Taking it all off in Torremolinos
One of Spain's most vibrant queer destinations.
I've just returned from a few days in Spain - I was back in the seaside resort town of Torremolinos for my friend's 40th birthday.
As European destinations go, Torremolinos is about as gay as it gets. It's got a vibrant and visible community of queer people that live and work there, plus there's always an influx of gay men visiting to make the most of the warmer weather in southern Spain.
Getting there
- You fly into Malaga and then take a local train from the airport to Torremolinos - this is super-easy and you can just pay with your contactless credit card, so there's no queuing for tickets.
- If you're already in Spain, there's a fast train from Madrid to Malaga.
Accommodation options in Torremolinos
- Maracuya - a clothing-optional guesthouse. I really like Maracuya. It's a low-key vibe and a sex-positive space. I've only stayed there once and the other guests were younger and hotter than I'd anticipated. Because it's only a small number of rooms, it's best to approach it with low expectations. Worst-case scenario, you'll be staying a nice guest-house in an ideal location where you can sunbathe naked on the roof-terrace. Best-case scenario, the other guests are going to be hot and horny and you'll all end up in the hot-tub together.
- The Ritual - a gay hotel with a naked pool on the rooftop. It's a relatively basic hotel but it is the go-to option for gays visiting Torremolinos. The location is good and the vibe at the roof-top pool can be fun - you'll see plenty of boners although the staff are instructed to discourage anyone from having sex.
Going out
- La Nogalera is where the nightlife is in Torremolinos. This is basically a big apartment complex with bars and clubs at the ground level. Everyone drinks outside and the bars are fairly indistinguishable from each other.
- At about 2PM, the outside drinking areas shut down and everyone heads into the clubs.
Saunas and sex-on-premises venues
- The Ritual hotel has a kind of spa complex in its basement but its generally a bit tame. The local sauna that you need is Sauna Apolo - this is where the locals go. Sunday afternoons are generally the busiest times and the sauna is rammed with hot young Spanish guys.
- Most of the clubs in La Nogalera have a cruising area or a sex-on-premises kind of vibe.
Beaches
- The main beach is easily accessible. If you're just in town for a couple of days, book a sun-bed at Eden beach bar.
- There's two naked beaches nearby. There's Guadalmar which is near the airport, or Benalnatura which is to the south of Torremolinos. Benalnatura is more of a gay naked beach but it's a bit of an effort to get there.
Restaurants
- Waikerie: Always a favourite option, this is modern cook drawing on Spanish and South American flavours.
- Mizuki: This is very good sushi and Japanese dishes at reasonable prices.
Sport
- The local LGBTQ sports club is Diversport.
People need to know.
Strip off and immerse yourself in the world of Naked Men Talking.
Gareth Johnson