The 15 most gay-friendly places on the planet – Lonely Planet Travel News

As more and more nations grant equality to same-sex couples, here’s a list of the most progressive, inclusive and accepting destinations that open their arms to the LGBTQ traveller.

Denmark may be the home of Lego and at the forefront of New Nordic Cuisine, but importantly it made history in 1989 by becoming the first nation in the world to recognize registered same-sex partnerships. And at Denmark’s heart is the relaxed beauty of its compact cobblestoned capital, Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is home to Europe’s oldest openly gay bar, Centralhjørnet, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2017; as well as the hip and super-cool district of Vesterbro, which also happens to be the city’s red-light district. One of the most tolerant and open communities in Europe, Copenhagen’s functional yet edgy fashion scene, brilliant array of cocktail bars, excellent range of gay-friendly boutique accommodation and packed calendar of events make it one of the most accepting places on Earth.

Don’t forget to pay a visit to City Hall Tower. One, it’s amongst the tallest buildings in Copenhagen and provides some of the best views around. But right next door is the ‘Rainbow Square,’ named in 2014 in recognition of the quest for equal rights.

The Land of the Long White Cloud has long been lauded for its inclusive and progressive behaviour toward the LGBTQ community. In 1998 New Zealand was the first nation to adopt the label of ‘Gay/Lesbian Friendly’ when referring to businesses and accommodation – an initiative now recognized globally. The country offers a brilliant network of gay- and lesbian-friendly homestays which run the length and breadth of the country from the top of the semi-tropical North Island to the depths of the glacial South.

Since passing same-sex marriage laws in 2013, New Zealand has actively promoted same-sex marriage tourism to the likes of other Pacific nations where equality laws are less progressive. If you’re wondering when the best time to visit New Zealand might be, Winter Pride is a perennial favorite; it includes a gay ski festival and takes place in picturesque Queenstown in late August or early September.

Toronto continues to be a beacon for the LGBTQ traveller in North America, and Canada is hands down the most advanced and progressive nation in the Americas for the gay community. Toronto’s The Village, located in Church-Wellesley, is the cultural hub of the city, bursting with galleries, theaters and gay-friendly businesses. Home to a huge Pride event that includes a Dyke March, plus a well-established LGBTQ community centre, gay sub-culture has blossomed and thrived in The Village for decades and will no doubt continue to do so for many more. If you’re visiting in the fall, the Village’s fabulous Halloween on Church block party is one of the events of the year.

Located approximately 100 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a sun-seeker’s paradise where the sun shines almost all year round and where the city has embraced everything gay. Palm Springs provides the LGBTQ traveller with an amazing array of outdoor activities, excellent shopping and dining, and the world’s best poolside lounging. Palm Springs also offers the largest volume of male- and female-only accommodation anywhere in the world (many of these places are clothing-optional). Pack the SPF and make the most of the sun, boys and girls! One tip for the girls: check out The Dinah, the world’s largest lesbian event, held annually in Palm Springs.

The coastal city of Sitges is approximately 35km southwest of Barcelona and is the shining light of Spain’s gay scene and indeed one of Europe’s biggest destinations for LGBTQ travelers. Its stretch of sandy, often clothing-optional beaches make it a favorite for the boys, but its eclectic calendar of events ensures that there’s something for the entire community. You can also make Sitges your jumping off point for a broader tour of Europe’s best LGBTQ destinations – which include Mykonos, Gran Canaria and Ibiza, all of which are key stops on many same-sex-exclusive Mediterranean cruises.

Every fetish you could ever dream up can be catered for in Berlin. Germany’s wild side is on display here and Berlin proudly boasts a vibrant and inclusive gay history that dates back to the golden age of the 1920s. The districts of Schöneberg (which hosts Pride), Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg provide a diverse range of clubs, bars and restaurants for sampling. With no ‘closing time’ in Berlin, the party never ends! For the more adventurous, get your fetish on at Easter Leather Fetish Week, or don some leather at Folsom Europe.

Ever since Jackie Onassis started visiting the Greek island of Mykonos in the 1970s, gay men have been flocking to the island of whitewashed houses and flower-filled courtyards, seeking out glamour and the famous Mediterranean sun. Now thanks to campy hits like Mama Mia!, the link between the Greek islands and queer culture has been forged for a whole new generation. The Elysium Hotel, an exclusively gay boutique hotel, is the perfect playground for hedonists heading to Mykonos town. For a less wild holiday, the sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and pine forested hills of Skiathos offer a relaxed and authentic experience for the LGBTQIA+ traveller.

When it comes to LGBTQIA+ history in the United States, you can’t get very far without mentioning the Stonewall Inn. The riots that occurred here in the late ’60s in Greenwich Village are synonymous with the birth of the modern gay-rights movement. The incredibly inclusive communities of the West Village, Chelsea,  Meatpacking District and Hell’s Kitchen provide a fabulous array of gay-friendly accommodation options. Littered with significant LGBTQIA+ landmarks such as Christopher St, the Harvey Milk School, the Lesbian Herstory Archives and, hello, Broadway and the Theater District, New York is a gay traveller’s mecca. If you’re considering getting hitched while in the Big Apple, go to the Clerk of the City of New York.

