Edinburgh gay scene

One of our favorite film festivals around the world! 

The Edinburgh Art Festival

A visual delight is held annually in August. And the mysterious Island of Skye will just take your breath away!

Gay-Friendly and Gay Hotels in Edinburgh Scotland

As a world leader in LGBT tourism, pretty much every hotel and hostel in Edinburgh can be considered gay-friendly – after all, being gay-friendly is not all about upscale luxury, but about providing friendly and open service and welcoming everyone with open arms!

On the other hand, everyone likes to be surrounded by people with common interests, and as such, there are a few well-known hotels in Edinburgh that are known hot spots for gay travelers to stay!

If you have valuables you don’t want to take with you when you go out for the day, you can store them in one of their safes.

Albany Ballantrae Hotel

Apex Waterloo Place Hotel

Apex Waterloo Place Hotel is another accommodation option situated between the Pink Triangle and Princes Street. Edinburgh Castle has occupied the imposing Castle Rock overlooking Edinburgh since the 12th century, and it holds the crown jewels, called the Honours of Scotland.

You'll typically find a mix of current chart hits, pop anthems, disco classics, R&B, and dance music. With a 24-hour reception desk and express check-in and check-out, Holiday Inn Express is simple and convenient. Filled with many of the city’s most spectacular buildings, you could wander for hours!

Stockbridge Market

A sublime street market takes place every Sunday, featuring plenty of food, art, and creative crafts.

It perfectly complements a wider exploration of Edinburgh's diverse night activities. If you’re a fan of drag, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to witness drag performances, play bingo, and partake in similar activities at many of the city’s most popular gay establishments. There are only six rooms available, so be sure to book well in advance.

Leafy plants blend with neon lights at this bar just opposite the University of Edinburgh’s Bristo Square. For general tips on navigating the city's entertainment, check out our Edinburgh party areas guide. Its Church of High Kicks Drag/Disco night every Sunday is one of its attractions and often one of the busiest nights of the week.

Whether you want a fun and social hostel, a cheap place to crash after a night of partying or a chic designer option to sip cocktails and surround yourself with fabulous people  – Gay Edinburgh is something for everyone!

Tigerlily ☆☆☆☆

Step in and discover Edinburgh’s most talked-about boutique hotel, bar, and restaurant.

Events and live performances are common, so make sure to ask the staff what’s on during your stay when you arrive.

Garlands Guest House

Garlands Guest House is a gay-owned B&B in Leith, Edinburgh.

And, of course, plenty of historic streets, panoramic views, and architectural gems!

Plus – if you ever get bored the bigger but less-known Gay Glasgow scene is not too far away!

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Scotland since 2014, and in this peaceful and open-minded country, queer travelers are welcomed everywhere with small rainbow flags on almost every store, club and restaurant window.

We found Scotts in Edinburgh warm, open and sincere…once you can figure out their accent, though thankfully, the local ‘posh’ Edinburgh dialect is easier to get the hang of.

It's less about dancing and more about good conversation and enjoying a drink in a friendly environment. See the best of contemporary and modern artwork when many special – and often free – events are held by Edinburgh’s leading galleries, museums, and artist-run spaces during the festival.

Edinburgh Fringe

The World-famous festival of wonder in which thousands of performers take over the city and bring their talents to the city-wide extravaganza.

It serves simple, straightforward meals like toasties and nachos (plus different types of fries). Less than a 1 min stumble home with cheap room rates, clean rooms and a free daily buffet breakfast to recover from a rough night out. For all you bears, cubs, chasers, otters and admirers, there are plenty of parties, club nights, fab brunches and a Mr.

BearScot competition – topped all off by a raunchy pool party!

Edinburgh International Film Festival

The oldest continually running film festival in the world, welcoming actors, directors and film fans from around the world. The team here has taken extra care to ensure LGBT people feel comfortable here – trust us; there is no macho locker-room rubbish or hetero-centric behavior here!

Find Bliss

Reliable out-call male massages in Edinburgh offers by Kris – a trained and professional Massage Therapist.

The Massage Guy

(Temporarily or permanently closed.

Enjoy a romantic cocktail with your lover overlooking Edinburgh castle.

Spa Day & Male Massage in Edinburgh

While at night, Melbourne’s gay scene might come alive, for those who can’t wait, don’t care about the sights and simply want to take to relax while getting a male-to-male massage in Edinburgh – there are plenty of options for you.

Here are some of the top recommended spas or spots for a male to male massages in Edinburgh!

Massage For Men Edinburgh

Affordable full body Relaxing / Therapeutic massages or Holistic / Tantric massages are available from Jim.

A skilled, Registered Massage and Relaxation Therapist with more than 20 years of experience, Jim is also an active key promoter of LGBT Rights in Scotland.

The Edinburgh Massage

A specialized sports injury clinic run by Matthew and Grant, who offer not only advanced sports massages but also professional deep tissue, hot stone, relaxation, and acupuncture treatments.

Keep an eye on local listings for one-off events, pop-up parties, and specific club nights that cater to the queer community.