Gallipoli in Salento - The Emerging LGBT paradise

Would you like to try different types of gay vacations? Not as wild as Ibiza or Mykonos? Try Puglia, especially LGBT Gallipoli in Salento. Because the emerging LGBT hotspot is one of the best European gay-friendly destinations. Here you can enjoy laid-back holidays on numerous nudist beaches, enjoy the Italian culture blended with history and try the most authentic Italian cuisine.

If your answer to our question was yes, you should discover Puglia’s hidden gems in Salento and its gay capital Gallipoli.

Gallipoli in Salento, ©bestinpuglia

Salento

First, let’s start with its capital, the Florence of the south. Lecce is home to a large amount of LGBT-friendly venues. Marilyn Cafe Lounge Bar is the official gay spot in town, among many others.

But, the main draw of Salento is Gallipoli and its beautiful beaches. As if that wasn’t enough, a pride festival is held annually in Lecce or Gallipoli – every August. However, the queer scene is more relaxed than in other parts of southern Europe. Namely, Salento is unlike Mykonos or Sitges, where the gay community is centralized in one neighborhood but is white spread throughout the whole region. They can afford this because people are incredibly gay-friendly, which is surprising for such a conservative region. In any case, we advise you to rent a car or a motorbike.

Most importantly, spending a holiday enjoying incredible food, gorgeous architecture, fun nightlife, and dramatically beautiful beaches is a luxury. We are spending it in a place as rich in history as southern Puglia is icing on the cake. Above all, meeting local people will make it a truly unique experience for you. For More details about Puglia, please read our article, Charming Puglia.

Now let’s discover the Italian Ibiza, which the residents call Gallipoli. Why? Let’s see.

LGBT Gallipoli

As mentioned, Gallipoli, also called Italy’s Ibiza, is the LGBT capital and the major gay destination in the region.

Why should you visit it?

Because it has an attractive medieval town surrounded by magnificent beaches, some are peaceful, and the others are mega clubbing centers, like a Samsara beach. But let’s go step by step, shall we?

The historic center of Gallipoli, which the Ancient Greeks founded, lies on the island. You can access it by a 16th-century bridge. It is a charming old town with many baroque churches, white houses, and impressive walls around the maze of antique lanes. And if you don’t like strolling, you can sit in one of its many bars and restaurants or shop in the local boutiques. Getting lost in the labyrinth can be a wonderful experience. In the evening, however, visitors visit its many clubs and beach clubs, where the locals organize wild parties, like on Samsara Beach.

Video about Gallipoli and its surrounding beaches

That’s a promise. You won’t regret it! First, let’s take a look at the following short video.

Gallipoli as the gay hotspot in Puglia

Gallipoli has been well-known as Italy’s gay summer paradise for quite some time. The beaches here are as fabulous as the boys who swim there. It has a sophisticated gay scene around the city and the neighboring Baia Verde.

What draws tourists from all over the world to come here?

Caribbean-like sea, for example.
Its coast. There are some party beaches and secluded nudist beaches with dedicated gay sections.
With a reputation for openness and tolerance, the area is one of the most gay-friendly in Italy. The region organizes three annual parades, one of which is the Salento Pride.
You’ll find many elegant men there. But keep in mind that Italian people embrace metro-sexuality. Sometimes they match up, and sometimes they don’t. Just don’t mistake it for homosexuality.

Now is the time to find the most popular gay beaches, right?

Apulia’s best gay-friendly beaches

Pôr do Sol, Baia Verde

Why should you visit it?

Super friendly
mixed – gay-friendly – gay beach
with gay-friendly owners of the beach bar

The beach club has a relaxed atmosphere and offers fresh local food. The staff is friendly – including the lifeguards. It attracts a mixed crowd in every respect: Italians and international visitors, younger and older, friends, and couples, gay and straight.

It is ideally located behind the old town. So don’t forget to watch stunning sunsets from here.

Pôr do Sol is the number one gay destination in Gallipoli.

