Sydney is famed for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community and welcoming vibe, making it a top destination for gay travellers seeking both fun and relaxation. Beyond the lively nightlife and iconic beaches, Sydney’s open-air swimming pools offer a unique way to experience the city’s stunning coastal beauty while enjoying a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
Whether it’s the legendary Icebergs Pool overlooking Bondi Beach, where you can swim laps while watching the waves crash just meters away, or the tranquil charm of historic Wylie’s Baths, these pools are perfect spots to connect with locals and fellow travellers alike. Many of these pools have a relaxed, social environment where diversity is celebrated which is ideal for meeting new friends or simply soaking up the sunshine in a safe and welcoming space.
Plus, these pools often host events, swim classes, and casual hangouts that attract a broad, inclusive crowd, making them not just swimming spots but vibrant community hubs. For gay travellers who want a refreshing break from city sightseeing or nightlife, Sydney’s open-air pools provide the perfect blend of health, beauty, and connection — all with that special local flair.
So if the legendary Sydney beach life is not for you why not check out some of the pools which give the views without the sand.
Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool – December 2016 – Iain Croll
🏊♂️ Sydney Open-Air Swimming Pools
1. Bondi Icebergs Pool
Location: 1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach
Vibe: Iconic ocean pool with panoramic views of Bondi Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Famous for its chilled water and the club’s restaurant/bar.
Access: Public entry fee applies; casual swim or lap swim.
How to get there: Bus 333 or 380 from the city or Bondi Junction; walk from Bondi Beach.
2. Wylie’s Baths
Location: 4B Cliff St, Coogee
Vibe: Historic ocean pool built in 1907 with a natural rock pool feel and sheltered from big waves. Very scenic and quieter than Bondi.
Facilities: Change rooms, showers, café.
Access: Small entry fee.
How to get there: Bus 373 or 374 from Bondi Junction to Coogee; walk down to the baths.
3. Andrew “Boy” Charlton Pool
Location: Mrs Macquarie’s Rd, The Domain (CBD)
Vibe: Heated 50m saltwater pool with a view of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. Popular with lap swimmers and families.
Facilities: Change rooms, café, sun decks.
Access: Entry fee applies.
How to get there: Walk from the CBD or take buses to Mrs Macquarie’s Rd.
4. Gordon Pool
Location: Beach Rd, Rose Bay
Vibe: Smaller ocean pool with stunning views over Rose Bay and the harbour, great for quiet laps and casual swim.
Facilities: Change rooms, showers.
Access: Entry fee applies.
How to get there: Bus 323 or 324 from Bondi Junction; walk from Rose Bay ferry wharf.
5. Mackenzie Pool
Location: New Beach Rd, Kogarah
Vibe: Large outdoor pool in southern Sydney, less touristy, great for families and swim training.
Facilities: Change rooms, kiosk.
Access: Entry fee applies.
How to get there: Train to Kogarah station, then a short bus or taxi ride.
6. Cook and Phillip Park Pool
Location: 6 Eddy Ave, Sydney CBD
Vibe: Outdoor heated pool in the city center with spectacular cityscape views.
Facilities: Change rooms, sauna, gym.
Access: Entry fee applies, swim lanes and casual swim times available.
How to get there: Walkable from Town Hall or Wynyard stations.
Where to Stay
🏳️🌈 About Cramberts
From our home base in Amsterdam, we frequently explore some of Europe’s most vibrant cities, and we’ve compiled detailed guides to share our insider knowledge. Whether you’re seeking the canals and culture of Amsterdam itself, the sunny beaches of Gran Canaria, the historic charm of Lisbon and Porto, the bustling energy of Barcelona and Madrid, the refined elegance of Paris and Munich, the unique character of Sitges, or the diverse landscapes of the Randstad region, you’ll find comprehensive information and recommendations in the links below.
Note: Some of these links are affiliates which means using them won’t cost you any extra but we do receive a small commission for each referral. You’re not obligated to use them but we appreciate it if you do. Thanks in advance for supporting our site if you choose to use our links.
