8 of the best gay beaches around the world

Half the joy in visiting queer beaches is the journey – for me, anyway. It can be arduous: you might take two trains to a bus to a ferry in New York, then suddenly, you’re dipping your toes in Fire Island's sands, the trek already forgotten. Or you might hike across a bluff, tiptoe down a breakneck staircase and find yourself on San Francisco's Baker Beach, saluting the Golden Gate Bridge in your birthday suit.

Some destinations are much easier to access. In Puerto Vallarta, Playa de los Muertos is steps from the gayborhood, where resorts rent lounge chairs to beachgoers. In Miami, 12th Street Beach is minutes from Palace, the drag emporium on Ocean Drive. They’re delightful, sure, but these beaches feel far too exposed. I prefer the seclusion that comes with a trek, far from the prying eyes of modest families. 

LGBTQ+ people historically sought out these hard-to-reach spaces for safety. These days, they still provide a sense of liberation, where you can cast off your clothes for fun that’s uninhibited, even feral. Being queer isn’t always a walk in the park – but it can be a hike to a very good beach. These are the ones worth the legwork. 

1. Boy Beach, Provincetown, USA

Best beach for secluded cruising 

Commercial St in P-town, the LGBTQ+ summer hub on Cape Cod’s curved tip, is a non-stop Pride parade from May to September. The path to its gay beach, on the other hand, is a bit like Brigadoon. The mile-plus stretch of sand linking the beach to the mainland disappears during high tide, leaving anyone who didn’t consult the lunar cycle hiking through waist-high water. Few people arrive by accident, and most know what they’re in for: a secluded stretch hidden by dunes, where things get frisky once the sun dips into the sea. (P-town’s sapphic set sticks to nearby Herring Cove Beach, where there’s a parking lot and amenities.) 

Planning tip: A quick jump in the Atlantic is refreshing, but don’t plan on playing in the surf for long. Provincetown’s water is bracing, even in summer, and sharks love this strip as much as the gays. (I once saw a toothy predator get stranded ashore.) Instead, pack a bag with a day’s worth of snacks, drinks and perhaps a book of poetry by local bard Mary Oliver – though with all the socializing here, you might not get much reading done. 

• How to get there: Most people hike from the Boy Beach bike racks along Route 6A, roughly a quarter mile from Bradford St. It’s also possible to arrive via the jetty on Commercial St's west end, though it’s a longer, harder haul.

• Amenities: You’re on your own: bring a towel, umbrella, plenty of sunblock and water. 

• Hours: Time your trip with low tide to avoid wading through the salt marsh. Pack a flashlight if you plan to stay past sunset. 

2. Playa del Amor, Zipolite, Mexico

Best beach for casting off worries (and clothes) 

I’m not supposed to tell you about Zipolite – at least that’s what fellow travelers tell me whenever I visit. I understand their concern (even if word got out years ago). This tiny Oaxacan town is a barefoot bohemia, not yet ruined by the kind of overdevelopment that plagues Mexico’s go-to gay destination, Puerto Vallarta. 

Once an isolated fishing village, the rest of the world is slowly catching on to its charms. Aside from eating along its main drag or practicing yoga with gay teaching duo Markus and Yoann, there’s not much to do here but sip mezcal by the sea – and that’s a good thing. The mile-long stretch is Mexico’s only legally-recognized nude beach, with an all-bodies-welcome attitude that embraces queer folks of all stripes. 

Planning tip: During the day, crowds lounge around El Alquimista, a bohemian boutique hotel with a beachfront restaurant. At sunset, everyone migrates to Playa del Amor, a U-shaped sand patch backed by craggy cliffs. Grab a beer from one of the no-frills beach-bar palapas to soak in the natural beauty by moonlight – and lose the bathing suit; it kills the vibe. 

• How to get there: Zipolite is a 75-minute flight from Mexico City to Huatulco, then an hour cab ride from Huatulco’s airport. To reach Playa del Amor, walk to the beach’s eastern edge and look for the staircase. 

