contiki pride trips

Join a Gay Pride Group Tour with Contiki

Contiki brings together travelers from all corners of the globe to discover new cultures and a little part of themselves along the way. Across 350+ global trips they sort out the stressful stuff like transport and accommodation, leaving you with unique travel experiences you wouldn’t be able to book on your own. Throughout your trip their expert Trip Managers and Local Guides use their local insights to help you discover an authentic side to the places you visit. Their trips are designed for young travelers from ages 18-35. Although most of their trips are not LGBT+ specific, they recently started offering LGBT+ group trips to pride events across Europe.

About Contiki

Contiki was founded in 1962 by a group of young people in London who were short on cash but high on a dream. In the mid-80s' they become part of the Travel Corporation and joining an awesome group of global travel brands in the process. TTC remains a family-owned and run clan of brands driven by excellent service, values we’ll always uphold. As well as offering unique travel experiences, now, more than ever, they’re committed to sustainable tourism.

Explore all trips by Contiki

Contiki trips include the coolest accommodation, unique experiences and social travel experiences that are difficult to find elsewhere. Plus, they give you heaps of free time, flexibility and optional add-ons so you can craft your perfect itinerary – your trip, your way. This is the Contiki difference. They takes the hassle out of travel, sorting transport, accommodation and a bunch of delicious meals for the duration of your trip. But it’s your trip, your rules, which is why our travel styles, optional experiences and flexible itineraries give you the freedom to build the trip you want.

Read Reviews from Past Travelers

Explore Pride Tours from Contiki

Contiki offers pride tours trips to Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, Berlin and Amersterdam. Take a look at some more of their tours to see what interests you the most. Explore all trips from Contiki →

Looking for Another Gay Group Trip?

We recommend a few different tour operators that do gay group trips and they all offer great itineraries and experiences that you’ll surely love and won’t forget. Explore all gay group tours →

Note: This information is created in collaboration Contiki, however rest assured all opinions are 100% our own and we would never sacrifice our integrity for a sponsorship. Some of these links may also be 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 this site if you choose to use our link.

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Live Your Best Queer Life With These Contiki Pride Trips

Pride in Sydney was absolutely iconic but why stop there when you can go with Contiki and attend giant LGBTQIA+ celebrations in London, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona?

These trips are part of their Contiki Pride trips that are allowing people to experience the love in some of the most out and proud cities in the world.

What’s better than spending summertime in Europe? Spending a summertime in Europe while also being gay? Correct.

Aussies are now able to ditch our nasty winter and head overseas for a Pride trip and explore metropolitan London, the romantic streets of Paris and traverse through Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

Part of the Pride Contiki trip experience is Amsterdam’s famous floating Pride parade along its waterways or a guided e-scooter tour of Paris’ LGBTQIA+ district, Le Marais.

Activist and producer and first-ever LGBTQIA+ ambassador for Contiki, Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir said that they’re excited about further amplifying diverse and marginalised voices from the community.

“Working together also means we contribute towards the changing face of travel. Travel needs to be more inclusive, intersectional, accessible and to take into account the needs of all women, queer people of colour as well as our non-binary and trans community,” Shaibu-Lenoir said.

Travelling as a queer person, speaking from experience, can be an incredibly daunting thing. You never know the comforts of the new city you’re in or how accepted you’ll be overall. That’s why it’s great to see initiatives like this from Contiki which are helping queer people feel celebrated and loved all across the globe.

“Contiki’s range of Pride trips are a great example of how members of the LGBTQIA+ community can travel in a more inclusive way – trips like these mean the interests of those within the community are represented and they’re able experience Pride with like-minded travellers,” Shaibu-Lenoir explained.

Here’s a full breakdown of the different Contiki Pride trips available.

European Pride: July 28 – August 6

This Contiki trip will kick off with three days exploring London before you get to head off to see the beauty, history and culture of Paris.

You’ll then let loose in Amsterdam’s unique Pride canal parade, which is definitely a bucket-list event.

Contiki says it’s the perfect balance of culture, history, food and of course, partying till dawn.

The standard price for this trip is $4,115 but you can book it now from $3,292.

Find out more about the Contiki European Pride trip here .

Amsterdam Pride: August 3 – August 6

This Contiki Pride trip will see you living it up for four days in Amsterdam.