Most of the gay bars (homohoreca) in Amsterdam (in no particular order) grouped by location – also available on google maps and check out the events page on iamsterdam (Milkshake and Pride are two of the main events). Club nights like Bear Bash, Bear Necessity or Furball etc are not listed so check out Tom’s guide or Patroc. Our friends also run a club night in Amsterdam (and now London too) at The Eagle called Bear Bash.
Most Friday evenings we will be found on Reguliersdwarsstraat usually outside of Taboo or Blend for informal drinks or as the locals like to call vrijmibo which is a Dutch short for “Vrijdagmiddagborrel,” which loosely translates to “Friday afternoon drinks.” In the summer we also tend to meet at Marineterrein AKA the gay beach. Bring snacks, drinks and a blanket to sit on and watch Amsterdammers unwind and swim and get drunk in the marine base near Kattenburg. Further afield is Nieuwe Meer which is an official cruising spot in Park de Oeverlanden.
When WorldPride is held in Europe, it is traditionally also designated as that year’s EuroPride. This was the case in London in 2012, Madrid in 2017, Copenhagen in 2021, and will be again in Amsterdam in 2026. So 2026 is going to be a big year for Gay Amsterdam from 25 July to 8 August 2026. More information at World Pride. See also events.
XXX – signifies the bar has a dark room or is otherwise a sex positive venue.
This is the current “gay street” of Amsterdam. reguliers.net
Taboo + Taboo Kantine –
Reguliersdwarsstraat 4 taboobar.nl Busy bar especially for the after work crowd on a Friday but with a few recent price hikes make sure you don’t go crazy.
Blend + Blend XL –
Reguliersdwarsstraat 41 barblend.nl Next door to Taboo and same kind of crowd. XL is opposite next to SoHo
This used to be much more gay but now only a few stalwarts remain. Although Café Montmartre has reopened recently and Brug is under new ownership so there is hope.
Nate’s – (formerly Brug34)
Utrechtsestraat 19 nate.amsterdam – (formerly brug34.nl) Great bar with a large terrace that gets the evening sunshine so great for after-work beers and the staff are super friendly. (December 2024 under new ownership still LGBT but rebranding as Nate).
Free Willie – (PAID entry ) – – XXX
Amstel 178 freewillie.nl The newest gay bar. Mostly a naked bar. From the Club Church team.
Lellebel –
Utrechtsestraat 4H lellebel.nl Queer bar which is small but fun. They recently moved focus of Lellebel towards building a safe environment for the Queer/Trans community so support it.
Café Montmartre –
Reguliersdwarsstraat 129 – NEW ADDRESS cafemontmartre.nl Please note new address – was closed for a few months but reopened in new location. Very traditional gay bar with Dutch music and eurotrash. And in the new bar the ceiling is dotted with 18 glittering chandeliers…
Zeedijk 20 (Oudezijds Kolk) queenshead.nl Friendly little bar where you can have a nice drink and a chat. Get there early for the booth with the canal views.
Warmoesstraat 90 eagleamsterdam.com (sometimes PAID entry ) Ring the bell for entry. Not for the faint-hearted 😉 Usually, no cover unless there is an event.
Dirty Dicks – – XXX
Warmoesstraat 86 dirtydicksamsterdam.com (sometimes PAID entry ) Usually, no cover unless there is an event.
Kerkstraat 4HS spijkerbar.nl Pool, Bingo, Disney + Porn in addition to naked Tuesdays what more could you ask for? Oh super friendly staff that’s what. . A small dark room upstairs provides a discreet area to enjoy new friends, and its location just two minutes down the road from Club Church make it a great warm up spot. Not as large a “play” area as some of the other bars with “play” areas but hey that can sometimes be fun right…
Club Church – (PAID entry ) – – XXX
Kerkstraat 52 (Leidsestraat) clubchurch.nl Also not for the faint-hearted (paid entry and allegedly very cruisy). Expect club nights like Furball to sell out and even with tickets arrive in good time or you will be joining a 1 out 1 in line outside
Taboo Kantine Amsterdam – Iain Croll
Jordaan
Saarein
Elandsstraat 119 saarein2.nl Neighbourhood LGBT+ friendly bar.
