Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Seated comfortably in the south of majestic, richly cultured Germany, Munich is the capital city of the state of Bavaria and is one of the country’s most respected tourism destinations for Europeans and those from other continents.
Known as München in German, Munich serves as the hub of an incredibly unique style of life and even culinary taste that puts it very much aside from the rest of the regions around it. You won’t be experiencing ‘normal’ Germany when you come to Munich, but the city’s experience is worth noting.
While Munich is mainly known for the strength of its culture and strong presence in European sports, it is also a beacon for modern and colorful tourism, meaning that the city and its surroundings have more than their fair share of queer hotspots to offer. And there are even a few fabulous gay hotels in Munich worth exploring too!
Munich’s gay community and its related hotspots are known as one of the strongest in the entirety of Germany, and this reputation means a strong draw on like-minded travelers and visitors.
This is especially true regarding the neighborhood known as the Glockenbachviertel, which is located very much in the center of the city and has more than its fair share of trendy bars, restaurants, and shopping opportunities.
Not interested in the night scene or in tearing open the bottom of your wallet? No problem! The sights and people of Munich are equally worth the travel. The city is absolutely beautiful, and the sections of the city that we will be focusing on – for example, the Glockenbachviertel – are known as some of the most aesthetically appealing.
There’s also the Marienplatz – an important market square with stunning architecture – the stunning Nymphenburg Palace, and – of course – the Allianz Arena, where the world-famous soccer league FC Bayern finds its home. No matter what interests you have or what you’re looking to see, you’ll find something that deeply interests you within Munich’s splendid streets and skyline.
But now, for our usual disclaimer, which applies even here in Munich. Obviously, in most cases, there aren’t going to be hotels out there marketed directly towards gay people or queer people in general. We know that, and therefore we’d like to note that the hotels on this list follow the same logic.
Most of them have been listed as accommodating, friendly, and unjudgmental to, for, and by queer people in general, as well as being highly rated in general.
It’s almost guaranteed that you won’t find any troubles as a queer traveler in Europe as a whole, but it is nonetheless important to make sure that you choose the right hotel to meet all of your needs and to provide the best possible experience while you’re in the city.
So, with that said, welcome to beautiful Germany and stunning Munich! It’s different, alive, and a wonderful destination to try out a wide selection of gay hotels in Munich. Time to dive in!
In this article we will cover...
Arthotel Munich
Hitting it off strong to start our list of gay hotels in the wonderful south German city of Munich, the Arthotel Munich is the perfect middle ground for a start to this list – affordable, comprehensive, and nevertheless trendy and exciting.
Despite the low price tag, and even though the Arthotel’s main selling point is that it is very close to the Munich Hauptbahnhof, there’s a lot more to the hotel’s benefits than just that factor alone.
But what is the Munich Hauptbahnhof, you might ask? Well – Hauptbahnhof means Central Train Station in German, and with that said, it is pretty easy to realize why this is such a large selling point.
Unlike in less densely webbed areas like Sydney and Dubai, where most destinations are within a central hub area or a single line when exploring Munich, travelers will want to have as many options as possible when it comes to different directions to go in.
When you have as many opportunities as the Hauptbahnhof presents, visitors can reach out to almost every area of the country for affordable prices, which is a massive advantage if you’re looking to make your holiday a wide-ranging one.
The neighborhood that the Arthotel stands in is known as the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt – a well-known art and culture quarter that harbors an amazing quantity of galleries, bars, and interesting shops.
The quarter also backs onto the Glockenbachviertel that we spoke about earlier, meaning that you’ll be hooked right into the center of Munich’s gay community while staying at the Arthotel. The Arthotel is also well decked out regarding amenities, offering a pet- and child-friendly environment, laundry, an in-house restaurant and bar, and enough room to park a car if you plan on hiring one.
Mandarin Oriental
Here we are with the second hotel on this list of the best gay hotels in Munich, and yet we’ve already hit on our first five-star luxury establishment! The price climb might be a bit steep, and the intimidation factor of staying at a five-star hotel might be a bit much for new travelers, but if you’re looking to explore Munich from a place of absolute luxury and relaxation, then this is the place for you.
Built up in the halls of a classically renovated 1890s opera house, the Mandarin Oriental is connected with the city and just removed enough to give a gap of peace for visitors. The hotel is located in the center of the prestigious, beautiful Munich Old City, which we’ll talk about later in great detail when we come to the Hotel Blauer Bock.
It suffices to say that the Mandarin Oriental’s surroundings wonderful complement the already exquisite energy that it has going for itself and that they enhance the experience to another level. One special note is that the city’s former royal palace – the Munich Residenz – is only a few minutes’ walk away. If you didn’t think that the neighborhood was wonderfully exclusive before, then we’re sure you do now.
