Gay and Lesbian Friendly Hotels in Madrid

Chueca" it out! Though often overshadowed by Barcelona, the Spanish capital is one of Europe's most exciting gay destinations in the world. By day, Madrid is a city of extravagant palaces, majestic plazas and stately parks; by night, los gatos (the cats), as the city's inhabitants are nicknamed, prowl the historic avenues until the early hours indulging their passion for decadent nightlife.

There is more than a grain of truth in tales of Madrileños heading straight from a late-night club to the office, so don't be surprised if that guard watching over the treasures of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco in the Prado Museum looks a bit bleary-eyed From bear bars to drag shows, multi-level discos and girl clubs, Chueca is a veritable queer smorgasbord. The vibe here is loud and boisterous at night when the droves of bar hopping Spaniards pour onto the cobblestone streets