Madrid is a city that caters for all tastes and inclinations. Whether you’re gay, lesbian or bisexual, there are activities, bars, clubs, and places of interest for everyone to enjoy and share.

Gay and lesbian life in Spain has come a long way in the twenty years or so since Franco's death. There are strong lobbying movements for same-sex marriages and for same-sex couples to have equal rights. Same-sex marriage in Spain was legalized in 2005. Same-sex marriage officially became legal in Spain on Sunday, 3 July 2005.

Catholic authorities in particular were adamantly opposed to it, fearing the weakening of the meaning of marriage. Other associations expressed concern over the possibility of gay people adopting children.

Approximately 4,500 same-sex couples have married in Spain during the first year of the law. Shortly after the law was passed, questions arose about the legal status of marriage to non-Spaniards whose country did not permit same-sex marriage. At least one partner must be a Spanish citizen to marry, although two non-Spaniards may marry if they both have legal residence in Spain.

There are thriving gay communities in most of Spain's main cities, notably of course, Madrid and Barcelona. For gay resorts Sitges is unbeatable, and, as in Cádiz, carnaval is a wonderfully hedonistic time to visit. Ibiza and Torremolinos are two other popular holiday destinations.

CHUECA (Madrid):
This district is among the most authentic and cosmopolitan neighborhoods in the downtown city center. Chueca is bounded by Calle Barquillo, Calle Hortaleza, the Gran Vía and Calle Alfonso VI.

Chueca was the site of major urban decay during the early 1980s. However, later on during the decade it became one of the most active centers of the so-called 'La Movida', largely due to its new-found status as a popular gay village. Today, Chueca is still quite attractive and has many good and interesting places to eat, as well as some of Madrid's most avant garde fashion and shoe shops.

SITGES (Barcelona):
Sitges is a small city about 40 kilometers south west of Barcelona renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival. Today, Sitges can be considered a dynamic cultural oasis, basing its economy on tourism and culture offering more than 4.500 hotel beds, half of them in four-star hotels.

It is also a gay tourist town and provides a contrast from Barcelona. Mainly in July and August the town is taken over by gays and the streets are packed. In September the gays disappear and the presence of family tourism can be felt again.

Sitges is very international. Almost 35% of the ca. 30.000 inhabitants are from Holland, England, France and Scandinavia whose children can attend the international school.

GAIXAMPLE (Barcelona):
The well-known "Gaixample" is the left zone of the Eixample in which locals specialized in the Gay public are predominant. Gaixample is bounded by Balmes, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Comte d'Urgell and Aragó.

The "Calle de la Diputació" between Aribau and "de Villarroel" streets, is the main place where you will see lots of bussiness rented by gays. In fact, if you want to completely emerge in this atmosphere, in the streets of Gaixample you will find Pubs, Clubs, Hairdressing Salons and fashionable stores that shine in their entrances the colors flag, a gay icon.

These establishments are directed to homosexuals, although most of them (except saunas) do not exclude and welcome hetero cupples that enter the place.