Strategically placed at the heart of the continent, Germany is quite simply a gay traveler's Euro wunderland. From charismatic Cologne to financial Frankfurt and brazen Berlin, Germany packs in more gay-rich supercity power than nearly any other nation in the world.

The undisputed capital of today's queer Germany -- some would argue of Europe too, nay Earth itself -- is Berlin. Bold and bratty, hip and historic, stylish and sassy, Berlin is the ultimate modern melting pot, a city that's seen intense highs and lows in just its last 100 years, with repeated cycles of extreme tumult, quiet introspection, and astounding regeneration. It's a city with deep respect for both the past and the arts, making it a museum lover's nirvana.

Berlin's latest pendulum swing was ushered in by the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, which for nearly three decades divided the city right down its middle and rendered it the East-versus-West epicenter of the Cold War. With a reunified Germany, Berlin once again became the country's capital, bringing a massive 1990s reconstruction boom. Ultimately, Berlin overbuilt and overspent, bankrupting the city and sending its rents plummeting, which in turn began drawing a new generation of artsy expats from around the globe. Its unofficial turn-of-the-millennium tagline soon became "Poor, but sexy" -- a point of pride for locals and a boon for travelers looking for a Euro capital where grit and glam mix at affordable rates.

As the birthplace of world's first gay magazine, its first gay rights organization, its first gay museum, and one of its first gayborhoods, Berlin has been key to the development of an international homosexual identity. Today, with an openly queer mayor (Klaus Wowereit, who famously said during his 2001 campaign, "I'm gay, and that's a good thing"), two separate Prides (the main CSD-Berlin and the alternative Transgenialer), and no fewer than four gay-heavy neighborhoods (Schöneberg, plus Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain), Berlin stands firmly at the forefront of 21st-century homodom.

Meanwhile, with its dual pink zones of Alter Markt (Old Town) and Rudolfplatz, Cologne is Germany's "other" gay capital. Best known to outsiders for its iconic Kölner Dom, Cologne is also home to excellent museums, a hopping arts scene, and a warm and sexy populace. The city’s pre-Lenten Carnival season is Europe's largest and liveliest, with a drag-heavy performance series, Röschen Sitzung, that’s a huge gay draw.

Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, Munich was often the neophyte German visitor’s first stop, often being hailed as the country's "secret" capital. With its active cultural scene, loads of nearby historic castles, and the stunning Bavarian Alps as a backdrop, this third-largest German city is still a huge draw (especially during its infamous beer-soaked Oktoberfest, which includes a very popular Gay Sunday). The city center Glockenbachviertel area is the heart of LGBT Munich.

Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city, a modern jumping metropolis that's known as the country's media capital. As the biggest and most important German port town, Hamburg's long been called the "Gate to the World," and acclaimed for its stylish, international flair. The trendy downtown St. Georg area is Hamburger gay central.

Frankfurt is Germany’s business and financial capital, often called "Mainhattan" in a nod to its adjacent River Main. Frankfurt's huge airport makes it one of Germany's main transportation hubs, and its fantastic roster of museums and attractions draws millions of visitors here every year. The epicenter of Frankfurt gay action is the city's so-called Bermuda Triangle.

In short, whatever city you pick, Germany's LGBT culture is legendary! Isn't it about time you experienced it first hand, mein Freund?