Best Ways to Explore Spain as an LGBTQ+ Family
Contributing writer Paul J. Heney reveals some of the best ways to plan a queer family trip to explore Spain.
Spain is one of the world’s most visited countries and with good reason. After my husband and I took our two sons (16 and 22) to the Iberian Peninsula, we more fully appreciate why this destination is perfect for queer families. Here are a few reasons why you should consider a family trip to the land of flamenco and tapas.
LGBTQ+-Friendly Spain
Although Spain is a Catholic country, it is legendary for its progressive attitudes towards the LGBTQ community. Walking through Madrid’s Chueca neighborhood, Barcelona’s Gaixample, or even the streets of super-queer Sitges, you’ll see queer businesses everywhere. But even outside those areas, seeing gay couples holding hands or enjoying a meal is surprisingly common. And Pride flags are commonplace, not just relegated to the gayborhoods.
One of the ways we celebrated that openness was by taking advantage of misterb&b’s extensive listings in the area to find a place to stay in Madrid. The queer-owned site was founded by Matthieu Jost, who was inspired years ago when he and his boyfriend were looking for LGBTQ-friendly places to stay in Barcelona.
Today, the site allows travelers to book apartments, hotels, houses, and more, with plenty of options, such as family-friendly choices. Guests can also specify specific features and amenities including the number of bedrooms, baths, pool/hot tubs, and more. available gym, and more.
The site also works to build community by allowing travelers to rent a room or part of an apartment, so you’re staying with a community member who can help you plan out your days. Our hosts, a queer couple from Washington, D.C., gave us plenty of recommendations for bars and restaurants right near the apartment.
Culture
We visited both Madrid and Barcelona, vibrant world cities that have so much to see and do. From the iconic architecture of Antoni Gaudi to the famed galleries of the Prado, you’ll have to pace yourself! In both urban centers, we took advantage of Go City, which has a variety of city passes for shorter or longer durations. We liked the flexibility offered, as our kids could choose whatever they wanted to see — and we didn’t feel like their choices were constantly emptying our wallets.
The Prado Museum was a hit with all of us, given its extensive collection that includes Peter Paul Rubens, Caravaggio, Francisco Jose de Goya, Diego Velazquez, and Pablo Picasso. We also enjoyed an e-bike ride through the city to admire the architecture of El Retiro Park. Both tours through Go City featured excellent bilingual guides, too!
In Barcelona, we used our passes to visit multiple Gaudi buildings and to take a relaxing waterfront cruise that allowed us to admire the city from the Mediterranean. We also checked out the newest architecture with a visit to the top floor observation floor of Torre Glories, the city’s modern Gherkin-shaped tower.
Inspiring Tours
We dedicated two days of our trip to day tours, and they were totally different, but both incredible. One was a three-country tour through Viator, which boasts many LGBTQ-focused tour options around the world that allow travelers to feel a part of the community in different places. Our kids pushed for the Spain/France/Andorra tour, so they could check off boxes for two more countries, and it ended up being a superb choice. We visited lovely small towns in each country, enjoying a meal in each and soaking in the local culture — and met several other LGBTQ travelers in our small group, which was a pleasant surprise.
We also hired local company Private Cicerone for a custom Barcelona tour of Park Güell, Sagrada Familia, and the city’s famed beachfront. Guide Joana Wilhelm gave us the perfect mix of historical knowledge, humor, and interesting asides, and she kept our kids’ attention the whole time, with her easy banter and fun personality.
Great Food
Even with a wide range of palates, you can’t go wrong with the food in Spain, and we ate to our heart’s delight, dining on with paella, seafood, tapas, and more. The kids enjoyed the concept of tapas, allowing them to try things without fully committing to an unfamiliar dish as their entire meal.
In Barcelona, don’t miss tiny, adorable Ochobcn, owned by a couple with a passionate desire to serve excellent small plates. We’ve eaten here several times over the years, and our kids, while initially skeptical of the tiny restaurant, were quickly won over by the gnocchi and the grilled octopus. We also had a delightful meal at the Hotel Majestic & Spa’s rooftop restaurant and bar, La Dolce Vitae, with the views of the city matching the fresh dishes. Try the tandoor chicken, Iberian meatballs, or the fresh pasta.
Speaking of rooftop restaurants, we ate well in Madrid at the Four Seasons’ stunning Dani Brasserie, which also offered unmatched city views and breathtaking architecture. You can’t go wrong with any of their seafood entrees, but we also found the pasta and steaks to be perfectly prepared. For a simpler meal, we enjoyed trying out the chef’s menu at La Musa — everything was conveniently pre-selected for us and we scarfed down every course.
Beach Time
We spent most of our time outside of Barcelona in the quaint little Mediterranean beach town of Sitges. Also known for its popular Bears Week each May and September, this very queer Spanish town is an easy 35-minute train ride to the center of Barcelona. Plus, my husband and I enjoyed the many gay bars and queer men’s clothing stores there. The kids loved being able to walk to the beach in less than five minutes, rent a cabana, and have a lazy European beach day.
You can order drinks or food from the beach staff or wander across the street and choose from a variety of nearby restaurants for a quick burger or pizza. Plus, I think they enjoyed posting pics of the Mediterranean for their friends; that’s much more impressive than the typical teen holiday of a relatively boring Atlantic beach.
Looking for more travel inspiration and family-friendly tips, click here to view Vacationer’s Queer Family content.