You’ll get to visit the famous Foodhallen and cruise along the canals. Obviously, it’s not an Amsterdam trip without some partying, so you’ll attend the Amsterdam Pride parade with tickets to the afterparty show.

The standard price for this trip is $1,075 but you can book it now from $860 .

Find out more about the Amsterdam Pride trip here .

Barcelona Pride: July 14 – July 17

To me, nothing screams a gay summer like spending it in the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona.

On this trip, you’ll head to a Pride Party, and afterparty (obviously), and immerse yourself in the local culture with a bike tour and flamenco show.

I can just taste the delicious tapas now.

The standard price for this trip is $1,035 but you can book it now from $828 . You’d be silly not to.

Find out more about the Barcelona Pride trip here .

If you’re looking for a little bit more information about Contiki or their Pride trips, you can check out their website .

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This European Pride Tour Changed My Life

Contiki's LGBTQ+ summer excursion is a great option for solo travelers.

Last summer, Australian-based travel company Contiki offered their first Pride-themed trip to adventurers around the world, a ten-day excursion through Europe : three days in Berlin, one day each in Frankfurt, Germany, one in Reims, France, and one in Bruges, Belgium, then another three days in Amsterdam.

The twenty-or-so attendees convened at the Moxy Berlin hotel in Germany. Most folks came from Australia and New Zealand, but these LGBTs were also from the US, the UK, Canada, and even Singapore. There were girls and gays and theys, even a token straight guy tagging along with his bi-wife. I recognized one guy I’d been eyeing on Grindr earlier in the day, this time fully clothed. The solo travelers like myself slowly started socializing with the pairs, and the whole group quickly bonded.

No matter where you’re from, when you’re queer you have a shared understanding of each other. It’s a privilege, the ability to make a fast friend, and I quickly knew this trip would be a great one.

Contiki enlisted a charming Australian gay named Scott as our guide on the trip. We explored Germany one restaurant at a time, chowing down on various breads and sausages, tasting local wines and beers. A Serbian refugee gave us our first walking tour of the city, explaining the modern-day parallels to the Holocaust and that event’s ripple effects around Europe. I looked up in awe at the Gendarmenmarkt and Mauermuseum as our guide spoke, a new appreciation for their beauty. We had a pint at Hofbräu Wirtshaus Berlin. We walked solemnly through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. We had a few drinks by the Berlin Wall before heading to Rudolfkiez to dance to EDM Celine Dion remixes. Then a few guys grabbed some drinks at the historic Tom’s, where a shirtless hunk who didn’t speak a word of English challenged us to a game of foosball. Each one of us lost.

The next night, we stopped by SchwuZ, a forty-five-year-old safe haven filled with disco balls and massive butt statues, and “Cheers Queers” signage that played pop banger after banger. On Sunday, we walked through Mauerpark for a farmer’s market bursting with delicious food and knick-knacks and great thrift finds.

Unfortunately, Berlin’s Pride that weekend happened to be canceled so instead we went on a tour with award-winning tour guide Finn Ballard, who walked us through Schöneberg, Berlin’s gay district, and shared its colorful history of activists, artists, buildings, and pride. One traveler from Singapore asked a question that put the trip into perspective: “Aren’t you afraid this area will be targeted by homophobes?”

I live in West Hollywood and after six years here, it’s easy to take its safety for granted. I hold my boyfriend’s hand in public. I can kiss him at a bar with no fear. But this was this traveler’s first time stepping foot in a gay neighborhood. Homosexuality is still illegal in their country. While this was a vacation for me, this was a rare opportunity for many of these travelers to freely be themselves. I felt both crestfallen and grateful in that moment.

Leaving Berlin, we went on to Frankfurt, a quirky, picturesque town littered with LGBTQ + inclusive churches and businesses. We stopped through Champagne, France, and got tipsy in the chilled catacombs of the Canard-Duchêne while our guide described the oh-so-complicated bottling process. We took a ferry down the quiet canals of Bruges, Belgium, tried the chocolate, and watched the swans with a glass of rosé in hand.

Then we made it to Amsterdam, where we’d be spending the next few days. About 10 more visitors joined us in the Netherlands for this part of the trip. First, we took a ferry to the A’DAM Lookout to swing over 100 meters (328 feet) in the air. I’m sure they could hear my screams from the ground.

