There are few places on earth like Munich, where high-tech cars and classic Bavarian architecture sit side by side. However, Munich is more than just beer, Oktoberfest, and art. It is also a place where LGBT people are embraced as a part of society. There’s more than one gay neighborhood in Munich and some exclusively gay hotels in Munich. In fact, liberal Munich is one of the hottest gay travel destinations in the world. Berlin’s LGBT scene might have style and panache, but Munich’s LGBT scene is also counted amongst the biggest in Germany. And as the city’s LGBT scene has grown, so have the number of gay hotels in Munich. Ranging from veteran hotels to newer, trendy hostels, there is no dearth of options for LGBT travelers.
Most of Munich’s gay scene is centered around the vibrant Glockenbachviertel (GBV), the gay neighborhood of Munich. Here, you’ll see a relaxed vibe and resplendent rainbow flags fluttering everywhere. Apart from GBV, Munich’s City Center near Karlsplatz is also a popular place to stay as it is within walking distance of GBV.
You’ll see how truly Munich is welcoming of LGBT people when the city celebrates gay events. There’s the DJane Delight, a hugely popular women’s festival with tons of lesbian attendees. The epic “Gay Oktoberfest” has been a strong tradition since the 1970s and continues to be important to date. That’s why we also have 11 Best Hotels in Munich near Oktoberfest. And of course, there’s Munich Pride, the week-long soiree celebrating Munich’s LGBT community in making Munich as it is today. If you’re in Munich especially for these events, you should know that this is when hotels fill up quickly.
The capital of Bavarian Germany Munich is a must-visit on your gay-cation. Whether it’s a designer hotel you want or a fun hostel, Gay Munich has something for every traveler. Just 191 km (118 miles) from Stuttgart, we’ve conjured up a list of top 11 gay and gay friendly hotels in Munich just for you, so take your pick. If you’re here for quick transit, check out the 11 Best Hotels In Munich Airport.
Die Deutsche Eiche
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Die Deutsche Eiche is the city’s iconic gay hotel and one of the few exclusively gay hotels in Munich. It has been a symbol of Gay Munich for decades. Located in the GBV quarter, Deutsche Eiche is famous for being home to the city’s best gay sauna. It also happens to be the largest men’s sauna in the country. Deutsche Eiche has been one of Central Europe’s most popular gay meeting spots for more than 20 years. It attracts men of all kinds and ages, making the hotel extremely popular with locals and travelers.
Rooms at Deutsche Eiche are spacious and feature heated wooden floors, making them perfect to crash after a long day. A rooftop terrace with views of the city and a hearty breakfast is the best way to begin your vacation in Munich. Dedicate your evenings to the very best of Munich’s gay nightlife, which is within two streets of the hotel.
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Rocco Forte The Charles Hotel
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If you fancy a luxurious stay in Munich, the gay-friendly, lavish Charles Hotel is where you should be. Housed in a former University library, the hotel overlooks the former Botanical Gardens. The rooms are indulgent and enchanting. The deluxe suites feature added services like packing/unpacking and in-room check-in. Robes and slippers are also provided for an added element of luxury.
The Charles Hotel is also famous for being home to the city’s longest indoor pool, so a swim here is as luxuriating as invigorating. The state-of-the-art spa will take all your tiredness away with its heated relax chairs and relaxing spa rituals. Do take some time out and enjoy a drink at the hotel’s bar, with live piano music playing in the background. Note this one of the gay friendly hotels in Munich and is not exclusively gay.
Karlsplatz and Munich Central Station are just two blocks away, so most of Munich can be accessed right from your doorstep. If you’re heading out to explore the GBV quarter, skip walking and hop on to the U-Bahn to take a short 10-minute joyride.
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Motel One Sendlinger Tor
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Budget travelers will love the affordable yet trendy and gay-friendly Motel One Sendlinger Tor. Located in the heart of the GBV quarter, the hotel is great for walking the cobblestoned streets of Munich’s historic Altstadt (Old City). We recommend exploring the best-kept secrets of Munich’s historic quarter on this excellent 2-hour tour. Listen to city legends and discover its best beer halls on this extremely interesting tour.
Motel One lies within a stone’s throw of some of the best gay bars and clubs of GBV. Put on your dancing shoes and sway to gay anthems at Prosecco. If you’re into older bears, grab a beer at the extremely interesting Edelheiss.