• Amenities: Zipolite’s main road parallels the beach, with plenty of restaurants with bathrooms. Remember to bring clothes to venture into town. Take out plenty of cash at the airport – beach bars don’t take cards, and the town’s ATM is unreliable.

• Hours: The sand gets blisteringly hot around noon. Plan beach time in the morning and early evening. Visit between November and April, outside of the rainy season.  

3. Playa del Muerto, Sitges, Spain

Best beach for LGBTQ+ history 

Legend says this is the world’s oldest gay beach – a dubious claim, perhaps, but Playa del Muerto’s sun-drenched cove has clearly had time to perfect the formula. It’s a clothing-optional oasis with turquoise waters, rugged cliffs, a hidden cave and even a chiringuito (beach bar) that’s been serving cafe fare here for decades. To top it all off, it’s in Sitges – one of Europe’s friendliest LGBTQ+ towns, located 25 miles (40km) southwest of Barcelona, a quick day trip away. It’s not as easy to reach as Balmins (in Sitges) or Mar Bella (Barcelona), but the hike here is a beauty, climbing through shrub-covered cliffs (occasionally cruisy) and skirting train tracks before dropping down to the beach. 

Planning tip: The beach cafe can get overwhelmed, particularly during high season in summer. Bring your own refreshments to avoid the queue.

• How to get there: Playa del Muerto is about 3 miles (4.8km) southwest of central Sitges – budget an hour for hiking. For a shorter trek, take the SL2 bus to Mirapleix and walk 1 mile (1.6km).

• Amenities: None, aside from the cafe. 

• Hours: Come during daylight to navigate the trail. Swimming conditions are best from June through October. 

4. Jacob Riis Beach, New York City, USA

Best beach for queer community 

Crowds on some queer beaches resemble an American Gladiators casting call – all chiseled and suspiciously uniform. Jacob Riis is not that beach. People here are unapologetically queer. Trans men wear top surgery scars with pride and femme queens sport itty-bitty bikinis. Black and brown folks, gays and theys – everyone takes the bus or the ferry (or splurges on an Uber) to reach this sliver of sand on the far edge of Queens. 

Dubbed “The People’s Beach,” Riis lives up to its name as an egalitarian escape prizing community over exceptional sands. In recent years, construction and coastal erosion have threatened the historically queer section (Bays 1 through 4), but the alphabet mafia always claims a corner. 

Planning tip: Look for rainbow flags on the eastern side of the beach to know you’re in the right place. Like all NYC real estate, space here gets tight – arrive early to find a spot for your towel. 

• How to get there: The People’s Beach is part of Jacob Riis Park on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. In summer, my favorite way to get there is via NYC Ferry. Hop on the Rockaway route from Wall St, followed by a free shuttle to Jacob Riis. 

• Parking: Beach parking costs US$20 and traffic can be brutal. You’re in NYC – use public transit. 

• Amenities: This is a National Park Service site with everything you need: clean bathrooms, outdoor showers, food service at Bay 9, and more food vendors along the boardwalk. 

• Hours: 6am–10pm. It’s busiest on summer weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

5. Black’s Beach, La Jolla, USA

Best beach for dramatic scenery

Thundering waves and 300ft (91m) sandstone bluffs make Black’s one of North America’s prettiest beaches – though your attention may drift from the landscape. In the 1970s, the city of San Diego voted to make this strip clothing optional – and though the law was eventually reversed, people still cast off their swimwear without worry. (The nudity ban isn’t enforced.) 

The wide, 2-mile-long (3.2km) expanse has room for everyone: board-short surfers hang south, sun-leathered naturists go north, and the LGBTQ+ community goes further north, just beyond the straight folks in birthday suits. 

Planning tip: Getting here requires glute strength. Start at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, follow the steep, uneven trail down to the beach, then walk north for about a mile. Consider it an adventure: you might spot dolphins in the surf or a rattlesnake along the cliffside – a reminder that this stretch of coast runs wild. Join in. 

• How to get there: Black’s Beach is about 15 miles (24km) from Hillcrest, San Diego’s gayborhood. If you take an Uber, use the Torrey Pines Gliderport as your drop-off location, where there’s a free parking lot for drivers. Budget 30 minutes for the drive. 

