Travel is all about letting go of life’s stresses, finding yourself and having fun, right? Unfortunately, the reality is that picking a place to do all this is a lot harder for the LGBTQ+ community right now. It takes a lot more research into where to visit, where to stay and where to go out to pick your next destination – one that slays at self-expression and celebrates you for being you 🌈
So, whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, we’ve shortlisted some of the best places known for their inclusivity, queer culture and camp party scene, ofc – get yourself a country that campaigns for gay rights and plays those club classics x
Top tip – you can always check out places you’re interested in on the Rainbow Map to see how each ranks for its LGBTQ+ policies
Spain
Cheers Spain for being one of the first countries to legalise same-sex marriage back in 2005 and hosting one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world 👏 The big cities on the mainland have a thriving queer culture and the Canary Islands are a bit of a gay icon in the travel world…
Madrid
Madrid’s Chueca is rated one of Europe’s biggest ‘gaybourhoods’. It’s an iconic district for members of the LGBTQ+ community, with the majority of businesses focussing on a gay clientele, from book shops to travel agents, restaurants and clubs. Rainbow flags flutter from balconies and couples walk hand in hand for after-work drinks at the local bars alongside old men walking their dogs – old and new generations completely co-exist here, as the community’s continued to grow. Plaza de Chueca marks the centre, and the nightlife has got so popular, you can’t keep the heteros away now either. Everyone loves Long Play and Black & White. Then, in June and July, anywhere’s a shout as Pride takes over the whole barrio, with floats full of drag queens and dancers filling the streets.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a hotspot on the Euro summer circuit so, naturally, there’s a thriving LGBTQ+ scene. You’ve got beaches, mountains in day-tripping distance, unreal tapas and great nightlife. Most of Barcelona’s gay bars and clubs can be found in the L’Eixample district, AKA ‘Gaixample’ – a three-block area north of Gran Via Del Les Corts Catalanes between the Urgil and Universitat metro stations. You’ve got Pervert Club and Arena Madre, which are both super popular spots, and annual highlights are Pride in June and July and the Circuit Festival party weeks in August. Arena Classic is a popular lesbian bar, or Candy Darling keeps things going until the sun comes up with a Warhol-inspired theme. Also, Sitges is just down the coast – you can get there by car or train – with a beaut beach and museums, but mainly ‘Sin Street’… Calle del Pecado is lined with LGBTQ+-friendly places. Back in Barca, beach-wise, Platja de la Mar Bella is known as the main LGBTQ+ beach and clothing is optional.
Gay saunas are a bit of a thing here, too… Saunas and cold plunges are so in right now, so you have to check out Sauna Casanova – it’s open 24 hours and gets extra busy after clubs close, with open showers, a dry sauna, steam room and a six-person hot tub. You can find it right in the heart of Eixample, as well as gay massage venues, like Under Pressure Massage.
Gran Canaria
Of all the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria’s been bringing the gay bar vibes since the 60s and for a fairly small place, its Pride celebrations are talked about on a global scale. Maspalomas Pride attracts over 100,000 people every year, including the odd icon like Eurovision’s Conchita Wurst. It also takes place in the first few weeks of May, so another pick to celebrate Pride all over again in June is still on the cards. Everything’s happening, from lazy beach events to club nights, drag shows and the main event, the parade. The main stage is at the Yumbo Centre – the world’s only LGBTQ+ shopping centre – where there are DJ sets and acts throughout the day. Then, there are boat parties – think food and drink on board, tunes blasting and stops to snorkel and paddleboard. Pool parties are another option – the Wet and White Party at Amadores Beach Club is a big one.
But, thanks to these islands being closer to Africa than they are to Spain, Gran Canaria is an ideal pick all year round – not just for Pride. Without the crowds in May, you can make the most of the beaches and get a bit of personal space to top up your tan in the day, and the clubs will still be clubbing for the eves. Maspalomas’ dunes are what this place is all about or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has more Latin American energy – the city is worth a wander to spot its colourful houses and old buildings.
Hotel highlights
For the whole package, pick a hotel that’s proud of its LGBTQ+ rep as well as the place…
Seven Hotel & Wellness, Maspalomas – this hotel is for gay men only – even the housekeeping team’s all male so the commitment is real. You’ve got an outdoor, heated saltwater swimming pool, a hot tub, a spa and the rooms all come with a private porch. The beach and dunes are about a 20-min walk away and there’s a shopping centre even closer.
Vista Bonita, Maspalomas – this one’s a gay and lesbian resort. It’s in a quieter residential area but the nightlife and beach are only a short taxi away. There’s an outdoor hot tub, pool area, garden and bar. Oh, and to finesse that tan, sunbathing in the nude gets the green flag.