The hotel might be part of a chain but it is anything but cookie-cutter, whether it is the interiors or the services. Well-designed rooms in offbeat color shades and boisterous furniture add to the fun appeal of the hotel. Some rooms even feature balconies with deck chairs for lounging with a cuppa in the evenings. The lobby decor is equally eclectic and is a modern take on the lavish palaces of the Bavarian King Ludwig II. With no hidden costs and terrific service, Sendlinger Tor is a great gay-friendly hotel in Munich.
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Hotel Cocoon Stachus
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If you have a particular liking for greenery, then the gay-friendly Hotel Cocoon Stachus will definitely appeal to you. The funky hotel has a quirky woodland concept and features a relaxed, retro-chic vibe for superbly affordable prices. The room decor gives the impression of staying in a jungle. The chain’s standard fixture, a delightful ‘cocoon chair’, is a great place to curl up with a book. It’s also a great place for curling up with someone if you get our drift. A delightful breakfast buffet is a great way to start the day. What’s more, the hotel even has a bar and offers rental retro bikes.
The eponymous Stachus, Munich’s term for Karlsplatz, is around the corner from the hotel. Evenings are perfect for taking a walk through bustling Marienplatz which is also close by. Towards night, dive into GBV’s exhilarating gay scene, The gay neighborhood Munich is within walking distance of Cocoon Stachus.
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Carathotel Munich
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Staying at the gay-friendly Carathotel places you in GBV right in the very heart of Munich. The hotel lies within a 10-minute walk of Sendlinger Tor, Marienplatz, Old Town, and Munich Central Station. Since almost all of Munich’s attractions and essentials lie a stone’s throw away, Carathotel is a great base for doing sightseeing in the city. It’s also great for plunging into Munich’s gay scene. If you’re looking for a great place to hang out with new friends, try Kraftwerk. The club, Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, is pure fabulousness, with music popular through the decades playing in the background.
Carathotel offers the choice of modern rooms and apartments, of which the latter is more spacious. The best part of Carathotel’s rooms is that they aren’t noisy, because they face either the beautiful Nußbaumpark or the tranquil courtyard. The daily breakfast buffets are highly recommended, as is the free coffee till 6.00 p.m every day. What’s more, the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and has a great idea about things to do in the area.
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Wombats City Hostel Munich
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If you want to save money and meet new people, the gay-friendly Wombats City Hostel is the best place to stay at. The fun, modern hostel sits right next to the historic Karlsplatz and Munich Central Station. Stay here and easily join this amazing full-day tour of the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle. Not only do you get to see one of Bavaria’s most impressive castles up close and personal, but you also get to admire the gorgeous German countryside.
Wombats City Hostel has the choice of spacious rooms and dorms, and some rooms even have balconies. The hostel has common areas that are great for chilling with fellow travelers. What’s more, it even offers free walking tours and a delicious, all-you-can-eat breakfast. Also, there’s a free drink with check-in.
Its no wonder that Wombats is almost always full, so you need to book rooms in advance. The advantage of this is that Wombat is always chock-full with interesting people from all walks of life.
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Beyond by Geisel
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The upscale Beyond by Geisel is one of the most sophisticated and deluxe gay hotels in Munich. The rooms are elegantly casual without being stuffy, with kitchenettes, a living room, and a wine room. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide spectacular views of Rindermarkt Square or Town Hall. Bluetooth speakers and massive 55-inch flatscreen televisions make the room a luxurious tech sanctuary. And there’s nothing better to do after a long day than to enjoy a soak in the luxurious in-room tub.
Beyond’s premium location at Marienplatz places it right in the heart of the city. Almost all Munich’s historic attractions including Fischbrunnen, Town Hall, St. Peter’s Church, and the likes are within walking distance. What’s even better is that the gay neighborhood Munich, GBV, is just a U-Bahn stop away.
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25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian
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Are you looking for a free-thinking gay hotel in Munich? Then look no further than 25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, the abode of free-spirited and forward-thinking LGBTQ+ travelers. Don’t be fooled by the government-building exterior, because the essence of the hotel is expressive and inspiring to the core. Rooms are done up beautifully with artwork, plants, and romantic lighting. Bask in the comfort of the wonderful woodsy sauna. Casual communal spaces with comfy couches and throw pillows are great for striking up interesting conversations.
For those who don’t have a car, the 25hours Hotel offers bike/car rentals for exploring the city. However, it lies next to Munich Central Station and Karlsplatz and is in the middle of all the action anyway. If you’re interested in exploring the hip and happening GBV and its gay scene, hop on t the U-Bahn and get off one stop away. in this gay neighborhood Munich.
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Derag Livinghotel Am Viktualienmarkt
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Gay travelers looking for a mid-range hotel to stay in Munich will find Derag Livinghotel am Viktualienmarkt to be great. The design hotel lies right next to the 200-year-old Viktualienmarkt, one of the top places to explore in Munich.
