Cologne is often referred to as the ‘gay Mecca’ in Germany. In fact, gay travel to Cologne is going to be really big this year because from 31 July to 7 August, the Gay Games will be held. The city is gearing up for the event which will not only feature sports, but there will be many other festivities such as parades, fairs and cultural events.

Called the ‘gay Mecca’ in Germany, the city of Cologne is gearing up to host the Gay Games 2010 which take place from July 31 to August 7. Therefore gay travel to Cologne will be at its peak this year. The games obviously focus on sport disciplines; however they also include a number of colorful cultural events, fairs, festivals and parades.

In this spirit, participants do not have to qualify. The games are open to everyone, irrespective of their sexual orientation. Because Cologne is such an open-minded city, this year’s event is expected to attract entrants from all over the world, even from countries where same-sex relationships remain illegal.

With this philosophy in mind, no competitor has to qualify for entry. The event is open to anyone, regardless of sexual preference. Cologne is known for its open-mindedness therefore it is anticipated that the occasion will draw participants from many countries, especially those where homosexuality is still taboo.

Over the years, the Gay Games has been hosted in Sydney, Amsterdam, San Francisco and New York. The 2010 event will feature 34 disciplines which range from wrestling and weight-lifting, field and track events, to volleyball, bowling and chess. Anyone planning a visit at this time should book accommodation early.

The oldest German city, Cologne lies on the banks of the famous Rhine River. It is always abuzz with tourists who are keen to experience Cologne’s vibrancy and its rich heritage. Local residents are friendly, jovial and helpful. You will find a plethora of gay restaurants, clubs and bars in the city.

There are lots of exciting tourist attractions and events for gay visitors. You can take a hike to majestic castles, or compete in a women-only motorcycle event. Take a tour that exposes gay history from the 1800s up to 1969. Cologne’s famous carnival, the Rhenish Extravaganza, features many attractions, art displays, lectures and parties.

LGBT visitors to Cologne are welcomed with a special Pink WelcomeCard distributed by the Koln Tourismus Service Center. Through the center, you can get free public transport, discounts on river cruises, theater tickets, museum visits, and opera shows. The center also offers discounts for gay clubs, bars, shops and saunas. Gay travel to Cologne is going to be at an all-time high this year.

If you’re looking for gay travel in Europe then all you need to do is look, in part, toward the big cities.  The United States destinations that claim to be friendly are more like resorts that are set aside so that the community can be catered to out of sight.London, of course, offers numerous gay hot spots and travel destinations that cater to the gay crowd.

Hot spots for gays like London–Soho are great for those that want to experience all of the gay culture in Europe all at once. The entire area is like a town dedicated to family, and thus can be one of the more exciting destinations for those who have become fed up with self editing trips that require discretion.

European towns and cities are generally open, as tolerant travel has become ever more important throughout the countries that comprise Europe. With the increase in friendly atmospheres, local and tourists alike have found the violence is down. Intolerance and preaching is down. There are more friendly destinations here than just about anywhere else.

This means that the fight for equality and tolerance has already been fought. While there will always be intolerance, many of these countries and cities are more open than most of the states.

We live in a smaller world and we live in a world where there is a need for acceptance of all people. We are making huge strides.  In the European areas where tolerance is high, all establishments are equally open to straight people as they are toward gay people.  This is true for gay travel to Berlin for example.

If you aren’t completely sure about the gay friendly destinations versus the less than friendly destinations, simply check out a tourism guide from a family focused travel agency. There are many agencies which have put together gay packages to help our community find open environments in which to take our vacations. The best memories are made when we are free to be ourselves, and our vacation destinations are no exception.