Amsterdam feels a bit like Las Vegas: the Red Light District attracts a very specific heterosexual energy. Despite it being Pride weekend, the girls in our group were catcalled surprisingly often. But the gays had their backs and were quick to be a buffer or a pretend boyfriend. Our group split the first night: half went to a bar with $4 euro drinks while the others waltzed into a sex show. I was in the former group, but feel free to google those sex shows if you’re interested.

The next day, we took a walking tour through the gorgeous streets of Amsterdam. The Red Light District looks much different during the day, and the city is built for on-foot exploration. That evening, we took a boozy canal cruise from the Sea Palace. Thirty queers drinking wine and giggling on a ferry at sunset was exactly as silly and cute as you imagine it’d to be.

The citizens of Amsterdam took to the canals to show their pride the next morning, steering outrageously camp ferries decked out in rainbow everything by streets and streets of cheering LGBTs on the shore. One person with pastel wings and a pitchfork rode a water-powered hoverboard. Shirtless hunks screamed greetings at the visitors as Lizzo played in the background. I’ve never seen a Pride celebration like this one. Then we all gathered in Dam Square for an hours-long celebration featuring various drag queens, bisexual singers, twerking trumpet players, and queers making out everywhere you looked. I made friends with a bi couple from Australia, and we danced with our daytime buzz. My new trip bestie drew out a portrait of a shirtless guy with clouds for a face, and a very loud Argentinian man tattooed it on me. We ate the legal Amsterdam shrooms and twisted our hips in the streets.

The conclusion of the trip was a bit sad. It’s strange to do everything with a group of queers for ten days then all depart back to the corners of the world. The trip was short and chaotic but contained enough laughter and joy for a lifetime. I made lifelong friends in those ten days and if I ever wanted to do solo travel again, I’d book an LGBTQ+ travel group without hesitation.

Contiki’s next Pride-themed trip is in Sydney, Australia just in time for World Pride.

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Contiki unveils new European, Pride & vegan trips for 2024

Tour operator
09-11-2023 8:42 am
Pax Global Media

Pax Global Media

Contiki is giving travellers more choices with its latest product launch – with brand new destinations available, plus new Pride trips and limited edition age-restricted trips for those travellers who’d prefer to travel with more like-minded people.

Contiki’s newest trips include ‘Greek Explorer’ which covers the historic hotspots and geographical wonders of Athens, Meteora, Corfu and more, ‘Best of Georgia’ which is a cultural deep dive into one of Europe’s most exciting emerging destinations, and ‘Best of Baltics’ which visits the hidden gems of Eastern Europe including Split and Budapest.

Contiki has also crafted some bespoke versions of their existing trips, designed to give travellers more choice for who they travel with.

Next year, popular European trips including Croatia Island Sail and Greek Island Hopping will run variations exclusive to both 18-22s and 27-35s.

Reunion trips, made exclusively for past Contiki travellers and friends aged between 35 and 45, will run across Morocco, Italy and Spain.

Both are variations of existing Contiki trips and will each feature their own private Pride celebration during the trip.

Contiki’s newest trips include historic hotspots in Greece. (Contiki)

Popular trips ‘London to Athens’ and ‘London to Athens & Greek Island Hopping’ are now available as part of the ‘Plus’ range, which gives travellers the same Contiki experience but with upgraded accommodation. They will stay in a minimum 3-star hotel in a twin-share instead of a multi-share hostel dorm.

Elsewhere in the new offering for 2024 is the Vegan Food Europe Explorer – perfect for vegetarian & vegan travellers (or those who just like plant-based cooking) who want to discover Europe with a like-minded group.

“Every traveller is different and this latest product launch is all about recognizing that,” said Natasha Lawrence , commercial and product director at Contiki. “We’re known around the world for our multi-country European adventures, but there are many more ways to explore Europe with us – and our newest trips demonstrate this perfectly. There’s Greece which is hugely popular, Georgia which is still a bit of an unknown and the Baltics which offer up thriving art, food and music scenes across cities like Tallinn and Riga.