Oost
Lola (The Green Aardvark) –
Mauritskade 100 A-h lolathegreenaardvark.nl Another large terrace great in the summer and they do good food too
West
Pamela –
Jacob van Lennepstraat 86H pamela.amsterdam Local neighbourhood queer cafe bar
Gay Events in Amsterdam
Pride Amsterdam Amsterdam Pride is a multifaceted celebration that transforms the city into a vibrant hub of LGBTQIA+ culture. At its heart lies the world-famous Canal Parade, a truly extraordinary event that draws over 300,000 enthusiastic spectators. Unlike traditional street parades, this spectacle unfolds on Amsterdam’s iconic canals, with elaborately decorated boats gliding along the waterways. These floating stages showcase a diverse array of performers and themes, from dazzling dancers and flamboyant drag queens to leather-clad bears and representatives of various LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Beyond the Canal Parade, Amsterdam Pride encompasses a week-long program of events, including street parties that spill into the city’s charming neighborhoods, electrifying club nights that keep the energy high until dawn, and the uniquely entertaining Drag Queen Olympics. This city-wide celebration embodies Amsterdam’s reputation as one of the most open and progressive cities on the planet, where diversity is embraced and celebrated.
It’s important to note the distinction between Amsterdam Pride, the overall LGBTQIA+ festival, and the Canal Parade, which is its most iconic event. While the Canal Parade is the visual centerpiece, Amsterdam Pride encompasses a broad range of cultural and activist events that contribute to the festival’s significance. Dates for 2025: 26 July – 3 August 2025
King’s Day – Takes place in April every year on the same date in honour of the Dutch King’s birthday. The main activities during the day are drinking and markets (it’s a whole thing) and are followed by a orange-inspired night with many parties across the city with everyone dressed in orange! Dates: 26 April, 2026.
Milkshake Festival A huge LGBQIA+ focused, outdoor music and dance festival held in July in Westerpark. This Milkshake definitely brings all the boys to the yard! Dates for 2025: 26 – 27 July, 2025.
All of these bars have permanently closed a couple have rebranded as new LGBT bars but most are no longer LGBT.
Amstel 54 – – PERMANENTLY CLOSED Amstel 54 €10 to spin the wheel and you might win shots or drinks or lose it all! Not as much fun or as gay as it used to be (I sadly predicted it would be the next on this list of closed venues).
Queers – – PERMANENTLY CLOSED Amstel 60 A cozy bar along the Amstel strip from Amstel 54 and Fame. Drag Bingo and Sunday afternoon snacks.
Fame – PERMANENTLY CLOSED Amstel 50 Fun bar in the aread near Queers, Monmartre and Amstel 54.
Club YOLO – PERMANENTLY CLOSED Amstel 178 Late bar. Now opened as Free Willie.
De Engel – PERMANENTLY CLOSED Zeedijk 21 with a friendly and open attitude, a mixed crowd of all ages and styles, with a nice established terrace. CLoseby to the Queen’s Head.
Getto – PERMANENTLY CLOSED Warmoesstraat 51 Bar/Restaurant with drag insired menu. The team have now opened Lola (The Green Aardvark).
Amsterdam is renowned for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, with a wide array of gay bars that cater to diverse tastes and offer something for everyone. Iconic spots like Prik are popular for their welcoming atmosphere and delicious cocktails, making it a favorite among both locals and tourists. For those who enjoy a more lively scene, Soho on Reguliersdwarsstraat is known for its stylish decor and energetic vibe. If you’re looking for a classic Dutch experience, Café ’t Mandje is one of the oldest gay bars in the city, steeped in history and character. While these bars are fantastic places to experience Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, it’s worth noting that their popularity means they can get quite busy, especially on weekends, so plan accordingly to fully enjoy what they have to offer.