The Mandarin Oriental’s amenities include a sauna, a gym, an outdoor pool, and – of course – a wonderful Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant on the main floor which is almost as famous and luxurious as the hotel itself.
The restaurant also has a bar, meaning you can easily grab a drink and relax in the adjacent lounge if a full meal isn’t what you’re looking for. Overall, no matter what you want to enjoy while visiting Munich, the Mandarin Oriental has it all in spades.
Louis Hotel
Even though it takes a good-sized step down in price from the Mandarin Oriental before it, the Louis Hotel does not lose the sense of quality and good service that many hotels in Munich are known to have. In fact – if the reviews that the hotel has earned are to be trusted – one could say that it’s one of the best in general, not just as a gay hotel.
Also located in Munich’s Old City, and quite nearly backing into the street that houses the St. Peter’s Church, when staying at the Louis Hotel, one has an even better route of access to the famous Marienplatz square and train station than guests of our last few hotels.
The Town Hall in the Marienplatz square is one of the most visited attractions in the entire city; thus, this is a definite advantage for those looking to see as much of Munich as possible. The Louis Hotel is also only a minute’s walk from the Viktualienmarkt, where one can try a wide variety of fresh-grown produce and street foods.
How does the hotel itself measure up to its competition in this list and the rest of the hotels in Munich? Well. Incredibly well, even. The Louis Hotel’s rooms are cultured and elegant without falling behind on modernity and maintenance, and all the fittings are in top shape. There are flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, and even a laundry service if you need something cleaned.
That’s without mentioning the benefits that one can find outside each hotel room – such as the bar, the dedicated and spacy fitness center, and the hotel’s in-house restaurant. The staff of the Louis Hotel is friendly and accommodating, which makes this particular establishment a perfect candidate for your next gay hotel abroad.
The Charles Hotel
Just as you thought we had left the five-star hotels behind, here we are again with the well-known Charles Hotel! Not only is this one a little cheaper than the Mandarin Oriental, but it is also in an entirely different part of the city.
This means that we get the opportunity to explore a new neighborhood with the Charles Hotel, namely Maxvorstadt – an area known for its casual shopping scene and inclination towards a more contemporary kind of culture and casual museums.
Checking in and out of some of the other hotels in Munich can be a bit of a hassle given that many German businesses and places of accommodation tend to have difficulty paying with credit and debit cards, which is almost certainly what travelers are going to be using in the absence of hard cash, but with The Charles, you won’t be having any such worries at all.
Everything about the Charles Hotel is angled towards relaxation and not having to go through complicated processes, though the staff still offer help when needed.
As such, the Charles Hotel is a perfect springboard for queer travelers to leap from when exploring Munich – giving safety, surety, and a calm place to return to for a night. Or after a night, for that matter, depending on what you’re planning on doing in your days in the city.
The suites offered by the Charles Hotel are wonderful – offering multiple rooms and living spaces, kitchenettes, and balconies that look over Munich’s skyline.
Downstairs there’s everything from a bar, a fitness center, an in-house restaurant, and – perhaps most surprisingly – a ballroom for events and regular dances. While that may seem a little crazy at first, it’s just another point towards the Charles Hotel’s luxurious energy!
Hotel Deutsche Eiche
The Hotel Deutsche Eiche is another one of the hotels on this list to be part of the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt neighborhood, which means that it also has great connections to the Glockenbachviertel that we spoke about at the very beginning of this list.
As such, you can expect connecting with the city’s queer community to be easy and for the Hotel Deutsche Eiche itself to be incredibly fitting as a gay hotel for your next holiday. Queer reviews and previous experience well confirm this last fact, and it is due to this that the Hotel Deutsche Eiche is included on this list.
As for the hotel’s own merits as a place of accommodation, the Hotel Deutsche Eiche starts strong off of the bat by being across from the Reichenbahnplatz tram stop, which means that you can be incredibly connected to the rest of the city without having to worry about the noise and clutter of being closer to the Munich Hauptbahnhof.
When you’re inside the hotel, however, things only get better. Not only is the hotel pet-friendly, but the rooms also have access to full kitchens in some cases, and there is a bar, a spa, and an in-house restaurant to choose from if you’re looking for something to do to lay back during the evening while you’re not out exploring the wonderful sights and culture that Munich has to offer.
You needn’t worry about difficulties with checking in and navigating your way about language barriers, either.
Many travelers are nervous about being in a country that doesn’t speak their language, but the Hotel Deutsche Eiche’s staff are highly praised for their excellent knowledge of English, and you can expect to find that the same is true for most of the surrounding neighborhood, given its trendy and up-to-date nature.
Hotel Müller Munich
Sometimes visiting other cities can feel challenging, especially when that city is in another country. That’s okay – we all feel the same sometimes, and it can be a bit hard to try and settle your nerves when everything feels so foreign. If you often have this feeling, then the Hotel Müller would probably be the perfect hotel for you.
