Gay Italy – Ultimate Travel Guide, Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Activities (Updated 2024)
Gay Friendly Travel Guides 25th Mar, 2023
Gay Italy – a country in the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe, made up of a peninsula, surrounded by islands, and divided by the Alps. The majesty of modern Gay Italy, the successor to one of the world’s most powerful empires, is enhanced by its diverse collection of outstanding works of art, including works by Michelangelo and Botticelli.
There’s also ancient ruins and historic sites; internationally acclaimed cuisine; first-rate wines; the rolling hills of Tuscany; and small and large islands, with buoyant Sicily and beach-enveloped Sardinia taking centre stage.
Gay Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites of any country on the planet. Its cultural legacy is remarkable, with traces of the Roman Empire visible everywhere.
Then there are the varied landscapes and delectable cuisine, all of which are anchored by an unmistakable spirit of living life to the fullest.
Despite the lack of laws addressing discrimination against the LGBTQ+ population, Italians have been exceedingly kind, open, and tolerant of the community for decades.
It is however prudent to research such factors before visiting any country.
These other Gay Travel Guides will assist you in making an informed decision.
Remember to always check out the latest rules and restrictions before you leave.
Gay Scene in Gay Italy
Gay Italy is generally an accepting and inviting place for people who identify as LGBTQ+. Visitors to popular tourist destinations such as Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome should have little trouble being relaxed and expressing themselves.
Civil unions have been lawful since 2016, and same-sex unions are legal and widely accepted, however, marriage between same-sex partners is currently illegal.
When in public, LGBTQ+ couples should have no trouble expressing themselves respectfully. Due to the nature of smaller communities though, overt displays of affection might draw unfavourable attention.
The north accepts homosexuality far more than the south, and yet, tourist sites like Capri and Taormina in Sicily are well-known for being LGBTQ+ friendly.
Milan boasts a thriving queer community as well as a busy city of arts, culture, and fashion.
It organises an LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and Milan Pride draws over 100,000 people. The Porta Venezia neighbourhood is known as the centre of Milan’s queer culture, with Lecco Street and San Martini Street, as well as Leccomilano, offering a wide range of gay-friendly bars and clubs.
The Gate Party is a gay-friendly event held in Milan once a month. In contrast, Rome has a more low-key gay scene, with Via San Giovanni being a favourite gay hangout.
Both Coming Out Bar and My Bar are popular options with wonderful views of the neighbouring Colosseum.
In the same region, Rome hosts its own Pride festival every year.
Is Gay Italy Safe?
Gay Italy is ranked 34th among the world’s safest countries.
Recognize that there are specific areas of Italy where you’re more likely to be a victim of crime though, such as crowded city centres, tourist attractions, and particular portions of Milan.
Pickpocketing is a big risk in Italy, so make sure to keep your valuables in a secure location.
Traveling as a gay couple or individual will not be a problem. In general, public sentiment about LGBTQ+ people has become more accepting, particularly in recent decades.
Traveling in Italy is now considered safe throughout the country.
Due to Catholic traditions, public displays of affection are uncommon, especially in small towns and villages, although they are more popular and accepted in larger cities such as Rome and Milan.
Best Time to Visit Gay Italy
The greatest time to visit Italy is determined by the type of experience you want to enjoy. August is a vacation month in Italy when locals and visitors alike travel to the beaches to enjoy the scorching temperatures.
Locals are almost completely displaced from the cities, leaving only tourists to enjoy the splendor. It also means that some stores and businesses will shut down completely.
Between June and August, travelers will most likely be crammed into smaller crowds at popular attractions. This is the most expensive time to visit, along with the Christmas and Easter holiday seasons.
The winter months are highly advised if you want to keep your travel expenses as low as possible. Most airfare and accommodation options will be slightly cheaper at this time, except for northern ski resorts, which will surely increase their prices.