Travelers who particularly care about the environment will appreciate the fact that the eco-friendly Derag Livinghotel employs renewable energy sources. Tech-savvy guests will find the well-designed, spacious, and smart-technology rooms catering well to their needs. Guests can spy not only Viktualienmarkt but also church spires and medieval rooftops from the large windows. If you’re the kind who loves whipping up quick meals, there’s even a kitchenette for preparing light meals.
Some of the best sights of Munich’s Altstadt are close to Derag Livinghotel. What’s even better is that the hotel isn’t far from Munich’s gay scene either. For some old-fashioned gay fun, head to the Zur Feuerwache which is a five-minute walk in this gay neighborhood Munich.
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Mandarin Oriental
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Old-fashioned and historical luxury comes to town in the form of Mandarin Oriental, a prestigious gay-friendly hotel in Munich. Housed in a renovated baroque 1880s opera house, Mandarin oriental radiates German charm mixed with an oriental flair. The hotel has long been famous among locals and travelers for its sensational roof-top infinity pool, a novelty in Munich. Carpets, bespoke furniture pieces, and original artwork are peppered throughout, adding to the hotel’s old-world charm, making it also one of the 11 Best Hotels In Munich, Germany.
Rooms combine Asian and German design elements, complete with wooden flooring, artwork, and bathrooms with heated floors. Sleek Bang and Olufsen TVs are present in both the room and the ensuite bathrooms, turning the entire space into a decadent haven. Wonderful views of the city from the windows will make you never want to leave your room. Once, again, this is not one of the exclusively gay hotels in Munich.
The location of the Mandarin Oriental is second to none. It lies within walking distance of Marienplatz and the 200-year-old vibrant Viktualienmarkt. What’s more, gay travelers can hop, skip, and jump a short distance to the gay neighborhood of GBV.
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Euro Youth Hostel
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Three blocks from Karlsplatz lies the gay-friendly Euro Youth Hostel, an affordable hostel in a historic setting. The hostel housed in one of the only structures in the area to have survived World War II. So, there’s creaky staircases and chandeliers adding beauty to the offbeat living situation. Note this is not one of the exclusively gay hotels in Munich.
Guests have the choice of single/double rooms and dorms. The hostel offers tons of awesome freebies, including storage lockers and free walking tours. Since there’s no kitchen due to safety reasons, the microwave and free tea definitely help. Socialize to the hilt at the on-site bar which has fantastic happy hours. You can even make new friends over board games, books, and sports events streaming on the large-screen TV.
If that wasn’t enough, Euro Youth Hostel sits right next to Munich Central Station and Karlsplatz. So getting around anywhere in the city is a piece of cake.
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Just So You Know:
- Deutsche Eiche, one of Munich’s oldest gay hangouts, has been around since the 1950s. By the ’70s and ’80s, Freddie Mercury was a regular patron.
- The Bavarian monarch Ludwig II, who built one of the largest castles in the world Neuschwanstein Castle, was said to be gay. In fact, the magical structure was what inspired the castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Get Some Culture in Munich:
- Munich Pride: The week-long Munich Pride is also known as ‘Christopher Street Day’. It celebrates the city’s LGBT community with clubbing, a vibrant parade, a huge street festival in the gay neighborhood Munich, and lots of beer.
- Gay Tour of Munich: Explore historic and modern Munich with a gay/lesbian tour guide on this amazing private walking tour. See what Munich is famous for, including markets, churches, and historic structures.
- Gay Oktoberfest – The Rosa Wiesn-Oktoberfest or Gay Oktoberfest sees thousands of attendees. The risque festival is all about fetish fashion and hook-ups.
Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Munich:
- Prosecco – This gay discotheque and one of Munich’s top bars. It plays fabulous gay anthems in a gay neighborhood Munich.
- Edelheiss – This men-only gay bar attracts an older crowd and bears who like beer.
- Zur Feuerwache – An old-fashioned gay bar popular with locals and travelers both.
- Kraftwerk – Expect fun music, amazing crowd, and great food at this fabulous gay bar and cafe.
- Jenny Was a Friend Of Mine: This sensational, ever-popular gay bar has themed nights, including men-only “Rough Nights”.
Best Gay Saunas in Munich:
- Sauna Deutsche Eiche – Munich’s most popular gay sauna is also one of Germany’s biggest one. The four-storied, upscale bathhouse has private booths, whirlpool, massage rooms, and even a Finnish sauna.
