Schoneberg gay district
Schöneberg for LGBTQIA*
Berlin's gilded era in the s was also when night clubs for gays and lesbians flourished. The centre of the scene back then was the Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg. A hundred years ago, there were already some forty queer and lesbian venues in the area. Today, there may be at least twice as many. From Fuggerstraße and Motzstraße to Maaßenstraße and Nollendorfplatz, the many different bars, clubs, restaurants and shops make the Nollendorf neighbourhood the city's gay village. This is also home to the annual Folsom Europe international fetish road fair.
The Nollendorfplatz area is welcoming to the many gay men who reside here as adequately as artists, musicians and actors. A number of initiatives ensure that joint tolerance among the diverse residents of the neighbourhood continues to characterise the district. But as a reminder that such peaceful tolerance and co-existence was not always a given, a memorial plaque to the gay and woman-loving woman victims of National Socialism is located at the Nollendorfplatz U-Bahn station.
Address
Nollendorfplatz Berl
Gay Neighbourhoods in Berlin
Berlin's core of queer activity is Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg in the south west just beside the city zoo. Every year, the lesbian and gay street festival takes place here, which marks the start of Pride Week. In the s, the neighbourhood enjoys a well-deserved reputation for some of Berlin's best nightlife, as well as restaurants, cafés and shops frequented by the LGBTQ+ community in particular. Other rainbow neighbourhoods in Berlin not to be overlooked enclose its neighbour Kreuzberg, and the SchwuZ nightclub in Neukölln. There are also shops along the Bergmannstraße as well as reside music venues where Diverse citizens and visitors encounter and have fun. The Mitte neighbourhood also has pockets of LGBTQ+ hotspots including Weinbergpark. Find more scene tips for queer places in Berlin.
David Bowie’s Berlin Apartment
Hauptstraße , Berlin
A memorial plaque out the front marks the apartment block where David Bowie resided from to From here Bowie wrote three of his most famous albums, Low, Heroes and Lodger, now known as the Berlin Trilogy.
Schwules Museum
Lützowstraße 73, Berlin
The world’s first lgbtq+ museum promotes tolerance and diversity and seeks to explore the history and stories of LGBTIQ+ people and lifestyles.
Winterfeldt Schokoladen
Goltzstraße 23, Berlin
Possibly among the world’s most beautiful chocolate shops, the interior furnishings make for an enjoyable afternoon stop. Not only do they sell Berlin’s largest assortment of chocolate, but it doubles as a charming café.
Gasometer Schöneberg
This low-pressure gas container began operation in and at its time was among the largest of its compassionate in Europe. Although decommissioned in and not the most attractive sight, it was nevertheless granted monument protection and is considered a landmark of Schöneberg.
Rüdiger&#;s Berlin
Motzstraße 63, Berlin
Replete with candlelit tables and crystal
Germany is a very linear country in terms of LGBTQ+ rights with the first gay rights demonstration to decriminalise homosexuality taking place here in and the term homosexual first introduced by German penner Karl Maria Kertbeny in Today, the country is also home to Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ population.
As you may expect then, Germany offers a very unharmed and welcoming environment for gay travellers. This is particularly true in the larger towns and cities, many of which are home to a lively LGBTQ+ community, plenty of gay-friendly amenities and a number of popular annual Pride events which welcome locals and visitors alike.
Below, we consider the top gay-friendly places to see when you are travelling to Germany.
Schöneberg, Berlin
Schöneberg holds the distinguished title of being the world&#;s first gay village, a proud testament to Berlin&#;s long-standing support and celebration of LGBTQ+ culture. This vibrant neighbourhood became a haven for the same-sex attracted community in the s and again after the Second World War. Today, it is full of gay-friendly shops, bars, clubs, resta