Gay holidays in Greece can mean a lot of things. Long nights in the amazing gay bars of Athens, sunbathing at Elia Beach in Mykonos (one of the most famous gay beaches in the world), romantic honeymoons on alternative islands, gastronomic experiences and adventurous walks in some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscapes of the Mediterranean.

But Greece has something even more important to offer to gay travelers: a distinctive and unique gay scene and mentality, which is different to every other country around the world.

In this guide, we will help you discover some classic information about gay travel in Greece while also revealing a few hidden secrets that will upgrade your trip into a fascinating vacation.

The must-visit places for an organized gay scene: Athens, Thessaloniki and Mykonos

Mykonos

The gay life of Mykonos is widely popular, since this small Greek island is ranked among the best gay destinations in the world, especially for summer holidays.

In Mykonos, you won’t have to go to a gay place to meet other guys, since the island is full of gay travelers like you, who are enjoying this spectacular place.

Smart tips:
1 Spend endless hours under the hot sun at the most popular gay beach, Elia.
2 Party and flirt at the upcoming gay beach hot spot of the island, ’JackieO Beach’ at Super Paradise.
3 Check out the most fun gay hotel in Europe, Elysium Hotel.
4 Mykonos Town (or Chora, as Greeks call it) is perfect during the night. Make sure to have a cocktail at JackieO Mykonos Town.
5 For the more naughty ones, rumor has it that the area behind Paraportiani Church is a popular cruising spot – just be careful of the rocks!
6 Don’t forget that the top gay festival, XLSIOR FESTIVAL, takes place in Mykonos every August.

Athens

Athens, the vibrant and never sleeping capital of Greece, features the most organized gay scene in the country with gay bars, clubs and restaurants, saunas, shopping areas and several cruising spots.

Smart tips:
1 Gazi area (metro station: Kerameikos) and Agias Eirinis Square (metro station: Monastiraki), are the top gay areas in Athens.
2 In Gazi, you can visit Sodade bar – the classic gay bar for many years – or Shamone.
3 Spend some spicy time in the popular saunas of Athens, including Alexander and Flex.
4 When you find yourself in Agias Eirinis Square, make sure to have a coffee at the always crowded ’Rooster’ café/bar.
5 ‘Zappeion’ park close to Syntagma Square and ‘Pedion tou Areos’ park are the best known and crowded cruising areas.

Thessaloniki

In the north of Greece, the second largest city of the country, Thessaloniki, is gradually gaining a reputation as the gay capital of Balkans. Thessaloniki is a beautiful, romantic and cozy city, with quite an organized gay life.

Smart tips:
1 Have fun at the famous gay bar Enola in Valaoritou Street, one of the most vivid neighborhoods of the city.
2 Visit the popular gay cruising bars as well as the famous Splash sauna, located near Vardari area, and especially at Afroditis Street.
3 Thessaloniki is flirty and friendly all around the center, and in the numerous cafés, bars and restaurants you will most probably find guys to flirt with – maybe you are one of them?
4 If you visit Thessaloniki during summer, spend some days in Halkidiki, the nearby peninsula with the paradise-like sandy beaches and the crystal clear waters.

The classic gay favorites: Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos (Zante)

Crete

Over the last few years, one of the most beloved destinations for gay travelers in Greece is Crete, an island which many think of as conservative due to its traditional character. However, this is not entirely true, since gay Crete introduces a new way of gay traveling: the gay adventure holiday.

Smart tips:
1 In and around the city of Heraklion, you can find a few gay-friendly bars for drinks and socializing.
2 The biggest gay attraction in Crete is the several gay beaches around the island, like Sarantaris, close to the Hersonissos region.
3 The gay-friendly Home Hotel, hosts popular Saturday night parties as well as barbecue gatherings during lazy Sunday noons.
4 When in Crete, spend two or three days at each big city – Chania, Rethimnon, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos.
5 If you consider yourself a luxurious traveler, then have a look at the top luxury hotels in the renowned Elounda Area.

Santorini

Santorini, one of the most beautiful and romantic islands in the world, is a must-visit destination for any traveler who wants to have an updated travel journal and a hot choice for gay honeymoons. It’s not just the dramatic landscape with the volcano and the steep cliffs but also the overall luxurious and elegant character that emerges from the iconic island.

Smart tips:
1 Check out the main gay hot spots in the island: the last section of Vlychada Beach and the gay-friendly bar Tropical in Fira.
2 Choose a luxury Caldera view room/suite/villa in one of the numerous gay-friendly hotels in Santorini.
3 Make sure to enjoy as many sunsets as you can – don’t forget that they are ranked among the most impressive ones in the world!

Zakynthos (Zante)

Zakynthos (or Zante), is a beautiful island in the western parts of Greece, mainly known for the fabulous Navagio beach, with turquoise waters – one of the most famous beaches in the world.

Smart tips:
1 Gay life in Zakynthos is not organized, however make sure to stop by the nudist beach of Vrontonero.
2 Try the amazing delicacies of the island, like ‘sartsa (casserole beef), ‘skordostoumbi’ (aubergines blended with large quantities of garlic), and rabbit stew.

Top island hopping choices: Tinos, Mykonos and Paros or Naxos, Ios and Santorini

A great idea when visiting Greece is to plan an island hopping adventure – a combination of stays in a number of islands, which are easy to travel from one to the other by ferry (just make sure to double check the ferry routes and schedules). Particularly in the Cyclades complex, island hopping is a very easy and usual type of traveling.

3 islands for gay couples in love: Folegandros, Milos and Skiathos

Folegandros

Folegandros is one of the most picturesque islands in Greece. What is truly amazing about this magical place is that it always manages to surprise gay couples with its fabulous gay-friendly hotels, which boast impeccable service and excellent staff.

Milos

Over the past few years, a significant increase of gay couples who choose Milos for their honeymoon trip or their romantic summer holidays has been noticed, giving more and more people the opportunity to enjoy the mind-blowing beauties of the island.

Skiathos

Let’s change the scenery: Skiathos is an all-green island with amazing beaches – an excellent choice for gay couples who are looking for a true paradise-like destination for their honeymoon.

The luxury resort destinations: Costa Navarino and Porto Heli
 

Costa Navarino

Costa Navarino is a newborn resort destination in Messenia, Peloponnese, standing out as a particularly beloved choice for gay travelers in the region. With impressive pools, relaxing spas, excellent hotel restaurants, plenty of wellness and sport options (plus it’s the golf destination of Greece), Costa Navarino will simply amaze you!

 
Porto Heli

Porto Heli is a top-notch area in the Argo-Saronic Gulf in Peloponnese, which is very well-connected with the famous nearby islands of Spetses and Hydra. One of the latest additions is the stunning Nikki Beach Hotel, which presents a modern and luxurious character, transforming the area into an ideal choice for gay travelers.

For more information about Destsetters, visit the official website by clicking here.

Photos: www.drazos.com