One of the greatest joys we can experience when we travel is feeling welcome in an unfamiliar environment regardless of gender identity, gender expression, or sexual preferences. For LGBTQ+ folks, the concerns simply don’t include “Will we have a good time?” but also “Will we feel safe?” That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the best LGBT-friendly travel destinations for queer-identifying folks. They’re not just places where they feel accepted but are also celebrated. What’s more, such an open-minded and accepting environment allows LGBTQ+ peeps to truly rejuvenate and relax. Plus, it allows them to connect with other travelers and locals and be free to enjoy without fear or judgment, as we all should.
That’s not all. The destinations we’ve put together go beyond having “gayborhoods” or gay villages; these are places where anti-discrimination and same-sex marriage laws have been in place for years together. Moreover, they all boast vibrant annual Pride celebrations and wonderful nightlife and are as full of love as they come. So, whether you’re traveling with your partner or with your gang of friends, you needn’t worry a peep about how you’ll be received on this list of destinations. Not only are they ready to welcome you and yours with open arms, but they’re doing the same for their own citizens. Here’s a detailed guide to the world’s best gay-friendly travel destinations.
Table of contents
Uruguay
11
We begin the list with the tiny South American nation of Uruguay, which ranks high in the world for LGBTQ+ rights. Surprisingly, it has managed to sneak under the radar despite liberal rights having been around for decades. In fact, Uruguay was the first Latin American country to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples in 2008, followed by same-sex marriage in 2013. If that wasn’t enough, same-sex relations have been legal since 1934!
When it comes to brass tacks, PDA on the streets is totally cool, and booking shared hotel rooms as a gay couple raises no eyebrows. Its capital, Montevideo, has long been quietly accepting and open-minded, and Montevideo Pride has only gone from strength to strength since the ’90s. So much so that the city doesn’t even have a gayborhood since the entire city is a safe LGBTQ+ haven. Even the nearby Punta del Este, which is more party and less political, boasts a fun-filled speedo-clad Punta Pride every February. Plus, there are amazing gay bars like Il Tempo for drag shows and Bar Rodó too.
It’s no wonder that LGBTQ+ rights organization Equaldex has awarded Uruguay a rare score of 100/100 on legal rights for queer people.
Taiwan
10
When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, Taiwan is touted as Asia’s most progressive country. It’s evident when, in a historic first, the country’s parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019, making it Asia’s first country for marriage equality. Before this historic legislation was passed, Taipei usually flew under the radar for LGBTQ+ travelers, even though it has a thriving queer scene. What’s more, LGBTQ folks, both locals and travelers, have found growing governmental and social acceptance over the years, with bans on LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination and conversion therapy.
What’s interesting is that Taipei has been home to the largest annual Pride celebration in Asia for a long time, which takes place in October. In fact, the 2023 march was the largest in all of East Asia and followed two routes starting and ending at Taipei City Hall. So, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the world’s biggest Pride Parades. This, along with a vibrant nightlife and relatively progressive LGBTQ+ laws, make it one of Asia’s best LGBT holiday destinations. W Taipei, one of Taipei’s top gay-friendly hotels, is the city’s gay hub, mostly due to W Insider, a city guide it publishes that helps you come to know the city’s social calendar, LGBTQ+ events included. One of Taipei’s most amazing gay bars, the G Star Club, is even one of the world’s best gay-friendly bars.
Don’t miss visiting 228 Peace Memorial Park right in front of the Presidential Palace. It’s where the Taiwanese version of the Stonewall Rights took place in 1997 when it was a well-known cruising spot. Since then, it’s transformed into an iconic gay destination.
Germany
9
Even though Germany has a few ways to go to become a completely tolerant nation, its LGBTQ+ rights rank among the highest in the world. In fact, Germany had a thriving gay scene as far back as the 1920s and early 1930s. Society then usually tolerated LGBTQ+ folks in the capital city of Berlin, which was a big deal. Moreover, same-sex relationships have been decriminalized since the late 1960s. Plus, same-sex marriage was legalized in 2017, giving them complete marital and adoption rights.
Berlin has long been one of Europe’s — and the world’s — most accepting cities. The historic gayborhood of Schöneberg has had LGBT bars since the 1920s, making it one of the planet’s oldest gay boroughs. What’s more, it attracts hoards of LGBTQ+ tourists due to its amazing nightlife, which includes a racy lineup of sex events, parties, and clubs, legendary queer techno clubs, and drag artists performances. And, of course, here’s Berlin Pride, the country’s largest Pride celebration. The university town of Cologne stands toe-to-toe with Berlin for being the country’s most queer-friendly city, thanks to two distinct gayborhoods and one of Europe’s biggest Pride festivals.
What tops it all off is that Germany has so much to see and do, including small German towns worth visiting, some of the world’s largest castles, and even one of the world’s most spectacular libraries.
