In our guide to gay Rome, we have combined our gay travel experiences with those of some leading gay travelers worldwide. That’s why we hope to give you the best advice possible. So, enjoy the reading.
Introducing the city
Rome is one of the most popular cities in Europe.
Furthermore, it’s a destination that doesn’t disappoint, which is why it is on nearly everyone’s bucket list. Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and later the Papacy. It has been at the heart of so much good and bad history throughout the ages. It’s like an open-air museum.
Still, we have to point out that Rome is hardly a “gay” destination, and the Italian capital is yet conservative and influenced by the presence of the Catholic Church in Vatican City. Additionally, it’s a major metropolitan city. With that comes a massive LGBT+ population living and working here. You’ll find a decent gay scene here, although smaller and more discrete than expected. More importantly, you’ll see more clubs and late-night events than gay bars. The gay scene in Rome tends to pick up later at night.
It is a city you must see at least once in a lifetime.
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Top Rome’s attractions
In its long history, Rome has accumulated numerous attractions. Therefore, it is impossible to name all of them in one short tourist guide. So, we invite you to see the photo gallery below to see Rome’s major attractions.
Note: If you want to see more, visit our related article about Top attractions in Rome.
Colosseum, ©Istock.com/vwalakte
St. Peter’s basilica in Vatican, ©Istock.com/FotoGablitz
Fontana di Trevi, ©Istock.com/ventdusud
Pantheon, ©Istock.com/Kemter
Ruins of Forum Romanum, ©Istock.com/Gosiek-B
©cntraveler.com
Piazza Navona, ©Istock.com/phant
Spanish steps, ©Istock.com/FilippoBacci
Villa Borghese, ©Istock.com/ROMAOSLO
Most popular tours in Rome
While some agencies organize gay sightseeing tours, they are usually more expensive than regular ones. So, you can click on the link below to book your favorite tours in advance or seek a local agency once you are there. Ultimately, if you are a dedicated gay traveler and want to join a specific gay tour, the two agencies, namely City Gay Tours and The Roman Gay, offer excellent services.
Lastly, we suggest checking out Viator and getting valuable discounted deals if you want to see some of the best tours in Rome or the best one-day trips from the city.
How to get to Rome
Firstly, Rome has two international airports with over 40 million passengers yearly. So, it has excellent connections with the world. But, if you live in Europe, visiting the Italian capital for less than €50 is possible. Vueling, Ryanair, Wizzair, and Easyjet are the leading low-cost airlines flying to Rome.
Find and compare cheap flights online – Flight search engine.
Once you have your ticket and know which airport you will land in, find out how to get to the center of Rome from Leonardo da Vinci Airport or Ciampino Airport. You can get a ticket at the airport.
Furthermore, Rome offers a vast array of public transport like all the big cities. But, of all the means of public transport, we recommend the metro the most.
If you want to learn more about getting to Rome and getting around in Rome, visit our related article, Top Guide to Rome.
The best gay and gay-friendly hotels in Rome
When choosing your room or apartment, we recommend reading the reviews that matter. Suppose you are traveling solo; read what solo travelers are commenting. Plus, we recommend looking not just at price but also at area. You might pay a little more for a room, but at the same time, the other expenses will be lower. We have picked some of the hotels here for you to make your decision easier. But if you wish to see more options, you can visit Booking.com here.
We’ve partnered with misterb&b, a booking platform for LGBT+-friendly homestays. They have hosts in over 200 countries with 1 million listings. Home-sharing is a great way to explore the local gay scene with the help of a local. Mister B&B is our top choice for this.
Best gay bars and clubs In Rome:
- Coming Out – “Coming Out” is probably Rome’s most popular gay Bar. It then stays open for lunch and dinner until very late for drinks and afterparty fun! You can find it on Rome’s famous Gay Street.
- My Bar is the gay Bar next door to Coming Out, and together they sponsor the Gay Street Roma events. This street is close to traffic due to the shows that include free movies, music performances, and art displays all summer.
- Beige – The only gay Bar in the Trastevere serves some of the best cocktails.
- Freni e Frizioni – For a younger, alternative gay crowd, Freni e Frizioni is where you need to head. The lovely ambiance and the vintage furniture and decor make it date-worthy.
- Muccassassina is a big dance palace with several dance floors, bars, and lounge nooks spread over three floors. It started as a gay party but soon became very popular with gay, straight, young, and trendy party people—music, mainly Pop, Commercials, and remixes.
- Skyline Club offers a cruising atmosphere with a nice bar, cabins, a smoking area, and a labyrinth. With regular party nights like naked nights, look at their website to see what’s on.
- Censured Club Roma: Two-level gay cruise club with a dark room, a red playroom, and a glory hole. The place also has a large shower room, a lounge with a dressing room, and a well-stocked bar.
- Company Roma: Late-night-basement Roman-bear-bar and gay cruise club and the choicest destinations for a crowd of Roman bears and their admirers.
Lively atmosphere in Freni e frazioni bar
Adam Sauna is Italy’s biggest sauna right now.
Best gay saunas in Rome:
- Adam Sauna – is Italy’s most prominent gay sauna – and it’s in Rome! It is your usual sauna and sex club with a small gym, Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms, and a Turkish-style bath.
- Apollion – This small quaint gay sauna near Gay Street is ideal for meeting local gays. The property even offers massages.
Coronavirus Update: Please note that some venues may be closed in line with local government advice. Stay safe and follow the local authority’s guidance to minimize the risk of virus transmission. Please check the venue’s website for the latest opening hours and information before making your journey. Ultimately, you can check the Skyscanner site for the latest COVID-19 travel updates and restrictions
Gay Events in Rome
Despite not being Italy’s LGBT+ capital (that title belongs to Milan), it offers several events during the year. The most prominent one is undoubtedly Roma Pride, which will occur in June.
For more information, you can check the following websites GayTravel4u
or NightTours.
Our Guide to gay Rome – final thoughts
Rome may not be one of Europe’s most prominent gay capitals, but most of us come here to basque in history and its numerous cultural wonders. That’s why it is essential to combine both, mix sightseeing with the occasional gay party.
And for that, there is enough gay scene for everybody.
Finally, we are giving the word to you. What did you like most about this city, and what were your experiences?
Read also
References and sources:
Photo credits:
Featured photo:@Gennaro Leonardi