Top LGBTQI+ activities in the Greek islands
Ideas for the most colorful holidays 🏳️🌈
Golden sand, blue and green waters, pink sunsets… The Greek islands really have all the colors, but there’s a lot of space for rainbows!
Ancient Greece is famous for its queer love stories. This year, you can write your own fresh ones in the Aegean or the Ionian Sea! Whether you are looking for crazy parties, festivals with a queer vibe, or nature adventures, we got you covered. Discover 4 top LGBTQI+ activities to do in the Greek islands:
The “notorious” Paradise beach and Tropicana beach club
1. LGBTQI+ festivals in the Greek islands
It’s a fact: some of the biggest LGBTQI+ festivals in Greece take place in the Aegean islands! They are annual and attract visitors from all over the world celebrating the gay and lesbian communities with special events and activities.
XLSIOR festival in Mykonos
The glamorous island of Mykonos has a reputation for its stunning beaches, unique architecture, celebrity visitors, and intense nightlife. And, of course, it is a well known gay travel paradise! Apart from its vibrant LGBTQI+ bar and accommodation scene (e.g. Andronikos Hotel, Hotel Elysium), the island hosts a popular gay festival in the second half of August.
Drawing more than 30,000 people every year, XLSIOR is the ultimate international gay summer festival. It hosts some of the biggest DJs and artists of the international music scene at beach venues, such as the world-renowned Paradise Beach and Kalo Livadi. Prepare for a friendly atmosphere, a luxurious stay and some serious partying till dawn!
Tip: XLSIOR is one of Europe’s most popular gay festivals, so make sure to get your pass early! Also, don’t forget to book your Athens - Mykonos ferry well in advance, as tickets sell out fast.
Sappho Women in Skala Eressos, Lesbos
Lesbos is known as the birthplace of the Archaic Greek poet Sappho, who wrote some of the earliest and most beautiful lyric poems about lesbian love. The lesbian community remembers their “mother” and organizes the International Eressos Women’s Festival, held each September at the beach of Skala Eressos, the poet’s alleged birth town. During these 10 days, the village transforms into a lively lesbian commune with visitors arriving from all four corners of the world!
A festival for women by women, it involves live music events, an open-air LGBTQI+ film festival, beach volleyball, workshops, yoga and meditation, thermal spas, and, of course, awesome parties! For the more adventurous, there’s also hikes on coastal routes, boat cruises and water sports. Book your wristband as soon as possible and join the fun!
Tip: the beach of Skala Eressos is a favorite clothing-optional beach in Lesbos. Take a look at our suggestions for the top nude-friendly beaches in the Greek islands.
Breathtaking sunset at the sandy beach of Eressos, Lesbos
2. Cultural events with a queer vibe
If you are a cinema lover or feel like attending a cool music event, there are great cultural festivals taking place in the Cyclades, as well as the Ionian Islands. Here are some happenings with a diverse and queer air that you shouldn’t miss:
ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival
Taking place annually in the cosmopolitan Syros, the capital of the Cyclades group, ANIMASYROS is an animated film festival normally taking place in September. Since 2008, it has screened over 3,000 animated films from all over the world. This unique festival promotes diversity and has, among others, a special competition section with LGBTQI+ films and a respective award!
Tip: you can watch all the festival films for free, as long as you reserve a seat online.
+ Syros International Film Festival (SIFF)
Syros is an island that loves the arts and hosts another film festival, usually in July. The Syros International Film Festival (SIFF) showcases a wide spectrum of cinema –from experimental to more traditional, and from Greek to international– in a variety of sites, mainly outdoor, on the island.
Abandoned building with an urban vibe in Syros town
Aegean Film Festival
If you are looking for sophisticated art events in the Greek islands to attend in the summer, the Aegean Film Festival is what you are looking for. Several cultural spaces in Spetses and Paros host this celebration of independent cinema, including fiction, documentary and short films.
Fun fact: in 2022, the president of the festival jury was the acclaimed French director Claire Denis!
Saristra music festival in Kefalonia
Would you be interested in attending an indie music festival taking place between crumbled buildings, deserted squares and alleys, and really old trees? Of course you would!
The Saristra festival, organized in the ghost town of Old Vlachata in Kefalonia at the end of July, has a metamodern and queer vibe, and is definitely worth your attention. It hosts important Greek and international alternative artists (electronic, shoegaze, synth-pop, dance music, etc.), and combines the music acts with exhibitions, projections, workshops, and other activities.
Little Islands Festival in Sikinos
A celebration of audio-visual arts in the Cycladic island of Sikinos, Little Islands is an absolutely contemporary festival including (among others) short films, documentaries, installations, performances, VR, video art, and music. The festival puts the peaceful Sikinos on the map, becomes an open space for creation among artists, and highlights the strength of small communities’ cultural heritage. A must-see if you are a digital arts enthusiast!
