Everything you need to know to travel to Valencia — gay guide edition. This Mediterranean city is a great option for LGBT travelers thanks to it’s welcoming atmosphere, strong gay rights protections, and variety of LGBT-specific groups and venues. Valencia is a safe city for LGBT travelers, so let’s look at how you can enjoy your holiday!
Is Valencia LGBT Friendly?
Yes, Valencia is a very LGBT-friendly city. Spain in general has very progressive policies towards the LGBTQIA+ community, so you should feel safe traveling to Valencia.
Valencia is a bit smaller compared to Madrid or Barcelona – so there are fewer options when it comes to gay nightlife. However, there is still a very active LGBT community. Both in terms of activism and recreation, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved.
Plus, Valencia is overall a very safe city for LGBT tourists, solo female travelers, and people from all walks of life.
LGBT Rights in Valencia
Spain has some of the most progressive LGBT rights in Europe, and Valencia follows suit.
Here are a few quick notes about gay rights in Valencia:
- 88% of people believe same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe according to a 2023 study by Eurobarometer.
- One of the first countries to legalize same-sex marriage.
- Trans folks have the right of self-determination since 2023.
- Same sex adoption is legally protected
In Valencia, gay rights are typically not a controversial topic. The people are fairly open-minded.
In 2024, there has been some increase in hateful rhetoric, especially towards the Trans community. However, this follows global trends and is not exclusive to Valencia. The current right-wing government in Valencia is facing a lot of backlash from the LGBT community, but luckily there have not been any major repeals of rights.
All that to say is that – while there is a always a reason to continue fighting – Valencia remains a safe city to LGBT travelers.
Gay Valencia Guide
Now let’s look at a gay guide to Valencia. This will help you be more connected to the community and know where the gay scenes are.
So here’s your quick Valencia gay guide, but if you have any questions – just send me a message.
LGBT-Friendly Neighborhoods
Most of the popular neighborhoods in Valencia are going to be LGBT-friendly. This means you’ll find local shops that proudly display rainbow stickers at the entrance and you’ll even see some LGBT flags hanging from balconies.
Here are the best neighborhoods for gay travelers in Valencia:
- El Carme – in the Ciutat Vella
- Russafa – has the most LGBT-exclusive venues and bars
- El Botànic – very LGBT-friendly neighborhood with gay bars
- Benimaclet – very progressive neighborhood in general
LGBT-Friendly Hotels
While there are no hotels in Valencia that exclusively cater to the LGBT community, there are plenty that are gay-friendly.
And since every traveler has different preferences, I’ll list a variety of options. Because in Valencia, gay travelers have a lot of choices when it comes to budget and preferences. So here are some hotels that I would recommend:
- Perfect location, overlooking the City Hall Square
- Medium price point
- Large, trustworthy hotel chain
- Great location
- Rooftop bar
- Top-rated luxury hotel
- One of the best rooftop bars
- Perfect location in the city center
- Perfect location
- Medium-low price point
- Great location in Russafa
- Pet-friendly boutique hotel
- Vegan breakfast options
- Great location, just outside the center in gay-friendly Botànic neighborhood
- High-quality for price point
Gay-Friendly Bars & Clubs
No Valencia gay guide would be complete without a list of welcoming bars and clubs. Feel comfortable going out for a drink with your partner or find other LGBT partygoers at a nightclub.
Here are my top recommendations for gay bars in Valencia (from someone who lives here)
La Boba y el Gato Rancio
La Boba is one of the best gay bars in Valencia. They offer fairly-priced drinks, a chic atmosphere, and a very friendly staff.
They’re also in the heart of Russafa, so it’s the perfect location for you to have some fun on a night out or after getting some dinner.
This is my number 1 recommendation for some laid-back LGBT travel experiences in Valencia.
Trapezzio Café
This bar is another great gay-friendly bar, this time in the Ciutat Vella. This is a great cocktail bar with an outdoor terrace that’s perfect for enjoying the Valencian weather.
With 20 years of history, this is a classic Valencia gay bar. It’s also in a cute square close to the Torres de Quart and other great sightseeing locations. This makes it the perfect spot to sit down, have a drink, and relax after a day of exploring the city.