For LGBTQ+ travelers, summer is the best time to visit Italy. “Pride season” runs from June through September, and many cities around the country celebrate it.
Although the largest festivities are still held in Milan and Rome, Pride events are organized in every Italian region. Northern Italian cities such as Bologna and Turin are particularly gay-friendly.
Every year in April, the latter organizes the Lovers Film Festival, which is a fun LGBTQ+ film festival.
Puglia, especially the beachfront town of Gallipoli, is also one of the most gay-friendly locations in Southern Italy and has recently become a popular destination for the local gay community.
Best Gay-Friendly Hotels in Italy
Casa Carpe Diem A VILLA BARCA
Located in Casanova Lerrore, Casa Carpe Diem A VILLA BARCA offers air-conditioned rooms with sea views, free WiFi, and a range of amenities such as a coffee machine, fridge, and flat-screen TV.
Guests can enjoy the seasonal outdoor swimming pool, garden, and barbecue facilities.
The property is a popular spot for hiking and offers activities like darts. Riviera Airport is just 11 km away.
| Activities | Swimming Pool Restaurant Spa Hiking Trails Picnic Area Yoga Room |
| Price | €€€ |
| Location | Casa Carpe Diem A VILLA BARCA Borgata Case Soprane 25, 17033 Casanova Lerrone Italy |
| Contact | Call +393534054476 info@villabarca.com |
| Website | VILLA BARCA | Urlaub fernab von allem in Italien – Entspannen Sie sich |
Casa Bertagni
Casa Bertagni is located in the heart of Bologna, just a few steps away from the National Art Gallery and 700 metres from the Two Towers.
The rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with modern amenities, including free WiFi and satellite TV. Guests can relax in the private bathroom with either a shower or a spa bath and free toiletries.
Additionally, the property offers private parking on request and bike rental services.
| Activities | Library Hot Tub Restaurant Trails |
| Price | €€€ |
| Location | Casa Bertagni G. B. De Rolandis 7, 40126 Bologna |
| Contact | Call +39 051 244500 info@casabertagni.it |
| Website | Casa Bertagni |
Crossing Condotti
Crossing Condotti is a charming house on the first floor of a historic building, surrounded by monuments and close to Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps, in the heart of Rome’s historic centre.
The rooms are beautifully decorated with parquet floors, antique furnishings, and original wooden ceilings.
Each room comes equipped with a tea/coffee maker, slippers, and a flat-screen TV with Sky channels.
Guests can enjoy the surrounding area with its famous boutiques, restaurants, bars, and cafes.
| Activities | Spa Library Restaurant |
| Price | €€€-€€€€ |
| Location | Crossing Condotti Via Mario De’ Fiori 37, Rome, 00187, Italy |
| Contact | Call +39 051 244500 info@crossingcondotti.com |
| Website | Crossing Condotti, Boutique Hotel in Rome | Welcome |
Gay-Friendly Dining in Gay Italy
The intense tastes of favorite foods like pizza, lasagna, and parmigiana are well-known around the world. Italian cuisine is influenced by culture and history.
It brings out the natural tastes of classic Italian cuisine in this way, making it simple.
1. Impiccetta
This restaurant specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. You’ll be able to taste delicious spaghetti carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, and oxtail.
The excellent baked cheese, tiramisu, and parfait are all highly recommended by most visitors. When visiting Impiccetta, you must get the wonderful house wine, cordial, or grappa.
This establishment’s pleasant ambiance helps customers unwind after a long day at work. This location’s professional staff exhibits a high degree of quality.
| Types of Food | Cacio e Pepe, spaghetti carbonara, and Sausages |
| Price | €€ |
| Location | Via Dei Fienaroli 7 – 00153 Rome |
| More Information | Impiccetta – Romani de core |
2. Da Giacomo
Da Giacomo is presented in a seductive, stylish, and sophisticated environment reminiscent of early twentieth-century Milanese trattorias.
