Aachen - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Aachen's queer scene is small and built mainly around community groups rather than bars and clubs. The main point of contact is Rainbow e.V. on Jakobstraße, the umbrella association of the city's queer groups. Its queer centre offers counselling that is confidential, free and can be anonymous, plus a regular open games night. The association publishes the community paper D¡va and is the legal organiser of Aachen Pride.

Several groups work under the Rainbow e.V. umbrella, each with its own focus. AIDS-Hilfe Aachen offers advice on HIV and sexual health. Knutschfleck is a drop-in and counselling service for queer young people aged 14 to 27. Rainbow Sports runs queer sport from running and swimming to hiking. The Queerreferat is a student-run association for LGBTIQ* students, and SchLAu Aachen does educational work in schools. There are also self-help groups such as trans*unity Aachen and SHALK, a group for queer people dealing with addiction, as well as a network for rainbow families.

Queer nightlife happens only now and then. The best-known series is Ahoi Club, a gay party that ran for many years at Apollo Kino & Bar on Pontstraße, the student pub street near the university. Its venue and schedule have changed since, so check the party's own channels before going. Aachen has no gay bar or club that is open every night. For more choice, most people take the train to Cologne.

Most of these places are in or near the compact city centre, which is easy to explore on foot. Rainbow e.V. lists current dates for the local groups on its website and social media. The biggest date of the year is Pride in late summer, with a march and a street festival on the Katschhof and Markt squares.