This is my top recommendation for a gay bar in the Old Town.
Café de las Horas
This baroque cafe is unlike any other place in Valencia. They sell both tasty coffee treats and unique cocktails.
But the reason this café is so extraordinary is because of the decoration. With a very baroque style, you’ll feel like royalty enjoying your espresso martini. It’s a fun, interesting, and gay-friendly spot right next to the cathedral.
So highly recommended if you love sweeter, or coffee-based drinks!
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is one of my favorite gay clubs in Valencia. It’s actually a silent nightclub, so you’ll wear giant glowing headphones with multiple channels. You can choose the music and you’ll see who else is listening to the same channel.
It’s a fun and unique experience. And while you’ll see straight visitors mixed in, this discoteca definitely caters to the gay community in Valencia.
Deseo 54
Deseo is the most well-known gay club in Valencia. Unlike Piccadilly, you’ll pretty exclusively see LGBT folks at this location.
The type of music changes depending on the day of the week, so make sure you head to their website to see what the theme is.
Overall, Deseo is the essential club for a gay Valencian experience. There are also nearby bars that give you a discount if you pre-game there. So check out the area for some fun gay nightlife in Valencia.
Diversity in Sports & Recreation
If you’re looking to spend an extended period of time in Valencia, then you’ll be happy to learn that there are LGBT-exclusive sports teams for you. Even better – you have two gay sports clubs in Valencia for you to choose from!
Samarucs is an LGBT Sports Club that offers a ton of different sports. Just head over to their website and sign up in a few clicks!
Dracs Valencia is another famous LGBT recreational group. They offer fewer options, but they also organize hikes, so it’s a great way to explore the surrounding area while getting some exercise in!
I highly recommend joining one of these groups if you’re looking for ways to meet people in Valencia.
➡️ I recommend learning Valencian if you want to join them.
Valencia Gay Beaches
Last part of this Valencia gay guide – the beaches! LGBT travelers coming to the Mediterranean always need to know what the best beaches are to visit.
Luckily, Valencia’s beaches are all LGBT-friendly, so you don’t need to worry about feeling unsafe.
Regardless, these are the two most important beaches in Valencia for gay travelers:
La Malva-rosa
The classic beach that everyone goes to! It’s easily accessible and is a popular spot for travelers any time of the year.
There are some LGBT-friendly bars and restaurants nearby, along with a nearly endless coastline for you to soak up the sun.
El Pinedo
El Pinedo is the famous (and only) nude beach in Valencia. To be fair – it’s a bit more difficult to get here, since it’s further away from the city. It’s also known as L’arbre del gos.
This gay-friendly beach is a popular destination and there are great restaurants for paella nearby. So it’s a good way to make the most of your experience while you’re here.
Just note – the entire beach is not nudist! You’ll want to head towards the southern end. But you do have access to public showers to rinse off the sand afterwards.
If you’re heading here, I’d recommend renting a car, as it’s not super easy to get here with the public transport. You can get here by bus – but it’s not particularly easy.
Things to Know for LGBT Travelers
To end this Valencia gay guide, let’s talk about all the things you should know as an LGBT traveler. These are some tips, advice, and general information you should be aware of for your trip to Valencia.
Well, at least all the things relevant to the LGBT community!
There’s More Than One Gay Neighborhood in Valencia
Valencia doesn’t have just one gay neighborhood. Some cities like Madrid are famous for having ONE gay area – but that’s not necessarily true in Valencia.
Instead, we have different gay-friendly areas spread throughout the city.
El Carme, Russafa, and El Botànic are the most notable gay neighborhoods in Valencia. Each of these have a higher number of gay residents and LGBT-friendly establishments nearby.
So if you’re looking for an area to stay – these are the best three areas.
➡️ Learn more about where to stay in Valencia.
Valencia Pride
Valencia typically celebrates Pride towards the end of June each year. There has been a Pride protest every year for around 20+ years. So the Valencian LGBT community is definitely an active one!
Usually the Pride protest will end at the City Hall, where an enormous party is then set up. Typically a festival is then held at the City Hall square on the night of Pride.