Atlantic Sun Beach, Playa del Ingles – this gay men-only spot is only a few minutes away from the beach, which is one of the best in the south, and super close to the Yumbo Centre. It’s all apartments here, so you get your own kitchen, living space and a terrace overlooking the pool and gardens. All the communal spaces are nudist-friendly, too.
Malta
Category is… supporting LGBTQ+ rights since day 👏 No one talks about Malta enough – she flies under the radar as a modest queen of progressive action and so we’re here to give her the credit she deserves. The country banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity back in 2004 and LGBTQ+ people have been able to serve in the military since 2002. Same-sex marriage is ofc legal and transgender people are also empowered to change their legal gender without medical intervention. It might be a tiny island but it’s one of Europe’s and the world’s most tolerant places…
Malta’s beaches are just stunning, so you can expect to spend your days on Golden Bay on the northwest coast, Mellieha Bay for some watersports action and at the Blue Lagoon for unreal swimming. Paceville is the nightlife district here and Michaelangelo is the biggest LGBTQ+ club, set over two floors. Even though this is the only dedicated gay club on the island, there are loads of queer-friendly places, including Maori, which is a more chill seafront bar with fortnightly queer nights. Lollipop nights are also legendary here, touring Malta’s biggest venues throughout the year – they take over Pride, play the campest pop music and put on fun themes like Rio Carnival. For a lil something to read on the beach, head to Rainbow Library, Malta’s first LGBTQ+ library, where you can find around 300 books, from queer classics to zines.
Top tip – look up Gaymalta, which has an amazing map of local queer-owned businesses to support on your trip. It’s the easiest way to find the best LGBTQ+ events and get some inspo on what’s on.
New York, USA
New York City is one of the most progressive parts of the US and literally where the Gay Rights movement as we know it started, with the Stonewall Riots in June 1969. It’s this event that Pride celebrations in June all around the world are set to commemorate, and New York’s affair is iconic – think over 700 floats filling Fifth Avenue with rainbow flags and fab costumes.
It’s not just about travelling in June, though, New York serves as an ally to the community all year round and real ones will know this place’s rep as the capital of drag culture. The Barracuda Lounge in Chelsea is a founding mother of drag, as one of the first queer venues here and has shows on every night of the week – Shantay, you stay. Hell’s Kitchen is also a main hotspot, with Industry, Therapy and Laurie Beechman being big names on the scene. Brooklyn has more younger, gender-nonconforming spaces, like 3 Dollar Bill and House of Yes but it’s also home to Ginger’s Bar, one of America’s few remaining lesbian bars. Then, musical theatre lovers need to check out Marie’s Crisis in the West Village to indulge in a sing along and 54 Below, where up-and-coming Broadway stars start out.
In the day, a walking tour is a great place to start for any city break. There’s an LGBTQ+ Greenwich Village walking tour and an NYC Pride walking tour to learn all about Stonewall and the community pre and post riots, and visit the iconic LGBTQ Community Center.
Hotel highlights
When the time comes to sashay away from the party though, these hotels got the memo…
Hilton Garden Inn New York – Times Square Central – this hotel is perched between 6th Avenue and Broadway – say less. Catch your fave show and you’re even on the doorstep of Times Square to see the ball drop on NYE.
Hotel Beacon – hey Upper West Siders, suites here have stunning views of Central Park, the Hudson River and Midtown Manhattan. It’s the perfect place for a bit of luxury shopping, landmark spotting and eating out. There’s even a rooftop to take it all in and the style is giving plush plaza.
Ink 48 Hotel – this modern urban retreat can be found in Hell’s Kitchen, a haven for drag and club nights. Views look over the Hudson River and you can walk to Times Square and Central Park. But the rooftop is the pinnacle – think glass balcony, a chic water feature and nightly sunset scenes.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
HRH, Queen Mary of Denmark herself stepped out patron of Copenhagen’s 2021 WorldPride event to preach that gay rights are human rights – the first royal to serve as patron of any major LGBT event… literally, yas queen. The city’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community goes back to as early as 1917, when supposedly the world’s oldest gay bar, CentralHjørnet first opened its doors. There’s the old Danish painter, Lili Ilse Elvenes, who was one of the first people in the world to receive sex reassignment surgery in 1930 and the LGBTQ+ Danmark organisation has been going strong since 1948. Denmark was even the first country to officially register same-sex unions in 1989, which kickstarted a whole wave of acceptance of marriage equality.