The menu offers a variety of seafood dishes, with fresh fish available through a separate window.
You can order the daily catch and have it prepared in any manner you want, for example: grilled, baked in foil, Meunier, Livorno-style.
| Types of Food | Kinds of seafood |
| Price | €€ |
| Location | Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 6 Milano |
| More Information | Da Giacomo – Giacomo Milano |
3. Trattoria Montina
This charming Italian restaurant blends a warm ambiance with classic cuisine to provide a relaxing respite after a day of shopping. Maurizio and Roberto Montina, twin brothers, own and run Trattoria Montina.
Chef Roberto, and his modern spin on Italian classics, will please even the most discerning palates.
Maurizio wanders the dining room, talking to locals and guests alike and giving the restaurant a unique personal touch.
| Types of Food | Meat, Fish , Pasta |
| Price | €€ |
| Location | Via Giulio Cesare Procaccini 54 – 20154 Milan |
| More Information | Trattoria Milano – Trattoria Montina dal 1995 |
Gay-Friendly Bars and Clubs in Gay Italy
Happy Hour is the time when the nightlife begins to emerge and lasts until late at night, with bars, taverns, and clubs at your disposal.
Gay Italy not only has beautiful scenery and wonderful cuisine, it also has fantastic nightlife.
1. Coming Out
Coming Out, which is located near the Colosseum, is an LGBTQ+ bar in Rome. This bistro-café bar is open 24 hours a day and hosts a variety of themed nights.
On Tuesday nights, karaoke is held, while drag queens perform on Sundays and Wednesdays. In the evenings, it’s very popular and bustling.
Upstairs is a gay bed and breakfast with reasonably priced, air-conditioned rooms.
| Price | €-€€ |
| Food and Drinks | Both Offered |
| Location | Via di San Giovanni in Laterano 8 – 00184 Rome |
| Contact | +39 06 700 9871 |
| Website | Home – Coming Out |
2. My Bar
My Bar is a gay bar and café located near the Colosseum and next to Coming Out. During the day, My Bar attracts a mixed population, with more LGBTQ+ patrons in the evening.
A modest dance floor is available, with a resident DJ spinning some decent commercial house music. They also have wi-fi access and regular karaoke nights with go-go dancers.
| Price | €-€€ |
| Food and Drinks | Both Offered |
| Location | Via Di San Giovanni In Laterano 12 – 00184 Roma (RM) |
| Contact | +39 06 700 4425 |
| Website | No Website |
3. MONO Bar
MONO is a cocktail bar in the Rainbow District of Porta Venezia. MONO was founded in 2007 and is inspired by the bars of Amsterdam and Berlin.
The bar attracts a diverse international crowd that is mixed with straight and LGBTQ+ individuals.
MONO is closed on Mondays.
| Price | €-€€ |
| Food and Drinks | Both Offered |
| Location | Via Lecco 6 – 20124 Milan |
| Contact | +39 339 481 0264 |
| Website | No Website |
Gay-Friendly Activities and Attractions in Gay Italy
Gay Italy is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, with some of the world’s most recognized attractions.
It is a remarkable country with a rich history, breathtaking architecture, artistic traditions, a stunning coastline, and delectable cuisine, and there is something for everyone to see.
1. Piazza del Duomo
The Piazza del Duomo, Milan’s large city plaza, is called after the massive church that stands above it.
The Piazza del Duomo, the city’s most popular site, is an excellent place to start your vacation in Milan. Take in the ambiance at one of the square’s cafés, admire the architecture, or shop in the four-story arcade that overlooks the plaza.
| Activities | Sightseeing, Shopping |
| Location | Milan, Italy |
| Price | Free |
| Availability | All Year Round |
| More Information | Duomo di Milano OFFICIAL SITE (duomomilano.it) |
2. Grand Canal
Venice’s renowned S-shaped waterway is the Grand Canal. On any given day, you can hear the splashing of the gondolas’ oars as they slowly make their way through the city.
