Top LGBTQ+ friendly holiday destinations

Going on holiday as an LGBTQ+ person, or as part of an LGBTQ+ couple, can be daunting. Worries about how open or authentic you can be, what local laws say, and general unease about social conventions can be a major factor in helping LGBTQ+ decide where to go abroad. But all hope is not lost!

As LGBTQ+ acceptance around the globe improves and identifying as LGBTQ+ becomes far more normalised in many places, the destination list continues to grow. In this article, we’re exploring the top LGBTQ+ friendly holiday destinations as that list gets longer and longer.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik, capital of Iceland, is a beautiful oasis in the Atlantic Ocean, and a fantastic LGBTQ+ holiday spot. Watch the Northern Lights, enjoy the picturesque scenery, and dip your toes into the hustling and bustling LGBTQ+ scene in this incredibly LGBTQ+ friendly destination. Despite having a population of fewer than 150,000 people, Reykjavik has a vibrant LGBTQ+ community with a number of bars, a stunning Pride Parade, and a variety of activities including “The Golden Circle” tour around Iceland.

Sitges, Spain

Moving South to Spain, Sitges - situated an hour outside of Barcelona - is an LGBTQ+ paradise with a vibrant culture of bars, sun, and parties. With enough LGBTQ+ bars to trigger frequent street parties, Sitges represents the sort of lifestyle we wish we could have every day of the year: nonstop party. With its own Pride, a film festival, and “Bear Week'', Sitges is perfect all year round to focus on living your best life.

Ibiza, Spain

On the Balearic Island of Ibiza, famed for its party scene, is an unsurprising LGBTQ+ friendly holiday destination. From the many beaches, boat parties, clubs, inclusive resorts, LGBTQ+ parties, (the list could go on!) Ibiza represents a “do it before you die” lifestyle, where everything is on the table and celebrations don’t stop till long after sunrise. Check out the gay beaches, Frigays parties, and endless sun!

Paris, France

Away from the Mediterranean, we look to Paris, the heart of France. With its beautiful stretching boulevards, public parks, and historic reputation as the City of Romance, Paris represents a deeply cultural opportunity to explore the heart of France, home of the ‘Belle Epoque’”, source of inspiration to countless writers from Huysmans to Hemmingway, and aesthetic paradise. Paris’ LGBTQ+ scene is significant, often focused around La Marais, which is home to a number of chic bars and clubs, as well as shows and cabaret venues. With over 1 million annual attendees, Paris Pride is also a fantastic experience that should be unmissable for any LGBTQ+ visitors to the city.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is a city of tranquillity. From its gentle trams, stretching canals, and small cafes, Amsterdam is a picturesque dream of highly-instagrammable views and rich bohemian culture. The Netherlands is an incredibly LGBTQ+ friendly country, being one of the first in the world to explicitly mention LGBTQ+ rights in its constitution, and Amsterdam doesn’t shirk from this reputation. With a strong drag scene and a culture of tolerance and acceptance, Amsterdam holds a special place as a city where LGBTQ+ people not only exist but thrive.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin built a reputation in the 1920s as a city where anything was possible and everything was acceptable. It’s no mystery then as to why a number of LGBTQ+ writers, aesthetes, and philosophers flocked to the city over the years. Since the 1990s and German Reunification, Berlin’s reputation as an LGBTQ+ hotspot has grown and grown, with the number of exclusive clubs, cafes, and LGBTQ+ shops popping up exponentially. One of the clubs, Berghain, is famed for parties that start on Friday night, and go on well into Monday evening!

Prague, Czechia

Prague is the party capital of Central Europe, which makes it a popular destination for partygoers from across the continent. With winding streets and squares with bars and clubs on every corner, Prague continues to provide cultural enrichment with every bridge you cross. Its LGBTQ+ scene runs throughout, with the city often described as very “gay-centric” by LGBTQ+ travel boards, and this manifests in a number of LGBTQ+ friendly cabarets, bars, discos, and clubs, where a strong drag scene mixes with a blend of campy, gay, fun.

Stockholm, Sweden

The Capital of Sweden, Stockholm, is a picturesque city of beautiful Northern architecture. With an extensive history, chronicling the rise of the Kingdom of Sweden, or vibrant culture, displaying the finest of Sweden’s variety of museums, theatres and galleries, Stockholm is the place to be. Its LGBTQ+ scene is well established, with Sweden being a country which has been historically tolerant of the LGBTQ+ community, and this is reflected in the wealth and depth of numerous LGBTQ+ venues across the city. Whether you’re visiting in the heat of Summer, or to enjoy the Winter snow, Stockholm will captivate you from the moment you step onto the tarmac.

Mykonos, Greece

No list of LGBTQ+ friendly travel destinations would be complete without mentioning Mykonos! The Greek island has been referred to as “The Center of the LGBT+ World” for holidaymakers, with a reputation for sun, sea, and fun that is not only inclusive of but rather inviting to, LGBTQ+ travellers. With LGBTQ+ beaches, scenery that will help you to recreate your Mamma Mia fantasy, and vibrant club options once the sun begins to set on the island, you can be certain you’ll have no end of things to do as you dive into this quintessentially Queer holiday destination.