Barcelona needs little introduction—it’s one of the most popular destinations in all of Europe. With year-round mild temperatures, a seaside location, and a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ people, it’s no surprise that gay travelers from around the world come here to immerse themselves in the culture, nightlife, and vibrant energy. If the warm weather and seaside setting aren’t enough, the stunning architecture and thriving gay scene will keep you coming back for more.

Choosing where to stay in Barcelona is an important decision when planning your trip. The options are limitless, ranging from large hotel chains to small boutique hotels or apartment rentals. You can also find gay-owned hotels in Barcelona or even a hotel chain like Axel Hotels, which is specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community.

While staying at a gay hotel might not be everyone’s preference, some travelers enjoy the open and welcoming environment that Axel Hotel Barcelona offers, where you can simply relax and be yourself. It’s true that many gay-friendly hotels in Barcelona aren’t necessarily gay-themed or designed for the LGBTQ+ community, but those properties can’t quite provide the same unique experience offered by Axel Hotel Barcelona.

About Axel Hotels

Axel Hotels was founded in 2003 and is the only major gay hotel chain in the world. Their hotels are primarily located in Europe, but they have recently expanded to the U.S. and plan to soon expand to Portugal, Cuba, and beyond.

The Axel Hotel vision is to provide a hotel experience tailored to the LGBTQ+ community. Their spaces are cosmopolitan, fostering a tolerant environment where diversity and respect are deeply valued. The philosophy is to create a hotel chain for the entire LGBTQ+ community, welcoming everyone—whether two men, two women, a man and a woman, or any type of guest—without prejudice to their sexual orientation. Axel Hotels is designed with the LGBTQ+ audience in mind but is open to everyone. In fact, Axel Hotels doesn’t define itself strictly as a gay hotel but rather as hetero-friendly.

Check out our listings below for all Axel Hotel locations in the U.S., Spain, Germany, and Italy.

What Can You Expect if You Stay at an Axel Hotel?

Axel Hotels are properties where any guest, whether gay or straight, is welcome to stay, but with the concept of offering a space specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community. You could bring a straight friend—or even your grandma—to one of these properties and feel completely comfortable. The idea is simply to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ guests. Axel Hotels is gay-owned and operated, promoting respect and diversity. They have non-discrimination policies and provide sensitivity training for their staff to ensure every guest feels valued.

Axel Hotels currently has two properties in Barcelona. If you’re visiting the city during Gay Pride, a popular gay event, or before or after a gay cruise, rooms at Axel Hotel Barcelona and TWO Hotel Barcelona by Axel tend to get booked well in advance, so planning ahead is essential. Axel Hotels are a great option if you’re traveling with your same-sex partner, as you won’t encounter any issues with public displays of affection.

Axel Hotel Barcelona

Barcelona is home to the first Axel Hotel location, which opened in 2003. The property is located in the Eixample gay neighborhood, features 101 rooms, and is one of our favorites—particularly for its rooftop terrace. The hotel also includes a gym, as well as a bar and restaurant on the ground floor. Axel Hotel Barcelona hosts a variety of events throughout the year, especially in the summer months, which is high season for Barcelona.

TWO Hotel Barcelona by Axel

TWO Hotel Barcelona by Axel is the second property in the city, opened in 2015. It’s also located in Eixample, Barcelona’s gay neighborhood. The hotel features 87 rooms, a rooftop terrace with a pool, a gym, and a bar and restaurant. The rooms have been specially designed, equipped, and decorated to create a modern and elegant environment with maximum comfort.

Our Review

We’ve stayed at Axel Hotel Barcelona several times and really enjoyed our visits. We especially love their rooftop terrace, the SkyBar, which features a nice pool, jacuzzi, and bar. The views from the terrace are fantastic, making it a wonderful spot to relax by the pool in the afternoon or enjoy cocktails in the evening. Every stay we’ve had at Axel Hotels has been enjoyable, and the staff is always friendly and helpful.

It’s usually quite easy to socialize and meet other guests, which is a great perk when visiting a new city. The location is perfect—right in the heart of the gay neighborhood of Eixample—and it’s well connected to other parts of the city. The rooms are a decent size, and many include a private terrace or balcony.

Ready to Book Your Stay at Axel Hotel Barcelona?

Interested in staying with a gay host in an apartment rental instead of an Axel Hotel?

Next to Axel Hotels, misterb&b is definitely the other major player in the market. Founded in 2014, misterb&b is not a hotel or chain, but rather a booking site for rooms, apartments and homes. Similar to AirBnB, misterb&b is an online service that allows you to rent short- or long-term spaces from gay and gay-friendly hosts around the world. They have hosts in more than 135 countries with more than 200,000 total listings. They recently even started offering listings of gay and gay-friendly hotels on their site for a one-stop shop. You can even list your own room or apartment to earn cash from gay travelers in your city. Understanding a city’s gay scene is much more easily done with the help of a local and apartment sharing is one of the best ways to meet someone living in the city who knows the best insider advice.