Gay Travel Guide to Poland

Poland has a reputation for being one of the most homophobic countries in Europe. While it may not be the most gay-friendly place on Earth, mostly owing to the fact that its denizens are very religious, it should not be automatically ruled out as a holiday destination - the chances of getting gay-bashed or insulted are rather slim, especially in the bigger cities, which offer a range of queer meeting-points where you should feel comfortable being yourself and getting to know the locals and other gay tourists alike. Here are some of the highlights of gay Poland.

Warsaw

Fantom Club - For those unafraid of exploring the sleazier side of things, Fantom is a must on your stop in the Polish capital. The club is divided into two - one half is a typical bar with a cruising/darkroom area, while the other side is a sauna with a separate entrance. Fantom attracts mainly locals, although the odd tourist may also wander in.

Krakow

Culture for Tolerance - Held every April, this highbrow festival is something of an anomaly for Poland, focusing on cutting-edge art, literature, aesthetics, music, and film. It is usually held concurrently with a queer film festival that is also quite popular.

Poznan

TesTer24 - Poznan is a student town, and one of the more relaxed and liberal destinations in Poland. TesTer24 is one of the city's newer gay establishments - a large club and bar that features shows on the weekend.

Wroclaw

Scena - Open every night of the week, Scena is not officially a gay club, although a lot of gay men flock here, particularly on the weekends.

Szczecin

Inferno - Inferno is currently the only exclusively queer club in Szczecin. The place fills up on the weekends with gays, lesbians, and their friends. DJs spin a variety of house, Euro-pop, and techno music. The club is situated down in a basement, with a cavernous bar and a large dance floor.

Gdansk

Kogiel-Mogiel - Okay, so no one goes to Gdansk to soak up gay life, but if you wind up exploring this beautiful historic port city, this is the only gay bar we have been able to find here.

Lodz

Narrangasset - Stepping into this club may make you feel like you are stepping back in time to the 1980s. Still, it gives you an authentic glance into what gay life is like in one of Poland's lesser-known cities. It also presents a golden opportunity to dance to cheesy Polish pop music.