“We want choice to be at the heart of everything we do. Of course every 18 to 35-year-old is welcome on all of our trips (and will have a fantastic time!) but we also know there are 19-year-olds and 33-year-olds who might want to travel with people their own age; there are people from the LGBTQIA+ community who might prefer to travel with a group of fellow community members; there are travellers who want to travel as a big group – but don’t necessarily want to share a room with five other people. We hope that, now more so than ever, everyone will find just what they’re looking for with Contiki.”

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CLASSIFIEDS

Travel supplier postings, contiki launches pride trips and age-specific adventures in europe.

Contiki has announced new destinations, including Pride trips and "limited edition" age-restricted adventures "for those travellers who'd prefer to travel with more like-minded people."

According to Contiki, its newest itineraries include 'Greek Explorer,' which covers the historical hotspots and geographical wonders of Athens, Meteora, and Corfu. A 'Best of Georgia' explores Europe's "emerging destinations," and 'Best of Baltics' visits the "hidden gems" of Eastern Europe, including Split and Budapest.

In 2024, European trips, including Croatia Island Sail and Greek Island Hopping, will run exclusively for the 18-22 and 27-35 demographics.

Contiki also plans to run reunion trips for previous travellers aged between 35 and 45, which will run across Morocco, Italy and Spain.

In addition, there are two new Contiki Pride trips: Greek Island Hopping Pride and Croatia Island Sail Pride. According to Contiki, both are variations of existing trips and will each feature a private Pride celebration.

"Every traveller is different and this latest product launch is all about recognizing that," says Natasha Lawrence, Commercial & Product Director at Contiki.

More information on Contiki's website .

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Explore Pride Festival Trips this summer

2023 top pride celebrations to experience with Contiki trips. This summer, Contiki is offering a variety of Pride festival trips, from quick party trips to in-depth explorations.

Posted on Fri 5 May 2023 · by Moonlight Experiences

Explore Pride like never before with Contiki's Pride Festival Trips! If you need help planning and organizing your Pride festival plans, Moonlight Experiences is collaborating with Contiki to offer unique Pride trips around the world. This summer, Contiki is offering a variety of Pride festival trips, from quick party trips to in-depth explorations. Since the end of lockdown, the return of open Pride season has been felt intensely across the globe, with many of last year's celebrations becoming the biggest of their kind. With Contiki's summer excursions, you can experience Pride like never before.

Let's take a look at the different tours available this Pride season…

PRIDE FESTIVALS IN AMSTERDAM

3rd August - 6th August (4 days)

Amsterdam is a truly unique city with a vibrant and unapologetic queer scene. Once you experience it, you'll never forget it. The city's Pride parade attracts over 500,000 attendees from all over the world for a concentrated celebration of partying, love, and queer connections. The Contiki Amsterdam trip is the perfect opportunity to explore the city's culture and sights while immersing yourself in the vibrant queer atmosphere.

On the first day, you'll get acquainted with the city through a cocktail tasting along the iconic canals before heading to the buzzing "Foodhallen" – a space filled with cool bars, live music, and unique art exhibitions. You'll also have your own time to explore the city as you wish, but we recommend taking an LGBTQIA+ walking tour to discover the hidden truths of queer Amsterdam and prepare yourself for the best viewpoint of the city. The third day is the long-awaited Pride celebration, transforming the city into a queer explosion. With Contiki, you can ride a Pride boat and dance along the canals, and we've got you covered for the after-party too. Recover the next day with a delicious breakfast before heading back home with memories, pictures, and new queer friends from around the world!

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Contiki Launches New Europe Product For 2024

September 13, 2023

Contiki is gearing up for Europe in 2024 with its latest product launch that includes new destinations, plus new Pride trips and limited edition age-restricted trips for those travellers who’d prefer to travel with more like-minded people.

New additions include ‘Greek Explorer’ which covers the historic hotspots and geographical wonders of Athens, Meteora, Corfu and more, ‘Best of Georgia’ which is a cultural deep dive into one of Europe’s most emerging destinations, and ‘Best of Baltics’ which visits the hidden gems of Eastern Europe including Split and Budapest.

Contiki has also crafted some bespoke versions of their existing trips, designed to give travellers more choice for who they travel with. Next year, popular European trips including Croatia Island Sail and Greek Island Hopping will run variations exclusive to both 18-22s and 27-35s.

Reunion trips, made exclusively for past Contiki travellers and friends aged between 35 and 45, will run across Morocco, Italy and Spain.