However, 2024 was the first year this didn’t happen due to disagreements between the right-wing government and the LGBT associations.
There is a good bit of pink-washing when it comes to the festivals, so some activist groups are fighting against this currently. But if you want to protest, make sure you join the parade in June.
Valencia Gay Games
Valencia is going to be the host of the 2026 Gay Games. This is an Olympics-style sports even for the LGBT community.
However, as of 2024, there’s a good bit of controversy surrounding the management of this event. Again, local LGBT activist groups are upset over the management and pinkwashing on the part of the right-wing government.
We’ll see what happens when we get closer to 2026 – but for now, 5 LGBT associations have pulled their support citing a lack of LGBT representation.
Lots of Things to Do
If you’re an LGBT traveler, you’ll have plenty of things to do in the city!
All of the regular things like museums, sightseeing, and other events have no restrictions for the LGBT community. Public spaces are generally welcoming and inclusive, so you’ll feel comfortable anywhere you go.
Here are a few resources for things to do:
- Top things to do in Valencia
- Free things to do
- Best museums in Valencia
- Best sightseeing spots in Valencia
Great Gay Night Scene
Have a drink and enjoy your time in Valencia! Gay night scene options are nearly limitless, so you’ll have a great time anywhere you go.
Here are some resources to point you in the right direction:
Low Rates of Anti-LGBT Violence
LGBT travelers are safe in Valencia (Spain in general, for that matter). Compared to many places in the world, there are low rates of hate speech and violence.
Unfortunately, it is increasing, especially due to recent transphobic commentary. This is a global issue, but Valencia has certainly been impacted.
For example, anti-LGBT hate crimes tripled from 2019 – 2022, with 29 hate crimes declared in 2022 in the province of Valencia.
Observatorio Valenciano keeps watch on all of the incidents reported.
Although this is not meant to scare you away. In general, this is a very safe city and hate crimes are far and few between. But I do think it’s important for LGBT travelers to understand that change is still needed.
What to do if you face discrimination
LAMBDA has a guide to help you in case you face discrimination or hate speech while in Valencia. Hopefully this is completely unnecessary. But I always recommend for people to be prepared in case of worst-case scenarios.
So here are a few phone numbers for you to know:
- 112 for emergencies
- 092 for local police
- 091 for state police
In all likelihood, you won’t need to use these. I’ve lived here with my husband since 2018 and have never once faced any hate speech or violence. As someone who came here from the Southern US – I cannot describe how much of a relief I felt when I moved here. The difference in the community was truly like night and day.
But it’s still important to know what to do in case something does happen to you or your loved ones.
Valencia Travel Resources
I hope you find these Valencia gay travel resources helpful! There is an active LGBT community and welcoming atmosphere in Valencia, so you should feel comfortable on your trip!
If you have any questions or want some advice – just reach out!
Here are some additional resources to help you plan your trip:
- Free weekend itinerary
- Best restaurants
- Recommended travel insurance
- Do you need the tourist card?
- How to find cheap flights
Bon viatge!
FAQS
Yes! Valencia is a very safe destination for LGBT travelers.
Valencia has a medium-sized LGBT-friendly nightlife. Not as big as Madrid, but still plenty of options for gay travelers.
Yes! My partner and I have lived here since 2018 and find it a very welcoming place to live for same-sex couples.
Need help planning your trip to Valencia?
Here are the tools I use for the cheapest (and most reliable) vacation planning:
- 🏠Booking – Affordable hotels and apartments
- 🏠Hostel World – Safe and budget-friendly hostels
- ✈️Skyscanner – My favorite tool for cheap flights
- 🚗Discover Cars – Best place for car rentals
- 🚄Trainline – The easiest way to book local trains in advance
- 📶Airalo – eSim cards for easy internet access while traveling
- 🦺Safety Wing – The #1 travel medical insurance
- 💸Airhelp – Cancelled flight compensation (it’s free!)
- 💱Wise – Easiest low-fee way to transfer currency
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These are links to services I personally recommend using for your trip to Valencia. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission from these brands if you choose to make a purchase. Your support helps me pay my bills and eat more bunyols!