Since there are few walkways along the canal and the backs of the Floating City’s buildings drop down into the water, a gondola ride is nearly inescapable.
The Vaporetto, or water bus, is a more modern and faster way to visit the Grand Canal and the key tourist attractions that line it.
| Activities | Sightseeing, Water Bus Riding |
| Location | Venice, Italy |
| Price | €€-€€€ |
| Availability | All Year Round |
| More Information | Discover The Grand Canal, Venice’s Most Amazing Canal (2022) (veneziaautentica.com) |
3. Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of the “modern” seven wonders of the world and is a 2,000-year-old architectural heavyweight.
The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built by the Roman Empire, completed in the year 80 under Titus’ reign.
It used to attract 50,000 people who would applaud and jeer while gladiators fought, executions were carried out, and battle reenactments were performed.
While the adoring throngs have vanished, the edifice has stood the test of time, surviving earthquakes, stone thieves, and vehicle pollution to stand in the centre of Rome today.
| Activities | Sightseeing |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
| Price | €€ |
| Availability | All Year Round |
| More Information | Visiting the Colosseum – The Colosseum |
4. St. Peter’s Basilica
The enormous dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is a towering creative remark from the Late Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as a great icon of the little Vatican state.
St. Peter’s Basilica, which was first opened on November 18, 1626, has grown to become one of Catholicism’s most sacred locations and one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations in the previous 400 years.
What really shines out, however, is what’s on the inside.
| Activities | Sightseeing |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
| Price | €-€€ |
| Availability | All Year Round |
| More Information | St. Peter’s Basilica – Opening hours, price and location – Rome |
5. Leaning Tower of Pisa
The jewel in the crown of Pisa is the unique cylindrical bell tower, which has become recognized around the world for its peculiar angle.
It’s the imposing Duomo’s freestanding Romanesque campanile (bell tower) on Piazza Dei Miracoli.
While the design and history of the building are fascinating, most visitors flock to see and photograph the odd tilt of this Italian monument.
| Activities | Sightseeing |
| Location | Pisa, Italy |
| Price | €€ |
| Availability | All Year Round |
| More Information | Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy: Guide to the Tower of Pisa |
Italy is also one of the
8 Best Gay Honeymoon Destinations
Top 10 Things to Do in Italy
- Climb Mount Etna – Many people think of Italy as a vast museum, but few realize it is also home to the world’s largest volcano. Reaching the summit of Mount Etna is a spectacular adventure, especially because of its location, which is just above the sea.
The park surrounding Mount Etna is nearly lunar in appearance, and there is snow and skiing is feasible during the winter months. The sight of lava on snow will stay with you for the rest of your life.
If you’re planning to walk or ski, don’t forget to carry the appropriate items for your trip. - Shop in Milan’s Market – Because Italy is synonymous with fashion and Milan is the country’s style capital, it practically goes without saying that Milano has the most upmarket shopping in the country.
Milanese shopping is fantastic, with a wide range of designer stores and specialist boutiques to select from. However, be aware that a trip to this city for shopping can be fatal to your credit card.
The best shopping in Milan can be found on Via Della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone. - Enjoy the Sun at the Amalfi Coast – A vacation on the Amalfi coast, a gorgeous stretch of coastline covering 50 kilometres along Italy’s western coast, will thrill beachgoers and road trippers alike.
The Amalfi coast is dominated by little hidden beaches, colourful fishing villages, and imposing cliff tops, making it a great destination for water babies, beachcombers, and culture vultures alike.
You may also plan an Amalfi coast itinerary to guarantee that you don’t miss out on anything and that you get the most out of your time here! - Taste wine in Tuscany – There are many things to do in Italy, but one of the most delightful is eating local Italian pasta while sipping red wine as the sunsets.