For members of the LGBTQIA+ community keen to travel with a group of fellow community members (and allies too), there are two brand-new Contiki Pride trips: Greek Island Hopping Pride and Croatia Island Sail Pride. Both are variations of existing Contiki trips and will each feature their own private Pride celebration during the trip.

Natasha Lawrence, Commercial & Product Director at Contiki, explained: “Every traveller is different and this latest product launch is all about recognizing that.” Lawrence continued: “We’re known around the world for our multi-country European adventures, but there are many more ways to explore Europe with us – and our newest trips demonstrate this perfectly. There’s Greece which is hugely popular, Georgia which is still a bit of an unknown and the Baltics which offer up thriving art, food and music scenes across cities like Tallinn and Riga.”

Lawrence said: “We want choice to be at the heart of everything we do. Of course every 18 to 35-year-old is welcome on all of our trips (and will have a fantastic time!) but we also know there are 19-year-olds and 33-year-olds who might want to travel with people their own age; there are people from the LGBTQIA+ community who might prefer to travel with a group of fellow community members; there are travellers who want to travel as a big group – but don’t necessarily want to share a room with five other people. We hope that, now more so than ever, everyone will find just what they’re looking for with Contiki.”

Go to https://www.contiki.com/en-ca for more.

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My Contiki Story

Peter McCarthy, Contiki super fan, talks about his many, many trips over the year and what travel means to him

By Charlie Fabre

Writer and editor for Contiki, Charlie is French-American, obsessed with travel, art, food, and reading in the New Hampshire forests.

Published on Apr 16, 2024

Have you ever loved something so much that you spend all your money on it, dream about it, think about it constantly, let it consume your life? Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but if we had to guess we’d say this is close to how Peter feels about Contiki.

Peter , a 34 year old working in Technology product from the UK, is an avid Contiki goer, and he’s also no stranger to six-two having appeared in various articles in the past! It’s safe to say that Peter is a super fan of ours, and to celebrate this and give him the recognition he’s due, we’ve interviewed Peter and asked him about his travels over the years and why he loves us so much (and don’t worry, the feeling’s mutual).

For everyone reading: be more like Peter!

Feeling inspired?

Think having a Neurological condition = no adventures? Peter says otherwise

Hey peter it’s great to chat to you – can you tell me how many contiki trips you’ve been on.

“Good question! I’ve actually lost count, but it’s definitely over 20 by now. I must be due a free one soon hahaha.”

“I went on 3 trips in 2023, and so far, in 2024, I’ve been on 3 as well (one a month!): the Powder Rush , Austria Ski , and Amsterdam for Easter.”

Image source: Peter McCarthy

Do you remember when and how you heard about Contiki?

“I heard about Contiki through a friend of mine. She said she was going to travel through Europe with a bunch of strangers, and I was really sceptical at first – and a little surprised. It seemed off. But she told me all about her trip when she got back, sharing fun stories and boasting about all the experiences she got to go on. After that I was sold, and I’ve been going on Contiki trips since I was 18 years old!”

Once you’d heard about Contiki, what attracted you to it?

“I loved the idea of choosing a trip and only having to worry about getting myself to the meeting point. Everything else is taken care of, and I don’t have to think about a thing!”

“When I tell my friends about Contiki I always call it a ‘fun, stress-free adventure’ – and it’s just that. Contiki really knows how to make a trip good as well, they know what travellers want to do and which fun inclusions and Free Time Add-Ons to slot into the itinerary so that each trip creates long lasting memories.”

“Snowmobiling in Canada , pasta making in Italy , white water rafting in Austria and helicopter rides over the iconic New York skyline are just a few of the incredible experiences I’ve taken part in over the last decade.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pete (@pete.adventurers)

Which has been your favourite Contiki trip so far?

“Such a hard question! This is like asking a parent to choose a favourite child! For the sake of diversity, I’ll give two answers with two different trip styles.”

“My first favourite trip is the Ski Austria because the town you stay in is so beautiful, and of all the ski experiences I’ve done this is by far the best that money can by! Plus you’re surrounded by other travellers from your group and others at Haus Schöneck , Contiki’s special Austrian chalet!”

“And my second favourite trip is the Mini Balkans. You get to do a beautiful chunk of the Balkans from Hungary to Slovenia and Croatia with a great mix of city vibes and natural wonders like Plitvice National Park. Stunning!”

