolis, you expertise historical past in its truest kind by stepping again in time and exploring these awe-inspiring ruins.
Although not usually often called a homosexual vacation spot, Athens attracts every kind of vacationers who come to immerse themselves within the metropolis’s famend historical past. Many LGBTQ+ guests could merely cross via town on their approach to extra gay-friendly Greek locations like Mykonos, however it will be a mistake to skip Athens fully or solely drop in to catch a glimpse of the Parthenon on the best way to a extra enjoyable seaside city.
Gazi is among the hottest neighborhoods, and also you’ll discover loads of homosexual and gay-friendly venues on this space. Over time, it has develop into barely much less gay-focused because it has develop into gentrified, however as a first-time customer, it’s nonetheless the place to begin. It’s essential to notice that the homosexual scene in Athens is extra low-key in comparison with homosexual hotspots like Mykonos. Moreover, the scene right here is way more native and operates year-round, versus being seasonal and tourist-driven like on the islands. Because the capital metropolis of Greece, with practically 4 million folks within the metro space, you’ll discover a big number of homosexual and gay-friendly eating places, cafes, bars, and golf equipment.
Satisfaction in Athens will not be the most important or most progressive pleasure you’ll discover in Europe, like these in Stockholm, Madrid, or Berlin. It’s nonetheless a mixture between being a political occasion and a celebration of LGBTQ+ equality. Nevertheless, it’s a enjoyable and attention-grabbing occasion value planning a visit round if in case you have some flexibility.
Together with the Parthenon, there are different historic websites close to Athens which can be value visiting, comparable to taking a day journey to the traditional theater of Delphi, which affords gorgeous views of the landscapes beneath. Lastly, Mystras is one other close by possibility that holds the ruins of fastidiously crafted medieval buildings, additionally set in a unbelievable panorama.
Mykonos
Mykonos is the most well-liked Greek island for LGBTQ+ vacationers. Stunning seashores, white-painted buildings framed with blue home windows, beachfront retailers, eating places, and wild summer season events appeal to many LGBTQ+ guests in search of a mixture of relaxation and leisure, in addition to occasion and pleasure. Some of the well-liked and largest homosexual occasions is XLSIOR , described as Europe’s hottest annual summer season homosexual circuit competition. Like most Greek islands, Mykonos comes alive with crowds from June via September, however in the event you favor to keep away from the crowds, stick with visiting between the top of Could and early July.
Mykonos City is the principle transport hub on the island and the realm the place most individuals keep. It’s a picturesque place, with white-painted homes that replicate the robust solar and attribute blue church domes. There are additionally a couple of homosexual accommodations in Mykonos, together with many gay-friendly choices. The Mykonos Grand Resort and Resort is among the largest and most luxurious, occupying 20 acres of landscaped gardens simply three miles from Mykonos City. Alternatively, the Poseidon Resort Suites iis completely positioned, providing views of the Mykonos Windmills, 500 meters from the homosexual nightlife and above Megali Ammos Seashore.
The previous city is spectacular, with Little Venice lining the water, and its homosexual seashores are nice for enjoyable and mingling. Mykonos affords numerous issues to do, however with the island’s reputation and overdevelopment come crowded streets, packed seashores, and intensely excessive costs. We gained’t inform you to not go to Mykonos due to this—frankly, you need to, and also you’ll most likely adore it, particularly given how gay-friendly it’s. Keep in mind, it’s well-liked for a purpose.
In addition to Santorini, which might be the most well-liked and touristy island, Mykonos probably holds the title of second for normal guests however positively takes the lead as the highest Greek island homosexual hotspot. Mykonos has been a getaway for the homosexual neighborhood for many years, because it turned extra open and liberal than Athens and the encircling islands.
Mykonos is a part of the Cyclades group of islands, as are different well-liked spots like Santorini, Naxos, Milos, Ios, Delos, and Paros. Every island has its personal distinctive vibe and tradition, and also you probably gained’t be disillusioned with any alternative. If you happen to’re already planning a go to to Mykonos, it’s sensible to decide on one other island in the identical group to go to earlier than or after, by catching one of many many ferries to finish your journey.
Santorini
Santorini is one other island within the Cyclades group and might be Greece’s most well-known and well-known island. This historical volcanic island has cities and cities that appear like they need to solely exist in storybooks. All through the island, you’ll discover superb views, gorgeous pure wonders, secluded seaside villages perched on cliffs, and well-preserved historical Greek historic websites. If you happen to arrive in Santorini by ferry, you’ll have to take a shuttle bus as much as town the place you’re staying. Most guests keep in both Oia or Fira, that are the principle cities on the island. Santorini does have a small airport, however flights are usually fairly costly and most join via Athens. Island hopping across the Cyclades is well executed by taking a ferry from one port to the subsequent, and together with Santorini on a visit to a number of islands is a superb choice to spherical out your go to to Greece.