Iceland
8
The tiny Nordic nation of Iceland ranks among the world’s highest for LGBTQ+ rights, and it’s easy to see why. While same-sex marriage has been legal since 2010, same-sex couples have had access to IVF and adoption since 2006. In fact, the country even made gender-affirming healthcare accessible (via informed consent) in 2019. That’s not all. In a fitting tribute to progressive politics, they’ve already had an openly-queer lesbian Prime Minister!
As a world leader in queer rights, one can only imagine how prominent the gay community is in the country, particularly in the capital Reykjavik. August in Reyjavik means nearly 22 hours of sunlight, which they use very wisely to party like there’s no tomorrow! Pride, which launched as a single-day parade in 1999, has blossomed into the country’s largest annual event. Today, it lasts up to 10 days and attracts nearly 100,000 visitors (to compare, Reyjavik’s population is 140,000!).
If you’re visiting in March, Rainbow Reykjavik is its winter Pride festival, which also includes a tour of the Northern Lights. Of course, the country has so much natural beauty in the form of geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, and other such features that it certainly makes for a well-rounded, gay-friendly destination in its own right.
Denmark
7
Denmark has always been at the forefront when it comes to furthering and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ folks. Why? That’s because it was the first country in the world to allow same-sex couples to enter into registered partnerships way back in 1989. Not just that, but same-sex activity has been legal since 1933, and the age of consent has been 15 years since 1977, notwithstanding one’s gender or sexual orientation. That’s why it was in third place on the list of Europe’s most LGBTQ+ friendly countries with the most gay-inclusive legislation in 2023!
Leading the way is the capital Copenhagen, which also happens to be one of the world’s safest cities. Truth be told, it’s hard to find a distinctive gayborhood in Copenhagen — because Copenhagen is the gayborhood of Scandinavia! Firstly, it’s home to the world’s oldest-existing gay bar, Centralhjørnet. It was also the first city ever to host both WorldPride and Eurogames in 2021. Besides Pride Week in mid-August), there’s also Winter Pride in February and the MIX Copenhagen LGBTQ Film Festival in October.
The rest of Denmark is equally amazing, given that it has everything from the world’s best carnivals to the world’s most fascinating zoos.
Sweden
6
An open country where LGBTQ+ rights aren’t the exception but the norm — that’s Sweden for you. It’s easy to see why IGLTA hailed it as one of Europe’s most gay-friendly countries. For one, same-sex marriage rights and anti-discrimination laws have been in place since 2009. It also became the first country to allow citizens to change their gender legally in 1972. What’s more, the country celebrated the 75th anniversary of another critical LGBTQ right, the decriminalization of homosexuality, in 2019! So, as the Swedes put it, their country has been “gay since 1944.”
In addition to the laws, Sweden lives up to its reputation as an LGBTQ+-friendly zone. For instance, at 30 and counting, Sweden has more Pride festivals per capita than anywhere else in the world. A testament is EuroPride, which Sweden has hosted thrice in 30 years in both Gothenburg and Stockholm. Additionally, Malmö co-hosted the first WorldPride with Copenhagen in 2021. Moreover, Stockholm Pride is one of the country’s largest events and the Nordic region’s biggest festival of its kind.
It’s this very inclusive reputation that has found favor with LGBTQ+ travelers, making it one of the best LGBT places to travel. One can walk down the street with whomever they love and just be themselves.
Spain
5
It might not look like it, given its conservative Catholic society, but Spain ranks high among the more LGBTQ+-friendly countries in Europe. This is thanks to legal gender confirmation, gay adoption, marriage equality, and bans on censorship and discrimination. In fact, it was the third country in the world to make same-sex marriage legal in 2005 and the second in gay adoption. They even tackled sexism head-on by adopting some of the most advanced laws on gender equality and violence against women.
Of them all, the capital, Madrid, is also the country’s gay capital and is considered one of the best gay-friendly places to live. It’s followed by the inimitable Barcelona, despite it being in the heart of conservative Catalonia. It’s evident by the city center location of the gayborhood Eixample, or Gay-xample, right next to the old Gothic Quarter. In fact, the famous church of La Sagrada Familia sits in the same neighborhood! While it’s always been a famed party city, Barcelona not only has a plethora of gay bars and clubs but also massive Pride celebrations.
Hence, Spain is a very welcoming and safe destination for LGBTQ+ travelers, especially in big cities and major tourist hubs. While small towns and rural areas are more conservative, that could be true anywhere. Even then, they will face no discrimination in Spain.
Portugal
4
After a long era of oppression, Portuguese society became increasingly accepting of homosexuality, even decriminalizing it in 1982. And they haven’t looked back since then. In fact, Portugal is one of the very few countries to have sexual orientation-based discrimination bans in its Constitution. After recognizing same-sex marriage in 2010, it passed a landmark gender identity law, one of the most advanced in the world, to simplify the process of name and sex change for transgender folks. Same-sex couples haven’t been left behind either and have been able to adopt since 2016.