Tip: this authentic Cycladic island has been promoting sustainable tourism over the last decade. Discover 4 reasons to visit Sikinos this summer.
The wild rural beauty of Sikinos island
3. LGBTQI+ nightlife and parties
Feeling like blowing some steam off this summer? We get it! If you are coming to the Greek islands to enjoy fun nights, dance and go from one club to another, there are 2 islands (apart from Mykonos) with great LGBTQI+ nightlife options:
Bar-hopping in Skiathos
The cosmopolitan Skiathos has become a favorite among fun-seeking travelers in search of both its stunning natural beauty and enchanting nightlife. The Skiathos endless party starts on its pine-fringed fine-sand beaches: the beach bar in Banana beach (and the neighboring Little Banana) is definitely one of the most popular LGBTQI+ spots for swimming, drinking and dancing all day long. Boat cruises around the island are also an awesome way to discover its hidden coves, get a tan, and meet new people.
And as daylight fades, the nightlife zone in Skiathos town comes alive! De Facto is the only gay bar in Skiathos island and a meeting point for LGBTQI+ visitors after the beach. However, it is most likely that you will have a crazy good time in the majority of the town’s welcoming bars and clubs.
Fun fact: Skiathos hosted the International Gay Culture Festival in 2012!
Tip: right across from Skiathos, Mount Pelion, with its stunning villages and lush-green landscapes, is also a darling among LGBTQI+ holidaymakers. We definitely recommend exploring the otherworldly coves stretching along the mountain before getting a ferry to Skiathos from Volos.
Crazy nights in Ios
In the southern Cyclades, Ios is a great option if you wish to enjoy awesome beaches and parties during your holiday in Greece. The island is known for its chill atmosphere, magical beaches and party-fuelled nights.
Even if it doesn’t have a well-established gay scene like Mykonos, Ios has become very popular with the LGBTQI+ community. Its infamous bars and clubs are packed with young people every night in the summer, and there even used to be a gay bar (Pride Bar) that closed recently.
If you want to feel a little spoiled, there are also luxury cafés with a sea view, a restaurant and a pool, such as Pathos Lounge, to visit at sunset.
And, of course, don’t miss a tour (even better by boat) around the island’s popular and hidden beaches, such as Mylopotas, Kalamos and Chamouchades.
The Chora of Ios wearing its night colors and lights
4. Camping and adventures in nature
Tired of touristy islands? Maybe it’s time to try something different! Get adventurous, feel the freedom, and do some soul searching close to nature in the hidden gems of the Aegean Sea:
Discovering the hidden spots of Astypalea
Did you know that you can find the world’s oldest gay graffiti in Astypalea? This is only one of the many treasures to unearth in the gorgeous island of the Dodecanese.
The "butterfly of the Aegean'' has a laid-back vibe and stands out for its white-washed architecture and imposing castle. This peaceful island is not a place for wild parties. However, we strongly recommend exploring its many hiking trails on foot or cycling around the island to discover all its mesmerizing natural beauties.
es, Plakes might be stunning, but it’s Tzanaki beach where you want to be! This remote little bay, accessible only by a hiking trail, is the island's top naturist beach and promises relaxed moments in full contact with the sun and the pebbles. And to set the perfect adventure, you can sleep under the stars at the camping site of Astypalea!
Tip: a trip to Astypalea with your partner can be the perfect romantic escape! Check out why you should pick Astypalea if you are traveling as a couple.
Swimming in the waterfalls of Samothrace
In the north Aegean, Samothrace is the perfect pick for a queer adventure. The island has a reputation for being enigmatic, not only because of its mystical archeological sites, but also thanks to its unique natural landscape that makes you feel like you are diving into a myth!
Speaking about diving, Samothrace boasts the most beautiful waterfalls shaping over 100 natural pools. These verdant small lakes, known as vathres, are accessible by challenging mountain trails, but they’re totally worth it! Visitors from all over the world come to the island to swim, relax and enjoy the hippie vibe. Prepare to meet campers, connect with your body (the vathres are nude-friendly spots), and experience a spiritual trip in nature: this is a place where you can really be your true self!
Find out all the reasons why you should visit Samothrace this summer in our dedicated article!
The otherworldly paradise of Samothrace’s natural pools
Party animal, backpacker or art nerd? Whatever your taste and style, the Greek islands have something for every queer traveler. And we are pretty confident that, by now, you have found your next destination. Next step: book your ferry tickets to the island that stole your heart at no hidden costs!
Note: we didn’t forget it, but it’s kind of self-explanatory. Santorini is no doubt the ultimate romantic destination in Greece, and that also applies for LGBTQI+ couples. Read the best tips for your vacation on our complete Santorini travel guide and plan the dreamiest getaway en amoureux.