It can get quite pricey in the summer, like in all Baia Verde areas, especially in August. Beauty always comes with a price.

Ayala, Campomarino di Maruggio

Why should you visit it?

The most popular naturist beach with an extensive gay section
Easily accessible
It offers a relaxed atmosphere

It is a long, sandy beach with a pinewood conveniently located behind the gay section, one hour from Gallipoli. The turquoise waters there are warm and welcoming.

Ayala Beach (or Commenda Beach) is within easy reach of the nearest parking lot. Ca—5-minute walk.

A famous beach is frequently visited by committing naturists and beautiful boys, who come for the sun, sea, and sometimes – quite openly – for something else—a visit not to be missed if you want to discover the LGBT-Apulia.

Being naked is not obligatory. Getting naked is pretty natural despite it officially not being a wild beach. But many tourists have been practicing that for over 30 years.

Facilities:

none;
the nearest refreshments are found in Campomarino;
If you feel particularly energetic, you could walk along the beach there – you can see it about 1.5km further down the coast.

Punta della Suina, ©immaginasalento.it

Punta della Suina – Spiaggia degli Innamorati

Why go there?

The turquoise water
The “private” coves
Nude bathing

The area is not exclusively gay and naturalistic, but it draws crowds.

Furthermore, the coast here is rocky, and those rocks are sharp. However, the sea is extraordinary. Still, we recommend water shoes for getting in and out of the water. You don’t want to slip and get bruises.

Note: The G Beach Gallipoli Club found here used to be a popular gay-friendly beach bar. It still has that reputation. But after a change of management, they no longer are. They also emailed the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia, asking them not to tag G Beach on their Instagram feed.

Torre Guaceto naturist beach

Why go there?

Located in a protected marine area and national park
Secluded
Soft white sand
A favorite with locals

The gay part of the nudist beach in Torre Guaceto is extremely popular with locals, even though it is hard to access. Don’t confuse this with the family-friendly Torre Guaceto beach, accessible from Punta Penna Grossa. The beach is long with light golden sand. It is in an adjacent protected marine area where swimming is not permitted, though little attention is paid.

Facilities:

None – so bring your refreshments.

Porto Selvaggio beach

Who’s it suitable for? Sunbathers, history seekers

What is there to do? Bask on the beach, explore coastal towns

What makes it unique? Crystal clear sea and the sunsets at Porto Selvaggio beach

This secluded beach is in the middle of Palude del Capitano’s protected area. It is a rocky beach with the emerald green sea in the center of unspoiled nature. You can go there by bus from Gallipoli, from Lecce or Porto Cesareo, or you can go there by car. The parking lot is ca. 1 km away from the beach.

Lido Zen, ©bookyourbeach

Lido Zen in Gallipoli

Why go there?

It is a fully equipped beach in Baia Verde with sunbeds and umbrellas.
The finest sand overlooks the Ionian Sea.
In the afternoon, guests can enjoy an aperitif or cocktails on the panoramic terrace.

Although not explicitly a gay beach club, Lido Zen attracts a young, liberal crowd who don’t bat an eyelid when a group of queens turn up, or a gay couple feels like sharing a kiss! Close to Gallipoli town, this place is ideal for those days when you just can’t be bothered to trek across Salento for your gay beach fix!

Facilities;

beautiful sea;
beach bar;
umbrellas and showers;
parties

Look at the gallery below to see if this is the place for you.

Note: Photo sources: Book your beach

Lido di Pizzo beach – Gallipoli

Are you looking for a quiet beach, surrounded by nature, far from the chaos in Gallipoli? The Lido Pizzo beach is one of the best beaches in Gallipoli (Lecce), visited by gay tourists and a very «in» tourist destination. The beach is gay-friendly. In addition, it is merged with a thick pine forest dominated by the beautiful aromas of traditional Mediterranean vegetation. Most importantly, the coast of Lido Pizzo is sandy, with a crystal clear sea, which has always been one of Puglia’s trademarks. A place like heaven!