Fortunately, a vacation to a rural vineyard affords the opportunity to do so! Visit wineries in the Tuscan countryside to learn about the winemaking process and sample some of Tuscany’s finest bottles. - Visit The David – Italy is rich in art as well as natural beauty, history, and elegance. Michelangelo’s David, which may be viewed in the “flesh” in Florence, is one of the world’s most famous works of art.
The monument is wonderful and a perfect celebration of the human form, but the museum where it is on display is fascinating in and of itself. - Explore the Italian Lake District – The Italian lake district is located in northern Italy and is home to five stunning pure water lakes: Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo, and Garda.
If you want to make a big impression on your Italian vacation, a trip to the lakes is a must-do since you’ll have boundless fun with romantic boat excursions, lakeside wine tasting, and trips to picture-perfect villages. - Hike through the Majestic Mountains in the Dolomites – The Dolomites are a mountain range in northeastern Italy that is part of both the Southern Limestone Alps and the Northern Italian Alps.
This stunning mountain range, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to some of Italy’s top walking trails and hiking routes, with 18 peaks rising above 3,000 meters and offering incredible vistas for miles.
It’s time to put on your hiking boots and head to the mountains! - Receive a Blessing from the Pope – Every Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square, just beneath the Gianicolo, the Pope blesses the crowd from the window of his office, which is located just beneath the Gianicolo.
Even if you aren’t a Catholic, a trip to the Vatican is worthwhile for the beauty and history on display.
- Visit the Birthplace of Pizza and have a taste – Naples locals began topping their flatbreads with two delightful ingredients, tomatoes, and cheese, in the late 18th century. The modest Neapolitan pizza was thus born!
Today, the crust (which must be manufactured with highly refined wheat flour), the tomatoes (which must be San Marzano), and the mozzarella cheese (which can be used in two forms) are used to grade this classic dish.
You definitely must visit Naples to sample real pizza Napoletana and other Italian cuisines. - Sip a Coffee at the Piazza Navona – Even though it is frequently packed, Piazza Navona is a place of beauty and calm in Rome. The piazza is a spectacular mix of art and history in one location.
It was once filled with water for ship racing and fights, but now it houses a magnificent fountain as well as numerous restaurants and cafés.
How to get to Italy?
From Canada
Italy is a Schengen Area country. For travel within the Schengen area, Canadian nationals do not require a visa. Visa-free travel is only available for stays of up to 90 days during 180 days. Visits to any Schengen nation are included in the total stay.
A visa is required if you intend to stay in the Schengen area for an extended period of time. You must contact the high commission or embassy of the country or countries to which you will be traveling prior to departure to obtain the necessary visa(s).
Air Canada operates flights to Rome, Venice, and Milan from Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, and other Canadian cities.
From the United States
There are several flights from the United States to Italy. Travellers who want to spend time in Italy can fly into New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport and land at Naples International Airport.
Naples Airport is four miles from Naples’ Capodichino district. All passengers are served from a single terminal.
Travellers can fly to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport from Atlanta. Alitalia and Vueling have their major hubs here.
Several airlines fly directly from the United States to major Italian cities such as Naples, Milan, Rome, and Venice. Travellers may fly nonstop from Miami International Airport to Rome in 12 hours and 5 minutes – to 17 hours and 10 minutes.
TAP Air Portugal, Vueling Airlines, and Iberia all have direct flights from Boston to Rome.
Only Lufthansa and United Airlines provide direct flights to Naples from JFK International Airport.
Flights from the United States to Milan can land in airports such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and others. Finnair, Emirates, and JetBlue are among the airlines that offer these routes.
From the United Kingdom
Flying to Italy is possible from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
You can book a flight with Ryanair, the most popular airline for flights from the United Kingdom to Italy. The flight time is 2 hours and 30 minutes on average.
From Australia
Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates are some of the carriers that offer flexible cancellation, but the most popular airlines, Asiana Airlines, Air China, Thai Airways, China Eastern, and SWISS, are also good options for booking a flight.
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