With LGBT communities in every large city, Germany is a well-known LGBT haven in Europe. This, of course, is why that gay vacations to Germany’s LGBT hotspots, such as Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Frankfurt, are so incredibly popular with visitors from all around the world. Germany is also home to several large Pride festivals, with the best-known being the world-famous festivals in Cologne and Berlin, and is a great for gay travel tours anytime of the year. Travelers will likely find that city dwellers are more welcoming than rural residents; however, all across the country travelers will find a welcoming environment in this popular gay vacation destination.

Cologne is often referred to as Germany’s LGBT capital and is a wonderful choice as a gay travel destination. Perfectly poised on the shores of the Rhine River, Germany’s oldest large city draws eager visitors from every corner of the globe to experience this beautiful citys rich history and culture, commune with its friendly, jovial inhabitants and take part in its thriving arts and culture scene. Cologne is home to the world-renowned Cologne Cathedral, Kolsch beer and more LGBT restaurants, clubs, cafs, bars and establishments than anyone could visit in just one gay vacation.

This welcoming community has no problem with couples of all sorts showing affection in public and has a well-established, highly visible LGBT population. Cologne is proud to be the host of the 2010 Gay Games and home to more LGBT bars, clubs, restaurants, cafs and other establishments than any visitor could experience in a single gay vacation. To display how LGBT-friendly this city truly is, the KolnTourismus Service Centre even offers a Pink WelcomeCard, which provides discounts on LGBT clubs, bars, saunas and shops, as well as free public transportation and discounts for local attractions, such as river cruises, opera, theater and museums.

The cosmopolitan city of Berlin is also home to a strong LGBT community and numerous LGBT establishments. Travelers that partake in gay travel to Berlin may want to consider visiting during Pride season when Berlin holds the annual Lesbisch-Schwules Stadtfest, or Lesbian and Gay City Festival, which is the largest event of this type in Europe. The following weekend, the Berlin Gay Pride Parade and Christopher Street Day Pride Festival draw hundreds of thousands of LGBT participants and friends of the community, making this a great time for gay vacations in Germany.

Whether you are traveling to Germany solo, with your partner or with a group of friends, your gay vacation is sure to be an exciting adventure, filled with memories that will last a lifetime. To fully explore all that Germany has to offer, take part in a group tour, or enlist the assistance of a travel agency that is accustomed to gay vacations to Germany.

This article about gay tours for Germany was written by Howie Holben. Howie’s company, Spirit Journeys, has offered spiritual gay travel since 1992. You can learn more at www.spiritjourneys.com