6 Alternative LGBT-Friendly Escapes

1. Lisbon, Portugal

Often overshadowed by Europe’s more glamorous gay capitals, Lisbon boasts a vibrant nightlife, rich culture, and beautiful vistas. Bairro Alto holds the gay heart of the city, with many LGBT+ venues around the Rua Barroca. Head to Trumps on a Friday or Saturday night for the latest pop anthems, or go down to Finalmente any night of the week for a display of the country’s best drag talent.

Recovering from your hangover, grab a coffee at the hipster cafes in Principe Real or get some sun at the gay nudist Beach 19.

2. Beijing, China

China’s famously conservative capital may not be what first springs to mind when thinking of an LGBT-friendly escape, but beneath the city’s rich history and bustling modern skyscrapers is a unique and thriving gay scene. Visit Más, an LGBT-friendly cocktail bar in Beixinqiao Toutiao Hutong run by an American gay couple. Drink Tsai Lee Lu coffee, produced by queer film director Tsai Ming-liang, at the Two Cities Café – where gay and lesbian speed dating takes place. Have a beer at the LGBT-friendly Great Leap Brewery –and maybe compete in The Gaymazing Race.

When the sun goes down start with drinks at the swish Adam bar, then head out to one of Beijing’s two massive gay clubs: Destination or Funky – make a night of it and go to both like the locals. If girls are your persuasion Chill Bar has a lesbian party on the first Friday of every month.

3. Havana, Cuba

Cuba has undergone a remarkable transformation in its attitudes towards the LGBT+ community. For much of Fidel Castro’s rule gay men and women were incarcerated, now the island has an abundance of gay clubs and bars and holds annual Pride celebrations every year.

Without solid data access, gay Cubans rely on real-life meetings and not dating apps. In Havana, there is the country’s first official gay bar: Humboldt 52. Dance all night to a mix of salsa music, disco, karaoke, and an array of drag performances. Other gay venues in the city include Fashion Bar Havana, Escaleras al Cielo, Cafe Bar Madrigal, Cabaret Las Vegas and Bar Bohemio.

For gay honeymooners, there is Cayo Levisa Island, separated from Havana by a two-hour drive and thirty-minute boat ride. With no roads or cars, you can relax and enjoy the secluded beaches, the white sand and the palm trees.

4. Medellin, Columbia

Legalising same-sex marriage in 2016 (ahead of many Western countries), Columbia has started to rapidly reform its position on LGBT+ rights, with new adoption and anti-discrimination laws following soon after. While the gay scene may not be as boisterous or visible as it is in Europe or the West, given the country’s strict religious past and its surrounded South American neighbours, Columbia has become one of the most progressive countries in the region.

In Medellin most of the gay clubs and bars are centred around Parque Lieras, the city’s Zona Rona (or gay neighbourhood). Start your night at Donde Aquellos then head over to nightclubs VIVA or Cantina de Javi.

Check out an in-depth gay guide to the city here.

5. New Zealand

Rated by Lonely Planet as one of the most “inclusive and progressive” LGBT+ destinations, beautiful New Zealand is a must-see destination. Among many of the country’s accomplishments, New Zealand was the first country to allow women to vote, was the first country to have an openly transgender mayor in 1995, their military is independently ranked the most inclusive in the world, and they are one of the only countries in the world to have a third gender option on passports.

Stepping off the plane you’ll be greeted by the famous Kiwi hospitality. In Auckland, there is the annual Hero Festival, a summer Pride celebration with parties, parades, galas and more. There’s also the Big Gay Out in February, a big party in Coyle Park with funds going towards ending HIV.

There’s also Gay Sky Week in Queenstown, it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s largest winter gay party. Starting in September the party boasts big events and club nights with incomparable ski trips in the day.

6. Beirut, Lebanon

While homosexuality is still illegal in Lebanon – with an oncoming election set to change that – a thriving, clandestine gay scene has emerged in the country’s capital. With gay-friendly cafes, bars and clubs including B 018, Posh and Madame Om.

Bardo is the gay neighbourhood, attracting many LGBT+ tourists from nearby Arab countries looking to shed the religious restrictions they’re subjected to at home. Clubs like Milk (in Port of Beirut, Salifi) or Ghost (Saloumeh / Dekwaneh, behind Freeway Center) cater to this crowd. Photography is not allowed in many of these places, as a lot of the patrons are forced to lead double lives.