“The memories from these two have lasted me a lifetime!”

Have you ever done the same trip more than once?

“Yes! I’ve been on Ski Austria basically once or twice a year since 2012 – I’m basically a Hopfy local.”

Let’s talk accessibility in Iceland with a Contiki fan

Would you say contiki has had an impact on your life if so, in what way.

“100%. Travelling with Contiki has had such a massive positive impact on my life: it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it’s totally reframed my relationship with my disability .”

“The activities I’ve been able to do with Contiki over the years haven’t been short of amazing. Most recently on my Amsterdam trip I loved cycling through Edam – I learned how to ride a bike over Covid instead of baking banana bread and it came in handy!”

“The physical activities that Contiki offers have really helped me redefine what I thought was possible for myself. I’ve been on Austria Ski so many times now, and when I look back and see my progress I see that I’ve been able to push my own boundaries over and over again. I also never thought I’d be able to go paragliding in Austria, or hike over a glacier in Iceland but I did!”

“The support of my fellow travellers and amazing Trip Managers has been invaluable, and they’ve helped me go above and beyond. Travel has opened so many doors for me, and in the simplest way it has enabled me to start conversations with strangers and make friends all over the globe.”

Why do you love to travel so much? Do you think it’s important for people to experience travel if they can?

“Travel really enables you to step out of your everyday routine and try something new and different. You get to have a different perspective on your own life and the lives of others – and sometimes this can be really eye-opening. It also really allows you to reflect on yourself and be open with who you are and what you want from life. It’s a medium for exploring the world and yourself.”

“For anyone who hasn’t travelled, or not much, I would recommend getting out there as much as you can! If you want to experience a different view of life or if you’re looking for more clarity and direction on your own, travel will give you that.”

10 INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL QUOTES

Do you enjoy contiki’s social aspect have you made long-standing friendships.

“I do! I enjoy it very much and meeting all the new people is a real highlight of every trip. However, being older means I’m only in the club until 2AM… (shoutout to my friends in Whistler !).

“I’ve made lots of friends from Contiki that I still keep in touch with today. I have a close circle of friends that I see in London for a beer every now and again, and I have friends in Australia as well though I have yet to book my flight there.”

Are there any future Contiki trips you’re planning on going on?

“Well, it would be rude not to hop on the Ski Austria for the last few weeks of the Ski season, and I’ve just been to Amsterdam with Contiki over Easter weekend! As for future trips I haven’t planned any yet, but I’ll definitely be booking more before I age out.”

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The rise of booze-free backpacking: why gen Z are choosing to travel sober

As more young travellers opt for morning yoga over late-night parties, tour companies are shifting their focus away from alcohol-fuelled activities

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I ssy McDermott used to go on holidays to drink: she did schoolies, partied her way through Central America, Europe and Asia, and “worked at a party hostel in Indonesia where I drank every day for an entire month”. But over the past year, she has experienced a shift.

The 23-year-old Sydneysider, who also leads group tours with Plotpackers, a UK-based company marketing more affordable trips to young social media creators, became tired of the party life and wanted to travel “to experience the culture and adventure, rather than drinking” when she goes on holiday. She went to India in February and didn’t drink at all, even when she ventured out with large groups of fellow travellers.

McDermott is one of many gen Zs – those born between 1997 and 2012 – who are choosing to drink less, including when they travel.

Young women stands in front of lake surrounded by mountains

Dr Amy Pennay, the deputy director of the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University, has been studying “fundamental changes” in young people’s drinking patterns for 10 years. She believes the decline in gen Z drinking is because “they are more cautious and risk averse”.

“They are worried about their futures and economic security, they are more disciplined and surveilled by parents and on social media, they are more health-conscious, they are anxious, and mental health problems are increasing for young people.”

Drinking isn’t seen as “cool” as it once was, Pennay adds. This trend, she says, is playing out globally, “at least in high-income countries” – in line with the decrease in other risky activities including drug use, truancy and crime.

Student Universe, a discount flight and travel business, has noticed “a significant uptick in young people wanting to avoid alcohol on holiday”, says brand manager Will Jones. The company conducted a study of 1,000 gen Z Australians that showed 84% would take a holiday without drinking. Safety (62%), money (57%) and a desire to not feel unwell and affect the next day’s activities (56%) were the strongest deterrents.

