Diversity, dancing and gay history!

Berlin is a dream city: a hub of gay life crammed with art, history and culture. Lars is one of our proud hosts in the German capital and he invites you to stay with him and experience the progressive Berlin vibe. Follow his tips, explore the world and discover your pride!

How gay-friendly is Berlin?

I rarely have the feeling I need to mention or negotiate my sexual orientation with anyone in Berlin, which feels very liberating. Something I miss when leaving Berlin is the tolerant and progressive atmosphere, which makes it easy and joyful to explore your interests.

Schöneberg, considered the gay neighbourhood, is close to where I live, with plenty of gay-run establishments. However, Berlin’s gay and queer life is spread all over the city, with a great variety of scenes.

We have 48 hours in Berlin. What can’t we miss?

Walk along the remains of the Berlin Wall to connect to Berlin’s past and visit Museum Island to get your gallery fix. Explore the thriving districts of Mitte for shopping and Kreuzberg and Neukölln to feel the real soul of Berlin.

Then, grab a currywurst and hang out in one of the city’s many green spaces such as the Tiertgarden or Tempelhof (in Neukölln) before heading out to party. When it comes to nightlife, you really can’t beat Berlin: whatever your preferred crowd, music style or fetish, Berlin has it covered.

A gay place for brunch on weekends?

It's not particularly gay, but I do like the brunch at Hallesches Haus – a very cool general store, events space and diner.

Best gay place for a cheap beer or happy hour?

A good place to crash is Möbel Olfe at Kottbusser Tor, as well as nearby Südblock, which I both love for their great diversity. 

The outside terrace at Südblock © Facebook/Südblock

We’re ready to party! The best gay clubs?

I would suggest homopatik, CockTail D’Amore and Berghain.

What places related to LGBT history can we visit?

Berlin’s LGBTQ history is very interesting and I'd recommend reading Robert Beachy’s Gay Berlin before visiting. It gives a great insight into the development of gay identity in Berlin and Germany from the mid-19th century until World War 2, and on how legislative, censorship and academic research helped form gay acticism in Berlin.

There are also great exhibitions at the Schwules Museum, which is a museum dedicated to LGBTQ history and queer artwork. It's always worth a visit and is walking distance from my place.
Schwules Museum. © Flickr/visitBerlin/Dirk Mathesius

Any parks or other places to chill-out? 

Berlin does have beautiful parks. There are two very different ones in my neighbourhood. One is Kleistpark – a park area surrounded by neoclassicist columns – and another one is Park am Gleisdreieck – a very beautifully designed park.

And, as mentioned earlier, there are the Tiertgarden and Tempelhof parks; the latter is very popular as soon as the sun comes out it fills up with people having picnics and doing sports. Hanging out at Tempelhof. © flickr/peterulrich.net | Berlin Webdesigner

Finally, where can we get the best view of Berlin? 

I would suggest Teufelsberg, a man-made hill in the Grunewald Forest. It's a bit of a ride to get there, but well worth the journey. ●

Wanna know more about Berlin? Then check out our City Guide and other Local Tips!

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