Auckland,
08
January
2018
|
12:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Experience Pride Around the World

The pride season has started! All over the world, people are celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) culture and pride with parades, marches, music festivals and other events. Immerse yourself in the festivities and experience the celebrations up close, Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, will help you find the best accommodation to do so.

London, UK

The London Pride will take place between the 24th of June and the 9th of July and will kick off with the opening of the new exhibition Queer & Now at the Tate Britain and that is just one of the 60 events that have been planned in the British capital. Join a Pride Picnic at Victoria Park, or participate in a special treasure hunt with City Dash Game. You can also join Saucy Soho Tours on a tongue in cheek, guided historical tour. The Pride in London Parade takes place on the 8th of July. It starts on Regent Street, and ends in Whitehall; it will include hundreds of groups and floats.

Where to stay: Devonshire Club & Hotel

The Devonshire Club is an exclusive private members club established in an 18th Century former East India Company warehouse and a large Georgian townhouse. It has its own boutique hotel with individually designed rooms. Access to the club is included for the duration of your stay. The Devonshire Club & Hotel is located in the City of London not far from metro and train stations, so you can easily travel to one of the many London Pride events. Booking.com guests love the staff and cleanliness.

Berlin, Germany

The Berlin Pride is also known as Christopher Street Day (CSD), to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in Christopher Street, New York. The first Berlin CSD was held on the 30th of June 1979 and it has grown immensely since then. More than half a million people come together to celebrate and demonstrate during a colourful parade filled with music and floats. This year’s Christopher Street Day takes place on July 22nd, but you might want to come a week earlier for the ‘Stadtfest’ on the 15th and 16th of July in the district Schöneberg. An annual Lesbian and Gay Festival held at the Nollendorfplatz that is becoming increasingly popular.

Where to stay: 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

The highly rated 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin places you directly between the Nollendorfplatz and the Kurfürstendamm, the starting point of the Christopher Street Day Parade. This cool, hip and colourful hotel is situated in the Bikini-Haus a former sweatshop for women’s wear. Now it’s a genuine urban jungle, including palm trees, hammocks and a Monkey (the name of the on-site bar). There is an in-house bakery, and every night there are DJ’s. You are in walking distance of public transport and many interesting sights, but you can also rent a Mini at the hotel for long distance exploration.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The Amsterdam Pride starts on the 29th of July and lasts until the 6th of August. The Dutch LGBTQ community celebrates their pride with numerous events like street parties, concerts and the drag queen Olympics. Popular locations are the Reguliersdwarsstraat, the Rembrandtplein and the Zeedijk. The highlight of the Amsterdam Pride is the parade, which does not take place in the streets, but in the world famous canals. During the Canal Parade 80 fabulously decorated boats will sail through the canals in the heart of Amsterdam. You can cheer them on along the sides, but make sure you arrive early to secure your spot!

Where to stay: Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht - A Hyatt Hotel

If you want to immerse yourself in some Dutch design during your stay, then you should visit the beautiful Andaz hotel. All rooms are individually decorated and designed by Marcel Wanders. The hotel also offers an on-site restaurant, Bluespoon, and a Spa & Wellness centre, so you can get pampered after a night of partying. The Reguliersdwarsstraat, the Rembrandtplein and the Zeedijk are all under 2 km away and - best of all - the Andaz is right on the route of the Canal Parade.

Montréal, Canada

Usually the annual Montréal Pride - also known as Fierté Montréal - only lasts seven days, but this year Montréal Pride will organize the first edition of Canada Pride as well, an event that will span ten days, including two weekends filled with festivities. The celebrations will kick off on the 11th of August and will include parties, sports activities and a big conference. The parade takes place on the last day of the pride, the 20th of August, it starts on the corner of Drummond Street and ends at Parc des Faubourgs where the party continues with the MEGA T-DANCE until the closing ceremony.

Where to stay: Lofts du Vieux-Port

2017 is a special year for Montréal, as it marks its 375th anniversary, so why not celebrate Montréal Pride in Old Montréal, close to Gay Village? Lofts du Vieux-Port offer lofts with a fully equipped kitchen, a shower or bath, and free WiFi. Booking.com guests love the location; the apartments are close to public transport, restaurants and the Saint Lawrence River. This is the ideal place to enjoy the comforts of home and the excitement of Montréal Pride.

Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Pride is called the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and takes place in February/March, when it is actually the end of the Summer in Australia. It includes a film festival, the Bondi Beach Drag Races, academic discussions and all sorts of parties. Of course, there is also a parade, which is planned for the 3rd of March. The parade takes place at night and starts at Hyde Park and ends in Moore Park. Not only the participants, but also the spectators are dressed in the most fabulous outfits, so dress to impress!

Where to stay: The Capsule Hotel

This futuristic looking accommodation has only just opened in the heart of the Sydney Central Business District, just a short walk from Hyde Park and many other landmarks. It’s a bit like a hostel, but instead of a bunk bed, you sleep in your own capsule which comes with a safety deposit box, a large locker, LCD TV, USB plugs, head pone jack, a mirror, adjustable lights, alarm clock and full climate control. Best of all, it is affordable, so more money left to spend on parties!