Lido Blue Bay Beach

The gay-friendly is between Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca on the South coast. Furthermore, it has white sand, a spotless seabed, and many facilities. What’s another advantage? Blue Bay Beach is easily accessible and provides everything needed for an unforgettable beach vacation. In addition, there is free WiFi.

Best gay bars in Salento

Caffe Bellini in Gallipoli

The action at this famous gay bar in Gallipoli begins early, with most of the fun happening on the crowded terrace in front. This makes Bellini an ideal place to start the night, meet other gay guys, and then go to parties in the other clubs later! Cafe Bellini is a paradise for both local and tourist gay boys. That’s why you need to come to a cocktail or two (or three!) every time you’re in town.

Best gay clubs in Salento

Gallipoli, beside Lecce and Bari, is one of the leading centers for gay clubbing, with queens from across Puglia flocking to these hot spots to have the ultimate fun into the early morning hours. We’ve set out some of the best gay clubs in Salento to check out:

Village Picador in Gallipoli

Situated just ten minutes outside Gallipoli, Village Picador is perhaps the wildest of all gay clubs in Puglia. It’s only open during the summer, so you know you’ll be surrounded by many handsome locals and tourists! With two dance floors and a parking lot, Village Picador is an enormous area that becomes seriously hedonistic from June to September.

Lido Pôr does Sol, Baia Verde, Gallipoli, and its LED beach bar.

Lido Pôr do Sol is a gay-mixed-beach-Lido set on an excellent sandy beach. By day it is a relaxed beach Lido with soft beats in the background and a bar that offers an abundance of snacks and drinks. It turns into a party night in the evenings, especially on weekends and evenings during the weekdays. However, it has an energetic vibe on a much smaller scale than Village Picador. The personnel is amiable, and the atmosphere is genuinely relaxed.

How to plan your trip to Salento?

We’ve put together some valuable tips to help you plan your trip to Puglia.

How to get there: There are two main airports in Puglia, Bari, and Brindisi, so it’s relatively easy to fly into the region from most parts of Europe. We recommend hiring a car to explore as you’ll be able to reach more beautiful and remote spots than you can access via public transport.

Visa requirements: Travelers from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand don’t need a visa for stays in Italy for up to 90 days, so you can easily visit Puglia. Members of the Schengen Zone can also travel freely in Italy, but if you’re coming from somewhere else (or want to be sure), check your visa requirements beforehand.

Getting around: As we’ve mentioned, while there are buses, rail, and ferry routes between parts of Puglia, the easiest way to explore is by renting a car. If you are uncomfortable driving, the official Puglia tourism website has helpful links to all the public transport options to help you plan your movements.

Power Plugs: In Puglia (and the rest of Italy), you will find the regular European power plug/socket. If you’re traveling to Italy from North America, the UK, Australia, or some Asian countries, you must bring a travel adaptor.

Travel insurance: We recommend getting travel insurance for any trip because you never know when something might go wrong, whether it’s just lost luggage or something more serious.

Currency: The currency in Italy is the Euro, like most European countries.

Tipping culture: Tipping isn’t generally required when traveling in Italy, although it’s becoming more expected in popular destinations due to the large influx of American tourists. You won’t need to tip much, maybe just €1.

Internet access: Most hotels, restaurants, and cafes in Puglia will offer free WiFi, and you can find a map with free hotspots here. We suggest bringing a portable WiFi device if you need to do some work or require reliable internet access.

Accommodation: There are many other great places to stay in Puglia, so check out Booking.com for even more options. We love using them because they have excellent online support, it’s effortless to book online, and many places even offer free cancellations.

When to visit: The best time to visit Puglia is when the spring flowers bloom between April and June. Visiting during this time means you can also avoid the tourist crowds of summer and higher prices for everything. The weather is just warm enough but not too warm.

Useful external links

Useful online blogs and guides

Viaggiare in Puglia – here you can find more information about regional transportation.

We hope you found our article helpful and amusing. If you wish, you can check out other travel articles or write in the comments below which part of Puglia you like most.