Pride celebrations not only happen once a year in Copenhagen but twice, with a summer one in August and a winter week in Feb. The main strip of gay bars can also be found along Studiestræde in the city’s Latin Quarter. It’s only a stretch of about 200 metres, so in summer, people spill out onto the streets and it forms one long party. Masken, CentralHjørnet and Jailhouse can all be found here. Men’s Bar is a bit of an old school spot, Kiss Kiss brings the showtunes and Centre Stage bar is all about West End and Broadway numbers, ofc. The city’s main lesbian venue, though, is Vela, which is also known for being trans-inclusive. In the day, Copenhagen’s shopping scene is super chic and there’s plenty of history and modern art to satisfy your culture fix. The food is also legendary – the bakeries have a whole reputation of their own, from Buka and Hart to Juno just for the cardamom buns.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Throughout the 1990s, Iceland loved to pass a load of legislation that’s made it one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly places in the world. It was one of the first to recognise same-sex partnerships in 1996 and grant completely equal adoption and IVF rights for same-sex couples in 2006. The Church of Iceland – Hallgrímskirkja – also performs marriages for people of all genders and all sexual orientations, and the building is stunning, so it’s worthy of a visit and trip up to its observation deck for the views.
Naturally, in Iceland, swimming and saunas are popular activities. All pools in Reykjavik have communal showers and single and unisex showers, so you can pick what’s comfortable for you. In particular, the Blue Lagoon is a real must-do, where you can swim in mineral-rich steaming waters, surrounded by volcanic scenes. Over the summer, you can spot whales on a trip from Reykjavik harbour and even wild orcas, too. Ofc, the Northern Lights are a massive tick on the old bucket list, so that’s the main perk of visiting during winter. In the evenings, your bar options range from cosy bars with DJs like Bravó to livelier clubs like Kíkí. Samtökin ’78 is also the national Queer Organisation with a community centre, café and they run their own events, or Reykjavík Kabarett is Iceland’s first burlesque show and a popular platform for queer performances.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin’s always leading the way in something, so it’s no surprise its LGBTQ+ scene is one of the best in Europe. There’s a huge LGBTQ+ community here and new venues are popping up all the time. Pride month and CSD Berlin – AKA Berlin’s annual LGBTQ+ festival – bring together up to 750,000 people across the city. And, we already know you’ve heard of Berghain. It was actually founded as a gay club, so while everyone’s dressing as cool as poss and pretending to love techno music, you’ve actually got the best chance of getting in if you’re queer. Its heritage is hosting gay fetish parties and now there are even more places like SchwuZ, which is Berlin’s largest LGBTQ+ club.
In terms of where to stay, the city’s developed a ‘pink pillow collection’, which sets new standards for hotel hospitality and helps to identify hotels where gay and lesbian guests are welcome. You can always crosscheck a place you’re interested in booking to check. There’s also a Gay Museum in Berlin, founded in 1985, all about showcasing gay, lesbian, trans, bisexual and queer stories. It’s in Schöneberg’s Regenbogenkiez or the Rainbow district, so could be the perfect starting point for a day of exploring. Kreuzberg’s Der Boiler is hot on the sauna scene with cabins, saunas and chill-out areas. Then, Ficken 3000 is known for its parties on Urbanstrasse – look for the painted rainbow flag above the door and ring the buzzer. Or, Rupert Everett and Tara Reid have both been spotted at Zum Schmutzigen Hobby. It’s a bar and club in one and they put on regular drag shows here.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon’s LGBTQ+ community grew throughout the 90s and early 2000s to the point where the city’s now considered a top queer-friendly pick. Portugal’s Gender Identity Law is also one of the most advanced in the world for transsexual and transgender people. It’s a super aesthetic, colourful and creative place with rooftop bars and beaut beaches, so you already know you’re gonna love it…
In particular, the Bairro Alto and Principe Real areas are known for their queer circles and are where you can find the best LGBTQ+ venues. Rua da Atalaia is the street that connects the two, so is always a good shout get to the heart of the buzz. Purex Clube is a bit of an up-and-coming venue, hosting themed parties, but there are also seated spaces where you can just hang around for a chat, too. Friends Bairro Alto is in the heart of the queer district and is a yummy tapas bar for a bite before heading to Side Bar – one of Lisbon’s most famous LGBTQ+ bars. Or, if you loved the sound of Berlin and techno is more your vibe, Kit Ket is a venue that pushes for a more female-focussed nightlife and has collaborated with big collectives like Boiler Room. They’re also home to a music label and all the proceeds support Casa T, a queer shelter to house the city’s immigrant LGBTQ+ community. In terms of beaches, Costa de Caparica is just up the train line towards Cascais from Lisbon and Beach 19 is a nudist spot that’s considered the largest queer beach in Europe and Praia de Bela Vista has a few gay venues nearby.
Check out our LGBTQ+ holidays page for the best deals and travel inspo to make a trip to one of these places happen.
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Author: Lily Owen
Last updated: 22/01/2025
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