Even though it’s influenced by Roman Catholicism, Portugal has progressed by leaps and bounds. That being said, gay couples and travelers are advised to be mindful of the country’s religious roots and heavy Catholic influence, especially in remote and rural areas. That doesn’t stop Portugal from celebrating its LGBTQ citizens and visitors proudly. Besides the two-day Arraial Lisboa Pride, there’s also Porto Pride, the film festivals of Queer Porto and Queer Lisboa, and numerous options for gay-friendly hotels in Lisbon.
New Zealand
3
Ah, Middle Earth. For an island country that’s not bigger than the state of Colorado, New Zealand packs a pretty solid punch. Firstly, the country is unbelievably gorgeous — think black sand beaches, otherworldly volcanic regions, and lush forests — as is evidenced by the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. What’s more, it’s also a shining beacon of liberal politics, which includes LGBTQ+ rights. For instance, it has recognized same-sex unions since 2004. After a bevy of anti-discrimination laws, it paved the way for the game-changing recognition of non-binary as a legal gender in 2012. Consequently, marriage equality legislation followed in 2013, making New Zealand the first country in Oceania to do so.
The capital city of Auckland is a shining example of the country’s progressive mindset, given its vibrant queer scene along Karangahape Road, aka K Road. Moreover, Auckland Pride happens every February, but there are lots of queer programs popping up throughout the year. They range from dance parties and live performances to drag shows, talks, and art openings. This is extremely good news for travelers, especially since New Zealand also occupied the fourth spot on Lonely Planet’s list of the most gay-friendly places on the planet in 2023.
The Netherlands
2
Having the Netherlands on this list is a no-brainer; the country’s capital, Amsterdam, is basically synonymous with what one might call an “alternative lifestyle.” The pioneering laws complement the widespread public acceptance, which is the norm here. For instance, it was the very first country in the world to make same-sex marriage legal in 2001. A slew of anti-censorship and anti-discrimination laws followed, as did laws allowing transgender folks to change their gender on official documents.
The joy and acceptance are evident on the ground, with LGBTQ+ Pride taking over Amsterdam’s winding network of canals for an entire week in August. Besides this raucous queer floating celebration, the city has an extensive network of gay clubs and bars catering to just about every fetish, fantasy, and demographic you can possibly imagine (and some that you possibly can’t). There’s even Pink Point, Amsterdam’s official LGBTQ+ information kiosk. Prepared to be moved to tears when you see the canalside Homomonument, a moving tribute to all those persecuted for their gender expression and sexuality.
So, it’s not surprising that LGBTQ+ travelers flock to this gorgeous country. What makes traveling to the Netherlands all the more amazing is the many small towns worth visiting, its modern architectural wonders, and the fact that its capital is one of the world’s most beautiful canal cities.
Canada
1
Sitting at the top of the best LGBT-friendly countries to travel to is the “Land of Maple Syrup,” Canada. It’s one of the most advanced countries in legal recognition of LGBTQ rights, with same-sex sexual activity having been decriminalized in 1969. In 2005, it was the fourth country in the world to make same-sex marriage legal and the first in the Americas. Furthermore, it became the world’s only third country to fully ban conversion therapy for adults and minors in 2022!
But what makes Canada truly gay-friendly for travel is its rankings. For instance, it was first on Asher & Lyric’s 2023 LGBTQ+ Danger Index, meaning it was the safest place to travel. Moreover, it also stood in second place on the 2023 Gay Travel Index chart. In fact, the country is so accepting that its largest cities have their own gay areas and neighborhoods, such as Vancouver’s Davie Village, Montreal’s Gay Village, and Toronto’s Wellesley and Church neighborhoods! Every summer, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates gay pride in all major cities, with even political figures taking an active part.
Besides extensive pride celebrations, it’s heartening to see how mainstream regular life for LGBTQ folks is in the country. For example, Vancouver publishes Xtra, an LGBTQ newspaper, and is home to Little Sisters, one of the longest-running LGBTQ bookstores in North America. Montreal, meanwhile, hosted the first World Outgames, an LGBTQ sporting event, and has more gay bathhouses than any other North American city. Toronto isn’t lagging either and has the Glad Day Bookshop, the world’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookstore. It’s the overall vibe that makes it so amazing for LGBTQ travelers.
Cool Facts About LGBT-Friendly Travel Destinations
- Liberal attitudes in The Netherlands go back to the early 1800s, which is when homosexuality was decriminalized in the country. In fact, it boasts the legal use of cannabis and has a red light district that’s one of the world’s best red light districts that are now tourist attractions.
- It’s not surprising that Canada’s biggest city, Toronto, is also one of the most accepting cities when it comes to the LGBTQ+ mindset. It happens to be one of the happiest cities in the world.
- According to the Gay Travel Index, there’s a five-way tie for first place in 2024. The most queer-friendly destinations are Canada, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and Malta.