A sober experience

With gen Z’s travel priorities shifting, travel companies that target the demographic have been forced to shift too. Contiki has upped its focus on wellness and sustainability experiences after its research also revealed that most gen Zs (77%) would consider an alcohol-free trip.

“The most common question I’m asked is ‘how is travel changing?’ and we have certainly seen a shift in how gen Z are travelling,” says Toni Ambler, the managing director of Contiki. “Gen Z travellers value experiences over big nights out.”

Ambler references the hikes, safaris, food tours, cold plunges and cultural experiences included on Contiki tours. She says more than 80% of tours include a “make travel matter experience” focused on sustainability. For example, on Contiki tours through India, travellers visit the Dhonk centre, a social enterprise making and selling local crafts, while in Canada, Cree knowledge keepers teach about plant medicine in Jasper national park.

Contiki recently added a South Korean tour featuring a K-pop dance class. A the Philippines tour announced this year “was introduced to satiate the appetite of young travellers looking to visit more remote locations in a safe but authentic way”, Ambler says.

Boutique disrupters are also reimagining the group tour. Australian author Bri Lee takes small groups on trips through Morocco, Egypt and Turkey through Aweventurer, a company that aims to “create experiences as if it is your first and last trip”. On these tours, attenders connect over reading and writing, instead of over drinking.

Emma Dower, a 28-year-old teacher from Donnybrook in Victoria, went on the Turkey trip led by Lee because she wanted to travel with “like-minded people”.

“We visited ancient ruins and ballooned over the mountains of Cappadocia, but the true highlight was the meaningful and intellectual discussion with my peers,” Dower says.

Other Aweventurer trip leaders include influencer and Tammy Fit founder Tammy Hembrow as well as artist and author Reyna Noriega, who market their trips to their legions of young, mostly female followers.

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‘I had the shock of my life’

Amid a cost-of-living crisis, young backpackers coming to Australia are also noticing a move away from drinking. Lauren Frater, 20, who is in Sydney on a working holiday visa from the UK, says back home she was working 60 to 70 hours a week across two minimum-wage jobs and “drank excessively after and in between work”. She says “initially, yes, I was attracted to Australia for the backpacker party scene”, but soon realised it would be hard to keep up.

Young women leans back in front of an ocean view

“I had the shock of my life when I discovered just how expensive it is to drink out here,” Frater says. “After a full-on party week in Sydney and realising how much money I had spent, I was quite disappointed as I had now knocked off almost a week of travel from my itinerary based on how much I had spent drinking and partying.

“I kind of had the realisation that if I wanted to do this trip, I really needed to make some lifestyle changes.”

The backpacker drinking scene hasn’t been extinguished, however. Bella Robben, a 20-year-old American residing in Melbourne, who has spent the past two years backpacking across the world, says: “I know just how big the drinking culture is within it [backpacking].”

She enjoys meeting new people when she travels, and drinking can help with that, but she says it “definitely takes its toll emotionally, mentally, financially and physically”.

“How much I drink also depends on the culture and attitude of the location. For example, when I travelled to Barcelona, it was essential to experience the nightlife whereas when I visited Morocco, although we tried a couple of the local beers, drinking as a whole was not ingrained in their culture.”

“The cost of alcohol also plays a big part in whether I decide to drink or not, especially since I am travelling on a budget. Here in Australia, the price of alcohol is expensive relative to other places I have been which deters me from drinking.”

Next, Robben plans to drive from Melbourne up the east coast of Australia “to hit every beach possible” before backpacking through south-east Asia.

Meanwhile, McDermott is headed to Oman and Spain next month, with different priorities than when she “used to plan my travels around party hotspots”.

“In Oman, I hope to experience the culture and go on a road trip around the country,” she says. “[Then] I’m going to Majorca for a week. I just want to relax and explore the beautiful beaches and Spanish villages.”

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It's time for the parade! Taking place in front of Victory Column, this epic party will get us in the mood, as we enjoy all of the weird and wonderful costumes (some very alternate lederhosen) and the pumping music. Well into the swing of things, once the parade is over we've hooked you up with tickets to the official afterparty. Lucky us.

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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.

No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.

We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.

With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.

About the company: Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?

Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
by Kings of Russia
8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

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