PHOTOS: The World’s 10 Best Gay Beaches 2014

Updated on August 25, 2014

Those “keep those carbs away from me!” protests heard echoing through gay haunts across the Northern Hemisphere can mean only one thing: summer beach season is finally here. We’ve compiled our annual list of the world’s best gay beaches, replete with visuals sure to put you in the ultimate sunny seaside mood. It’s a big world, so if your favorite gay beach didn’t make the cut, we’d love to hear about it in the comments section. Tune in next week for our picks of the world’s best nude beaches. Meanwhile, enjoy the view of the 10 best gay beaches of 2014… First up: Rio’s Ipanema

Farme, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro Easily one of the most beguiling gay beaches on earth, the Farme section of Rio’s Ipanema is home to the city’s “Barbie” set – that’s local lingo for the city’s seemingly endless supply of stunningly muscled men. Bears and trans gals prefer Copacabana’s Bolsa, but all are welcome at Farme, and the vibe is Rio-ifically relaxed and unabashedly gay. If you’re thirsty after the beach, stop by local watering holes Bar Bofetada on nearby Rua Farme de Amoedo.

Photos by wagnerpacheco, GayCities’ member BosGuy, & HardieBoys Next up: New York’s Fire Island

Fire Island, New York One of the world’s first beach meccas is still one of its best, New York’s incomparable Fire Island. Despite a couple of tough hits from Mother Nature in the past few years (a fire swept through one of its most popular clubs at the end of 2011, then Hurricane Sandy struck a year later), New York City’s queer beach is back in business and fully ready for the usual summer onslaught of gayness. The hub of the party action is at The Pines, though some prefer the more mixed and eclectic (and more nudity-friendly) Cherry Grove.

Photos by Jeffrey James Keyes & vitofun Next up: Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria It may not be well known to many gay Americans, but for Europeans, Gran Canaria is beach nirvana. Part of Spain but so far south that it actually straddles the bottom of Morocco’s coast, Gran Canaria is the most popular of the Canary Islands, and Maspalomas is gay central, especially in the Playa del Inglés area. The dunes at Maspalomas are famously gorgeous and cruisy, and the nearby golden sand beach – especially around Kiosk 7 – is filled with gays from across the continent. What’s more, a brand new Axel Hotel recently opened in Maspalomas.

Photos by superbobbie, Michele Solmi, & Ernesto Sarezale Next up: Sydney’s North Bondi

North Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia Far more peaceful than the raucous main beach at Bondi, North Bondi is also where the gays go – the further north one heads, the gayer it gets here, especially around the outdoor workout area by the North Bondi Surf Club. No booze is allowed on the white sands, but plenty of pubs line the beach and fill with bronzed bodies toward the end of the day. The hardcore Sydney nudists often prefer the more secluded Lady Jane or Obelisk Beaches.

Photo Credit: nezmo24 Next up: Fort Lauderdale’s Sebastian

Sebastian Beach, Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale’s strong populace means that pretty much all of its beaches are at least a little homo-fied, but this lovely strip at the end of Sebastian Street is gay sandcastle ground zero. Most of Lauderdale’s resorts are within blocks, and both local gays and visitors from around the country flock to Sebastian, especially on Sundays.

Photos by wellnascimento & huanmah Next up: Mykonos’ Elia

Elia Beach, Mykonos Greece’s enchanting island of Mykonos has been luring gays for decades, and when they’re not strolling the quaint alleyways of Mykonos Town, they’re often on the other side of the island at Elia Beach. As one of the island’s largest beaches, Elia boasts fine sand and shallow, clear waters, plus an unbeatable view of the next island over. The gay (and partly nude) section is on the right, where any type of romance is possible. Super Paradise, the island’s former gay beach of choice, is another popular choice but has definitely straightened up in the past few years.

Photos by gmichaelreilly, Konstantinosgerles, ahmedelali Next up: Provincetown’s Herring Cove

Herring Cove, Provincetown Secluded at the very tail end of Cape Cod, Provincetown’s Herring Cove is the area’s most popular beach for every number on the Kinsey Scale. The different groups largely keep to their own kind in sections here. From the parking lot, head left and pass the lesbians to find the guys, and go even farther for the nudist area (though be warned, it’s not legal). For those adventure-seekers, the tucked-away areas play host to everything one would expect to happen in beach-adjacent dunes.

Photos Credit: letsgosf, danny7884 , & somanymen.com Next up: Tel Aviv’s Hilton

Hilton Beach, Tel Aviv Hilton Beach is by far the best known and most popular gay beach in Tel Aviv, a city that’s seen a remarkable recent explosion onto the global gay travel radar. As one might deduce, the beach is near the Tel Aviv Hilton, along the sea just north and directly across from Independence Park. The vibe here is lively, friendly, cruisy, a bit boozy, and a lot Mediterranean-ishly sexy.

Photos by Ernesto Sarezale & nico_spitch Next up: Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio Beach, Costa Rica Manuel Antonio has long been one of the gayest areas of Costa Rica and all of Central America, and its huge public beach has its own unofficial gay section – known locally as La Playita. Though the nearby opening of a luxury hotel a few years back mostly put the kibosh on naturism, Playita’s beauty still draws scantily clad gays from across the world.

Next up: Cape Town’s Clifton 3rd

Clifton 3rd , Cape Town, South Africa Clifton is one of Cape Town’s toniest suburbs, and it’s here that you’ll find its best beaches, simply named Clifton 1st through Clifton 4th. The gays have long preferred Clifton 3rd, with its gorgeous west-facing setting making for incredible ocean sunsets. For the more cruise-minded and/or birthday suit-wearing, Sandy Beach is just a couple miles away.

Photos by tseps_sa and GayCities user lovedub

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