Germany
Berlin has one of the most diverse and internationally recognised LGBTQI+ scenes in the world. Schöneberg was the historic heart of Berlin's gay scene; today Kreuzberg and Neukölln have emerged as equally important hubs. The city is particularly known for its leather, kink, and fetish communities, and hosts Folsom Europe — Europe's largest leather and fetish street fair.
Berlin's LGBTQI+ scene is unlike anywhere else in the world. It is vast, diverse, deeply political, and almost entirely non-commercial in spirit — driven by community, counterculture, and a long history of radical queer existence. The city has been a refuge for queer people since the Weimar Republic, when it briefly had one of the most open and visible gay scenes in the world. That spirit never entirely left.
Today, the scene spans multiple distinct neighbourhoods and subcultures. Schöneberg — historically the gay village — remains the most conventional entry point, with a concentration of bars and clubs on Motzstraße and Fuggerstraße. But the real energy has moved east: Kreuzberg and Neukölln are home to queer spaces of all kinds, from leather bars to trans community centres, bookshops to after-hours clubs that don't close until Monday morning.
Berlin has long been the European capital of leather and kink culture. Schöneberg's leather bars — including Hafen, Prinzknecht, and the Eagle — draw regulars and visitors from across the continent. The scene is welcoming, unpretentious, and assumes a certain knowledge and confidence from participants.
Folsom Europe, held every September in Schöneberg, is the culmination of this culture: Europe's largest leather and fetish street fair, drawing tens of thousands of visitors for a full weekend of street events, club nights, and community gatherings. The fair itself is free and takes over several city blocks — leather, rubber, and varying degrees of nudity are all on display and entirely welcome. Surrounding club nights run from Thursday to Monday and span every corner of the leather and fetish spectrum.
Berlin summers (June to August) are warm and lively — averaging 22–24°C — and this is when the city's outdoor culture comes alive. CSD Berlin (Christopher Street Day) in July is one of the largest Pride events in Europe. September brings Folsom Europe, with slightly cooler and more comfortable temperatures (14–20°C) that make outdoor events far more pleasant. Winter is cold (0–5°C) but Berlin's indoor scene is excellent year-round and prices drop significantly.
Schöneberg is the classic base for a first Berlin queer trip — central, convenient, with everything in walking distance. Kreuzberg offers more edge and authenticity, particularly around Mehringdamm and Oranienstraße. Neukölln is the frontier — rougher around the edges, increasingly queer, and home to some of the city's most interesting new spaces. Prenzlauer Berg is largely gentrified and more family-oriented but has a visible queer community and great brunch culture.
Berlin's U-Bahn and S-Bahn network is excellent. A day ticket (€9.80 for zones ABC) covers all trains, buses, and trams. Nollendorfplatz (U1/U2/U3/U4) is the hub for Schöneberg's scene. For Kreuzberg: Kottbusser Tor (U8) or Mehringdamm (U6/U7). Berlin is also very bikeable — cycle hire is widely available and the city is flat.
Berlin is one of the safest and most accepting cities in the world for LGBTQI+ travellers. The queer scene is diverse, non-commercial, and deeply embedded in the city's culture. Eastern districts can occasionally see far-right activity but this is not specifically targeted at LGBTQI+ people.
Germany is very safe for LGBTQ+ travellers. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2017, anti-discrimination laws are comprehensive, and major cities — particularly Berlin and Cologne — have deeply embedded queer communities.
