Which global city is best for gay cruising? New study reveals ranking

Every major city has an if-you-know-you-know cruising spot. It could be a specific gym bathroom or a secluded spot in a public park, but some spots are easier to score at than others. Now, data ranks which city has the best cruising spots, thanks to a new study from Erobella.

Earlier this month, the company released the “Global Gay Cruising Index,” which they say ranks cities around the world that offer gay men the widest variety of spaces for spontaneous sexual encounters. The ranking is based on the number of gay saunas, cruising clubs, gay bars, and public parks, combined into an overall Cruising Score.”

With scores out of 40, the metropolitan area that takes the top cruising spot is London at 29 points. "The British capital stands out above all for its abundance of cruising opportunities in public parks (10/10 points) and its strong offering of saunas and gay bars," they write for their reasoning. In second place is Berlin, an unsurprising pick for runner-up, given its world-renowned fetish club scene.

Paris took spot No. 3 with 25 out of 40 overall points, which they say is attributed to its high density of gay saunas and clubs, and Spain follows not too far behind with Madrid racking up 22 points thanks to its sauna scene, though it lacks cruising parks, and Barcelona follows with 18 points because of its club scene.

The first U.S. city to crack the top 10 is New York, coming in at 15 points, which comes from its breadth of gay bars. Next is San Francisco (11/40 points), then Chicago (10/40 points), and then Miami (8/40 points).

According to the study, the reason the United States ranks so low is because of the U.S. government's response to the HIV/AIDS crisis back in the 80s and 90s. As the virus ravaged the world, the United States had a more intense approach to closing cruising spaces using fear-based and moralistic policies, whereas Europe took the pragmatic route. "Instead of closing saunas, they were repurposed as centers for education and prevention," the study says. "In countries like Germany and the Netherlands, health authorities collaborated with sauna owners and gay organizations to promote safer-sex practices and distribute condoms and educational materials."

The study adds, "This strategy not only preserved vital spaces within the gay subculture but also built trust and cooperation between communities and institutions."