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The Naked Traveler
by Joseph R.G. DeMarco

Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland are small countries in terms of population, so the gay segment is equally small, but in the larger cities of each country, gay life is a vibrant part of the scene. What’s more, the non-gay places tend to be more than gay friendly and accepting. It’s the progressive attitude in these nations that pervades the institutions and makes the people a pleasure for any naked traveler.

This time we’ll take a short hop to Stockholm and Copenhagen. For their size, they compare favorably to some of the behemoth metropolitan areas we’ve visited. Each has its own flavor and all of them have an active gay scene with lots of gorgeous Northmen. Think Thor, in a towel.

Stockholm is as beautiful a place as any you’ll see in Europe. Built on 14 islands and home to more than 50 bridges and lots of parks, there are some stunning views in this capital city. One of the things you’ll notice there (and in all Nordic lands) is the clean air and water. A delight to experience, the atmosphere just makes you feel good. Of course, the sight of all those hot Viking men doesn’t hurt, either.

For a city that’s more than seven centuries old, Stockholm is modern in outlook and attitude. It’s home to one of the largest Pride celebrations on the continent and certainly the largest in Scandinavia (stockholmpride.org) This year’s events takes place in August and the planners promise a great time with huge crowds. Who can resist the sight of all those Nordic hunks? Bear Pride Stockholm (vikingbears.com) takes place at the same time. Cuddling up with a hairy Viking on a cold Scandinavian night sounds tempting, but it’s the Pride event and cuddling isn’t on the schedule for now. In preparation, they’ve been holding frequent parties since at least May, so you know they’ll be revved up when August rolls around.

Accommodations are easy to find from the lavish Berms (berns.se) and the even more lavish Grand Hotel (grandhotel.se) to the more affordable (Hotel Odeon, the Hotel Rival and the Nordic Sea), they are all first-class and welcoming. And gay friendly. Stockholm prides itself on its hospitality.

There’s no gay district in Stockholm, but the gay bars and clubs you’ll want to visit are mostly located in Södermalm, Gamla Stan (Old Town), and Kungsholmen. Many bars serve food and Babs Kok and Bar (babsbar.se) is no exception. Delightful and beautifully presented fare awaits you along with Swedish men eating there. Likewise, Intakt (restaurangintakt.se) serves up lots of music and good food. The Malarpaviljongen (malarpaviljongen.se) is a pure delight with not only food but cool entertainment and more. A place to see and be seen.

SLM (slmstockholm.se) also known as Scandinavian Leather Men is just what it claims to be. Men in uniform, men into fetishes, and just plain men in leather, this is the place in Stockholm. If you’re looking for a Viking in hot leather, this is the place to find him. If you’re into leather, or even if you’re not, this is a place you won’t be sorry you visited.

Stockholm also has places naked travelers like to go for that fleshy encounter. Saunas and sex clubs exist but in smaller numbers. That’s okay, since it means all those luscious men have to squeeze into fewer places. You get a better choice that way. Hagavideo (hagavideo.com), comfortable and cozy, has what you’re looking for. Rooms, video, men and more. So does Manhattan (manhattan.nu), which boasts darkrooms and glory holes in addition to the rest.

There’s more and as you acquaint yourself with this beautiful city, you’ll find it.

Another progressive Scandinavian capital city, Copenhagen is one of the liveliest and most-visited cities. A place of beautiful architecture and even more beautiful men, this town has reinvented itself time after time to become one of the more fun destinations not only for tourists but for its own citizens. Their progressive nature shows in their normalization of prostitution, pornography and more. So, it’s no surprise that being gay in Copenhagen is no big deal, it’s an integrated part of everyday life. At the same time, it’s not a homogenized, blenderized kind of homosexual life. People are accepted for who and what they are and however they’d like to be it.

If you time your visit right, you’ll be able to go from Stockholm’s Pride celebrations to Copenhagen’s which is later in August (copenhagenpride.dk). They’ve got lots planned and you’ll get an eyeful, maybe more. As with Stockholm, there are also big bear events, which you can find out about at scandinavianbearevents.com.

Hotels and B&Bs are everywhere in Copenhagen. Carsten’s Guesthouse (carstensguesthouse.dk) offers a range of rooms and there’s a sun terrace, a music lounge and a guest kitchen, where you can either cook a meal for yourself or buy snacks and goodies and perhaps chat with other travelers. They don’t include breakfast in the price but they offer it for a modest fee. Or you might prefer something more traditional like the Hotel Windsor. Pain and simple and reasonably priced, they include a continental breakfast in their fee.

Copenhagen has plenty of gay bars and clubs, a few saunas/sex clubs, and lots more for gay citizens and visitors. BeProud (beproud.dk) is a large establishment where LGBT people of every stripe come to meet, dance, and drink. Two dance floors, a karaoke bar, an art gallery, and more make it a place you should definitely see.

Etage (etagegruppen.se) is a classy disco where you’ll meet a lot of locals and be entertained by more than a few drag queens. Another fun place to spend time is the aptly named, Men’s Bar (mensbar.dk). Nothing fancy, just men and drinks. Do you need more?

If you want to start out more slowly and acclimate yourself to the Danish atmosphere, try Café Intime or Jernbanecafeen; both are more subdued and relaxing. Café Intime is elegant and a well-known place for locals to gather.

Every naked traveler wants to relax in a sauna and Copenhagen has some of interest. The Amigo Sauna (www.amigo-sauna.dk) is Copenhagen’s largest, with three floors, lots of private rooms, steam and dry sauna, darkrooms, sling room and a maze … to name just a few things. A spacious common shower provides plenty of room to wash and watch. And the Danish hotties are well worth a look. Wide halls lined with private rooms give this sauna a roominess you don’t often find. All the other amenities you expect are also offered.

The Copenhagen Gay Center (copenhagengaycenter.dk) is not to be confused with a community center, unless you expect a different kind of community center than most people. Porn theater, sex club, sauna, and sex shop are what make up this center. It’s smaller than the Amigo but that just means you’ll be cheek to cheek with the other men.

Copenhagen has some luscious men and you’ll find them in cafés, bars, the saunas and just strolling around. People-watching is a great way to acclimate yourself and get ready for a closer look later on. The idea, for this Naked Traveler is to relax and enjoy. That’s the essence of naked travel. Visiting destinations doesn’t have to mean running through a grocery list of things to do. Soaking up atmosphere, getting the feel of a place, delighting in your surroundings are all just as important as any other agenda. Copenhagen and Stockholm give you opportunities to do all that. In cafés, in restaurants, and anywhere else you take your naked attitude.

There are plenty of men left to find in other Nordic locales but we’ll save those for next time. And, as they say in Stockholm, you’ll “Take a liking to a Viking” once you’ve seen what they offer.

August 2011