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik has been described as one of the friendliest places and most inclusive on Earth. Its Pride march is one of Europe’s oldest LGBTQIA+ parades, and the Bears on Ice event is another calendar highlight. Iceland also has some of the world’s most progressive laws. In 2006, same-sex couples were granted equal rights with their heterosexual counterparts without limitation. Wander behind waterfalls, descend into dormant volcanoes, or while away a day in one of the many geothermal lagoons – this is an adventurer’s paradise. To attend the Bears on Ice event, you’ll need to register.

Uruguay, the smallest of the South American nations, is also the most progressive. In 2013, Uruguay was the second Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage, and homosexuality has been decriminalised since 1934. The relaxed attitude present in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo provides a brilliant juxtaposition to the hustle and bustle of the likes of Buenos Aires. Although progressive in protecting the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, excessive PDA (public displays of affection) are not advised.

Portland already has a big come-as-you-are vibe for folks of all stripes, so it’s no surprise that it’s also a LGBTQIA+ haven. From legendary drag performers like Darcelle‘s own bar to newcomers like the drag brunch at the Botanist in the Pearl District, there’s plenty of camp to go around. But there’s no shortage of gay bars to choose from, whether you’re looking for neon-spangled Portland dives like The Florida Room, a welcoming social scene at Crush, classic cruising at Scandals, bears and leather at Eagle, or straight up nudity and cannabis at Hawks – it’s an understatement to say there’s a little something for everyone.

Portland Pride is epic every June, with days of revelry by the Willamette River that spill over into the rest of the city. But if that doesn’t line up with your travel schedule, no worries. There’s plenty of queer-friendly events year round, like the beloved dance nights thrown by Judy on Duty and the DJs at Holocene, plus hip hop and house parties like Werk and Cake at Killingsworth Dynasty. Even Portland institutions that aren’t overtly LGBTQIA+, like the Portland Timbers soccer club, are an integral part of the city’s lesbian scene. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, too, with an endless array of activist groups and community support networks that cement Rose City’s rich reputation for gay culture.

Statistics show that Brighton isn’t just one of the UK’s most gay-friendly cities, it’s got one of the most concentrated LGBTQIA+ populations in the country. Since the 19th century, Brighton has been a respite for gay couples, thanks to the city’s prominence as a garrison for troops during the Napoleonic Wars on through World War I. Gay bars and other queer-owned businesses began to flourish more openly during the 1930s, not unlike Weimar-era Berlin and other cities with a long history of gay culture. After World War II, Brighton became a haven for LGBTQIA+ folks seeking community, much the same as San Francisco in the United States. Today you can partake in that rich, rainbow-hued heritage at numerous destinations throughout the city, including Doctor Brighton’s bar, the Legends hotel, and Poison Ivy karaoke hall. Head to Bar Revenge for fun near the Brighton Pier, the Bulldog for old school vibes, and The Marlborough for the lesbian and thespian scenes.

South Africa legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, sixteen years after the first Johannesburg pride parade and thirteen years after Cape Town got in on the fun. Today, the country is more LGBTQIA+ friendly than ever, whether you’re wandering the streets of Cape Town’s De Waterkant gayborhood or hitting up discos like Ratz in Johannesburg’s Melville district. Sauna culture is alive and well at The Rec Room in J’burg, while the drag shows at Capetown’s Beefcakes club are impeccable – right down to the birdcages atop the bar. Jamala Madikwe is a popular gay-owned safari lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve, or you can stay at Holden Manz, a vineyard and guesthouse in Franschoek Valley that is also owned by members of the LGBT community. 

Taiwan is one of the most LGBTQIA+ countries in Asia – in fact, as of 2019 it’s the first country on the continent to legalize gay marriage (though that legislation is not without some caveats). But Taiwan has embraced gay culture in other ways, from exhibits put on at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei to vast pride parades to the GOL Summit, a filmmaking conference focused on LGBTQIA+ narratives. While these shifts are still fairly recent, and not without controversy, gay and lesbian travelers can kick back and relax at Taiwanese destinations like dance club and karaoke bar G*Star, lesbian bar Taboo (both in Taipei) or Mediterranean restaurant Katsikafe in Kaohsiung, or Brit-pub fusion Kudos in Taichung. Don’t miss Gin Gin, an ecclectic shop in Taipei’s Zhongzheng neighborhood, or the coffee shop H*ours Cafe. For fashion, Love Boat is perfect if your style trends masculine. Bears tend to gather, natch, at Bear Junkies, while G’s Gay Hotel is a haven for gay men.

Sydney has long been the capital of gay Australia, and there’s no shortage of festivals to plan a vacation around, from Mardi Gras in the Darlinghurst gayborhood to Australia’s longest-running pride festival, Chill Out. But any time you pay a visit to the Harbor City is sure to be a good time, with tons of gay-friendly businesses lining thoroughfares like Oxford Street and districts like Newtown and Marrickville. The Oxford Hotel and Slyfox are a hotel and bar that are very welcoming, particularly for lesbians. Meanwhile, everyone’s invited to the Colombian Hotel and clubs like Tokyo Sing Song, the Bearded Tit, and underground parties like Canned Fruit .

This article was first published in 2014 and last updated in June 2021.