The Hotel Müller is a place that focuses upon being a hotel away from home and does its very best to amp up both the amenities and attention from the staff that it offers to increase this feeling as much as possible. Within the Hotel Müller’s rooms, visitors can expect to be treated to a quiet, peaceful sense of safety, which often comes as a welcome retreat after the noise and bustle of the city outside.
If you’re interested in having an affordable, comfortable place to return to after your adventures in Munich, the Hotel Müller is, without a doubt, the place for you. The rooms are also outfitted with soundproofing, so you can fully embrace privacy.
On top of the already indulgent home-like feeling that the Hotel Müller offers, visitors are also encouraged to take advantage of the breakfast buffet, which is sure to sate any morning hunger you might have.
If you’re looking for something of an evening, however, or if you are looking for a bit more fanciness when it comes to food, you’ll be pleased to know that the Hotel is incredibly close to sophisticated Italian restaurants like the Brenner Grill, the L’Osteria and – perhaps most impressive of all – the Osteria Italiana.
With that many options within a minute’s walk, it’s sure that you’ll find something to fit your preferences, no matter what you especially like.
Mercure Hotel Munich Altstadt
We’ve been on a fair roller-coaster so far through this list of gay hotels, combing through the many different neighborhoods that Munich has to offer and through the various merits that the hotels there have. But what if you’re looking for a middle ground that ticks all the boxes in an even row? If that’s something on your mind, we have the perfect place for you.
Just as centrally located in the Altstadt or Old City as the others in that area here, the Mercure Hotel Munich is just one block away from the gothic-style Frauenkirche – a refurbished church that is considered one of the city’s most known landmarks and a definite tourist hotspot.
Not only that, but waking up to enjoy the completely complimentary breakfast served in the hotel’s dining room every morning is sure to get the day started in a positive swing. Want to go walking through the city to experience everything on foot? You’re right in the middle of the lot – able to access all of the city’s major sites without trouble.
Want to use public transport to get somewhere just a little further away? That’s no problem either! The nearest subway station is only five minutes walk away, and there are plenty of casual shopping destinations to check out and spend some time in along the way.
Speaking of location, the Mercure Hotel Munich is also incredibly easy to reach from the city’s airport via public transport or taxi, which means that you won’t have much trouble getting in on the first day of your stay either! The arrival experience is amazing, too – all the rooms are wonderfully cleaned and ready for you to relax and enjoy your stay. Simple, safe, and stable.
Hotel Blauer Bock
Located a good jump away from the city’s Hauptbahnhof but right in the center of Munich’s comings and goings, the Hotel Blauer Bock is a chic and well-maintained establishment directly adjacent to the Munich City Museum.
There isn’t much to say about the quality of its accommodation except that reviews are sky-high, and the amenities include an in-house restaurant and bar, much like many of the other hotels on this list.
The level of luxury that the Hotel Blauer Bock provides is quite disproportionate to the price tag that comes with a night spent there, and thus guests can expect to be pleasantly surprised by how comfortable their rooms and the hotel’s facilities as a whole are.
As for how queer guests are going to feel taking a break in the Blauer Bock, it serves well to mention that the hotel is incredibly well-connected when it comes to the LGBTQ community – a fact that is perfectly displayed by the nearby Zur Feuerwache – a gay club that is barely a minute’s walk from the hotel’s front door.
Not all of the Hotel Blauer Bock’s glory in location comes from clubs and bars; however, there is an impressive amount of them nearby to choose from. It’s a location where the Hotel Blauer Bock starts to shine.
The most exciting thing about its location is that it finds itself smack in the middle of Munich’s Altstadt or Old City, where most of the city’s old buildings and historical monuments are located.
If you’ve never been to a European city before, or if you’re interested in seeing the buildings of different cultures, this is one hundred percent the place for you. German Altstaetdte is extremely beautiful, and Munich’s is one of the best.
Gay Hotel Map Of Munich
Feeling a bit lost while planning your journey to Munich? No worries, darling! Our detailed LGBTQ+ tailored map is here to guide you. We’ve pinpointed all the vibrant gay-friendly bars, exhilarating clubs, extravagant parties, cozy hotels, relaxing saunas, and soothing massage parlors to ensure you find the perfect spot.
And these aren’t just any spots; we’re talking about the creme de la creme of locations in the heart of the city’s vibrant gay scene. Think panoramic views, easy access to nightlife, and all the amenities to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
But hold on to your feather boas! These hot spots are fabulous; they vanish quicker than a drag queen’s five o’clock shadow. Don’t delay; book now to secure the best deals and locations. Remember, the early bird catches the best deals in Munich! So, pack your rainbow flag, and get ready to experience the ultimate gay-friendly holiday in Munich.