Santorini is an ideal escape from the occasion scene after you’ve binged in Mykonos for days and wish a much-needed detox. Nevertheless, you will need to word that attributable to its reputation, the island can usually really feel overcrowded within the peak summer season months, notably when cruises are in port and persons are visiting for a day journey. The evenings in Santorini positively calm down as a big portion of the cruise vacationers depart the island to move again onboard for his or her subsequent cease. Santorini has a variety of lodging, however most likely fewer budget-style backpacker hostels, because it’s not likely a celebration island attracting that crowd. Because of its reputation, costs for all the things are excessive, just like and even larger than what you may pay in Mykonos.
Fira, the capital of Santorini, is filled with whitewashed buildings perched all alongside the 400m-high cliff. These buildings, which line the cobblestone streets, consist of outlets, accommodations, taverns, cafes, and houses. The sunsets seen listed below are stated to be among the most hanging on this planet. As heat colours of pink, yellow, purple, pink, and orange fill the sky, they paint the white buildings in the identical hues. Arrive within the early night to get an excellent desk at one of many many bars to benefit from the sundown with a cocktail earlier than heading out to dinner within the space.
Ios
Ios has traditionally been often called a celebration island, and its reputation started a couple of a long time in the past when backpackers and native Greeks visited in the course of the summer season months, slept on the seaside, and partied all day and night time. Although the island nonetheless has its fair proportion of beachside bars and golf equipment, the vibe has shifted barely over time. Ios has not been overdeveloped like another islands, so the ambiance stays relaxed, and costs are a lot decrease than conventional locations like Mykonos or Santorini.
There are many budget-friendly locations on the island, together with hostels or easy personal rooms for simply €50 per night time. Excessive-end properties like Agalia Luxurious Suites or Liostasi Resort give guests further choices in the event you’re seeking to splurge. Most luxurious properties present transfers from the port and should even provide rides to varied components of the island.
If you wish to be a part of the Ios vibe, you need to keep within the coronary heart of the motion close to the previous city, the port, or Mylopotas Seashore—most likely the three most visited areas on the island. The preferred seaside on Ios is Mylopotas, and this space affords loads of eating places, bars, golf equipment, and water actions. Not like Mykonos, you gained’t discover any gay-specific venues, however the ambiance is open and gay-friendly general.
One must-see attraction is a night go to to Pathos —a sundown bar perched on the sting of rocky cliffs, completely aligned for watching the sundown. The design is inventive and contemporary, the cocktails are scrumptious, and the sundown is among the most gorgeous you’ll ever witness. Arrive simply earlier than sundown for a unbelievable expertise with a couple of cocktails earlier than heading out to dinner.
Nice meals could be discovered all through the island, however our favourite spot is well a cute little place within the previous city referred to as Katogi. Owned by a younger Greek couple, the restaurant is tucked right into a small alley, providing out of doors eating, and the meals is out of this world.
On the far finish of the island, you’ll even discover the tomb of Homer, which pays tribute to the well-known Greek poet. Although historians debate whether or not that is his true burial place, it’s undisputed that Homer spent a few years residing on Ios in historical occasions. The tomb itself isn’t overly spectacular, however the views from the lookout level on the tomb are outstanding.
Crete
There are such a lot of Greek islands well-liked with vacationers, particularly the smaller ones within the Cyclades. Whereas many of those can provide a unbelievable expertise of Greek island life, many lack the infrastructure and vary of issues to try this a bigger vacation spot would have. Crete, alternatively, has one thing of all the things and with a inhabitants of over half 1,000,000 unfold over greater than 8,000 sq. kilometres, has sufficient happening that you simply gained’t get bored whereas nonetheless not being too busy to benefit from the seashores, panorama and cities.
Given its dimension, Crete has quite a bit to supply. With a whole bunch of kilometres of shoreline it has pristine seashores together with some very secluded and hidden ones. There are many alternatives to benefit from the island’s beautiful climate, however there’s additionally a ton to maintain you busy off the seashores too. The 2 predominant cities on Crete, Heraklion and Chania, each alongside the north coast, provide quite a bit in the best way of tradition, together with museums, artwork galleries and theatres in addition to loads of purchasing alternatives, nightlife and sporting occasions. Although it’s comparatively massive, there’s an in depth community of buses that join all of Crete’s predominant cities and a lot of the smaller villages. Chania is an exquisite vacation spot alternative to go to and the Outdated Port of town was constructed by the Venetians within the 14th century. It’s an ideal place to walk alongside the ocean and revel in one of many many eating places, cafes and retailers.
Like the remainder of Greece, Crete is filled with historical past. However additionally it is the house to many distinctive and essential historic finds and sights that may’t be seen anyplace else on this planet. People have been current on Crete for greater than 5 million years, and since then, relics of many cultures have been left behind, together with the Minoans, Myceans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians and Ottomans. High locations for historical past buffs to not miss embrace the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the Palaces of Knossos and Malia, Phaestos, the Fortezza and the Koules Fortress.