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On Thursday June 25th, the Queer Artists And Drag Queens’ City Takeover will take place in Tel Aviv, during which over 100 drag queens and queer artists will take over the city’s streets in honour of Pride Month. Throughout the day, live shows will surprise passers-by in central locations around the city, including open spaces, restaurants, local businesses and rooftops.

Also in celebration of the occasion, Tel Aviv is going viral, with a Pride Month Virtual Tour on Thursday June 25th, at 6pm. The virtual tour will visit some of the city’s queerest landmarks, explore the city’s queer history and culture, and discuss some of the open questions around LGBTQ+ life in Israel.

For when the world is able to travel again, open that Pinterest app and get ready to discover the essential LGBTQ+ travel bucket list.

Tel Aviv is the ultimate gay travel destination – there is a strong gay community, and its annual Pride Parade is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading LGBTQ+ events, attracting over 250,000 people from around the world last year.

But it’s not only during pride month that the city is open-minded, progressive as all year round it welcomes gay tourists with open arms and is regularly named as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world. 

For those lusting for travel and are planning their first post-lockdown trip (once global tourism has been given the green light), get ready to discover the top things to see and do and in Tel Aviv for LGBTQ+ travellers:

Nightlife

It’s no surprise that Tel Aviv, nicknamed the “City That Never Sleeps”, is home to some of the best gay bars and parties in the Middle East. A staple of the Tel Aviv gay bar scene, Shpagat is one of the best gay bars in the city, and is popular among locals and tourists alike. The bar has a warm and welcoming environment and plays host to a plethora of famous DJs throughout the year. Located on next to Rothschild Boulevard, Amazona is one of Tel Aviv’s best lesbian bars. Popular among the LGBTQ+ community, Amazona is only open on Thursday nights and Friday afternoons, making it a must-visit weekend destination. Attracting both locals and tourists, Amazona hosts a vibrant and diverse crowd and offers great music, delicious drinks and fun vibes. Alphabet Club in Tel Aviv is a dance club which hosts a great line-up of local and international DJs, making it the perfect destination for dancing. The club often hosts themed nights, including a hip-hop night. Music and fun are the focus at Alphabet Club, and as one of the best gay bars in Tel Aviv, it is a wonderful place to dance and have fun, enjoying the true vibe of Tel Aviv nightlife.

Hotels

Tel Aviv is known for its stunning hotels, offering some of the most exclusive luxury hotels and boutique hotel experiences in the country, and the city also offers an array of gay-friendly accommodation. One of the first gay-friendly hotels in Tel Aviv, Brown TLV is in the heart of Tel Aviv’s most open and alternative districts, home to some of the city’s best gay nightlife institutions, such as the next door Spagat Bar. The hotel itself features world-class vintage design, rooms and facilities, including a spa suite, seasonal cocktail bars and rooftop sundeck with an open-air jacuzzi tub. The Brown Beach House is an ode to one of the 1950’s-60’s Miami Beach, a birthplace of modern gay culture in the United States. Brown Hotels have gone all out, to create a nostalgic beach resort with a glamourous vintage feel and a bold and bright colour scheme.

Inta Hotel offers an urban oasis for gay travellers, situated in a beautiful 1920’s-style building in Jaffa. Conveniently located near the Jaffa Flea Market, and steps from the beach, the Inta Hotel is one of the hottest hotel accommodation options in Tel Aviv and the only dedicated gay hotel in the city. The Alexander Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, which also offers a wellness and spa centre, perfect for pampering. The Alexander Hotel is a proud supporter of Pride and is a great place to stay during the annual Pride Week. Conveniently situated just steps from the famous Hilton Beach, the Hilton Tel Aviv is the perfect ccommodation option for LGBTQ+ travellers. With rooms overlooking the breath-taking Mediterranean Sea, guests can relax and unwind in one of the most stylish hotels in the city.

Beaches

Tel Aviv is also home to incredible Mediterranean beaches, boasting crystal clear waters and white sands. One of the most popular beaches with LGBTQ+ travellers is Hilton Beach, located just in front of the Hilton Tel Aviv hotel. Known as Tel Aviv’s main gay beach, it is always packed with sun-seekers on Fridays and Saturdays, and is the perfect spot to mingle, relax and take a swim before the night-time. Elsewhere, the Gordon-Frishman beach, right in the heart of Tel Aviv, is a meeting point for Tel Aviv’s young and trendy crowd, and is a beautiful place to soak up the sun and watch the sunset. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a drink, Banana Beach is popular with Tel Avivians and tourists alike, who gather to drink, relax, and play matkot (an Israeli sport with paddles and a small ball).

Leon Avigad, founder of Brown Hotels, Israel: “What I love about Tel Aviv is its liberalism. As a city, it’s very open minded and offers an inclusive gay community, enabling you to be anyone you like. My favourite gay hangouts include Shpagat, right next to Brown TLV, and the gay beach which is close to Brown Beach House and the newly opened Brown Seaside. At Brown Hotels, it doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, or who you identify as. All are welcome.”

Sharon E. Bershadsky, Director, Israel Government Tourist Office in London: “With Pride parades and events on hold for the time being, there’s no reason why the LGBTQ+ traveller can’t start planning for a future trip to Tel Aviv, one of the world’s most gay-friendly cities in the world. Host to a multitude of bars and clubs, gorgeous beaches, fabulous hotels and an electric atmosphere, Tel Aviv is a slice of heaven for gay travel.

“With its year-round warm weather and sunshine, Israel offers the perfect getaway, especially during the UK’s cooler months. We look forward to welcoming you all to Israel – the Land of Creation.”

To stay up to date on Tel Aviv and Pride events: https://visit.tel-aviv.gov.il/

For more information, visit: https://en.citiesbreak.com

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Rob Harkavy

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