• Amenities: Once you’re on the beach, you’re on your own.

• Hours: The beach is best between dawn and dusk, when you can tackle the steep trail in daylight.

6. Elia Beach, Mykonos, Greece

Best beach for choosing your own adventure 

Much like the rest of Mykonos, the Greek summer island that balances do-nothing ease with bacchanalian excess, Elia goes both ways. Families rent sunbeds near a taverna that serves drinks and food, while LGBTQ+ groups gather by a rainbow flag on the west end, ditching umbrellas – and sometimes their swimsuits.

As loungers disappear, the crowd loosens up – and over the rocks, decorum fades away. No matter where you land, it’s a win. Clear water laps a broad sweep of gold sand, and as one of the island’s longest beaches, Elia rarely feels crowded – aside from peak season in August. (If you need a breather, hike over the rocks to calm, low-key Agrari Beach.) 

Planning tip: If you plan to explore the rocks, bring sturdy sandals or water shoes. There’s nothing less sexy than slicing your foot open in paradise. 

• How to get there:  Perched on the island’s southwest side, you’ll likely need to rely on wheels to arrive. The best option is the KTEL bus system; budget 30 minutes from the Old Port. Hiring a cab in summer will likely test your patience. 

• Amenities: It’s full-service on the main stretch, with outdoor showers, umbrellas, lounge chairs and beachfront dining. Rental prices run high, with chairs starting at €70.

• Hours: The beach is most active from morning to early evening; swimming is best from May through October.

7. Sandy Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

Best beach for wildlife lovers

Set within Table Mountain National Park, Sandy Bay isn’t about preening or partying – it’s about connecting with nature. A 20-minute stroll through scrubby fynbos (literally “fine bushes”) opens onto a white-sand crescent backed by the Karbonkelberg cliffs, rising from the Atlantic like an exclamation point. Dolphins and seals surface offshore, while on land, naturists take advantage of the privacy. (Nudity here isn’t technically legal; use discretion before casting off clothing.) The crowd skews gay, but it’s often mixed, with curious hikers and conservationists wandering by. The only drawback? The steep trail back to the parking lot. 

Detour: If you prefer a more accessible gay beach, try Clifton 3rd, backed by restaurants and the dramatic Twelve Apostles mountain range. Together, these two beaches capture queer Cape Town at its best – a mix of urban wonder and untamed wilds. 

• How to get there: The beach is about 12.5 miles (20km) from central Cape Town. There’s a small parking lot at Sandy Bay’s trailhead. It’s also possible to take a scenic 45-minute hike from the larger Llandudno Beach’s parking lot. Cab rides take roughly 30 minutes.  

• Amenities: None. Bring everything you plan to use. 

• Hours: Keep visits to daytime hours only. 

8. Obelisk Beach, Sydney, Australia

Best two-for-one beach deal  

Sydney, Australia, is spoiled with spectacular beaches, many with devoted queer followings. Watch boys in budgie smugglers at North Bondi, go women-first at family-friendly McIver’s Ladies Baths, or sunblock your nether regions at Lady Jane.

For something more secluded, seek out Obelisk Beach. Tucked at the base of a steep staircase along the sandstone cliffs of Sydney Harbour, this narrow strip of sand is a calm-water reprieve from the city's crowded surf beaches. Named for a 19th-century navigation marker perched above (fittingly phallic), it’s one of Sydney’s few legal nude beaches, and a longtime favorite of gay men.

Detour: When the sun disappears at Obelisk, everyone migrates to nearby Cobblers Beach, a clothing-optional cove on the opposite side of the Middle Head headland. Join them for sunset – a golden-hour finale.

• How to get there: From central Sydney, take the 100 bus from Wynyard Station to Military Rd, then walk 1.5 miles (2.3km) to the beach (an hour total). An Uber cuts the trip down to 20 minutes. 

• Amenities: This is DIY beach-bumming. If hunger calls, hike up to Middle Head Cafe before closing time at 3pm, located between Obelisk and Cobblers. 

• Hours: Plan on packing up your belongings by 2:30pm to join the crowd at Cobblers.