Queer Travel: The most relaxed holiday destinations for LGBTQIA+ travelers
Where can queer people vacation without worries? Here are destinations where everyone can feel safe and welcome—and those best avoided.
Families with same-sex parents, gay, lesbian, non-binary, and transgender people are not welcome everywhere in the world – in some countries, same-sex love is even punishable by death. Therefore, if you're unsure, it's important to check the laws of your desired destination before planning your vacation.
What further complicates travel planning is that a country is always more than its laws. Even if same-sex marriage is legal in the USA, that doesn't mean you can easily come out everywhere. And just because homosexual acts are punishable in Malaysia doesn't automatically mean that same-sex couples can't have a great vacation there.
That's why queer people unfortunately have to do twice as much research about the country they're traveling to before booking their vacation: Where do I feel safe and welcome, where can I meet like-minded people, where can I live my love life, where can I easily get a hotel room with my partner, where can I use relevant dating apps without getting into trouble with the locals or the police?
The most pleasant travel destinations for LGBTIQ+ peopleAccording to the "Gay Travel Index 2025," those who don't want to hide and want to travel without fear of aggression, violence, or punishment should consider these ten countries: Iceland, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, and Switzerland.
1) Queer Travel: EuropeWould you like to connect with other queer people on vacation? Hotspots for the lesbian and gay community in Europe include Mykonos, Santorini, and the island of Lesbos , where one of the world's largest lesbian parties takes place every year: the International Eressos Women's Festival .
In Spain, Gran Canaria, Ibiza , and the former fishing village of Sitges near Barcelona , which is also a popular destination for the LGBTQIA+ community, top the list. Mallorca hosts the annual Ella International Lesbian Festival, and Madrid and Valencia also have thriving LGBTQIA+ communities.
There's also a large gay scene in cities like Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Manchester. The seaside resort of Brighton has the highest number of same-sex households in England. And in the Finnish capital Helsinki , clubs, restaurants, and shops welcome queer guests with small rainbow flags.
The LGBTQIA+ community is also welcome on the French island of La Réunion off the east coast of Africa; the island has even published a state-funded travel guide for a gay and lesbian audience.
Iceland is a particularly lesbian-friendly travel destination. No wonder: In 2009, the country welcomed the world's first openly gay head of government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Sweden is considered one of the most queer-friendly countries: Lesbians and gays have been allowed to marry here since 2009, and more Pride festivals are celebrated per capita than anywhere else in the world. Gender-neutral shops and restrooms have long been established in all major cities.
2) Queer Travel: AsiaIn Asia, Thailand is a pleasant destination for gay and transgender people. Especially in Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui, you can enjoy a relaxed vacation with like-minded people and, with a little luck, participate in a pride or drag queen parade. Bali and Taiwan are also liberal when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ scene. Taiwan was the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.
3) Queer Travel: USA and CanadaThe USA, once the "Land of the Free," is generally only recommended with reservations due to the shift to the right. In the "Gay Travel Index 2025" published by the travel blog Spartacus, it has slipped to 48th place. For those who still want to go: The classic hotspots for the community are San Francisco, LA, and Palm Springs , where the world's largest lesbian festival , Dinah Shore Weekend , takes place every spring. But New York and Las Vegas have also always been popular destinations, as has New Orleans , where the gay community is as diverse as the city itself. These places not only offer relevant events, bars, clubs, and Pride festivals, but also hotels specifically for lesbians and gays. Seattle, Chicago , Austin, and Portland have also been great so far, and Northampton, Massachusetts, has made a name for itself as "Lesbianville." Whether you really want to travel to Key West and Miami Beach , where Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is wreaking havoc with queer-friendly laws, is up to each individual to decide. A good alternative to the USA is Canada, which ranks first in the "Gay Travel Index 2025." LGBTQIA+ travelers are likely to feel at home, especially in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver .
The 25 best travel destinations according to the "GayTravel Index 2025"- Canada
- Iceland
- Malta
- Portugal
- Spain
- Germany
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Uruguay
- Belgium
- Chile
- Denmark
- Austria
- Finland
- Greece
- Greenland
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Great Britain
- Andorra
When it comes to the Caribbean, you have to take a closer look, because life isn't easy for everyone on these sun-kissed dream islands. Unlike on the Latin American mainland, the formerly British-occupied islands are particularly hostile toward the LGBTQIA+ community. In Jamaica and Barbados , for example, same-sex love can land you in prison for life. The Cayman Islands have also passed anti-gay and lesbian laws, as have Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Dominican Republic.
However, anyone who still dreams of a Caribbean vacation can travel relatively safely to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Curaçao, Martinique, the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Netherlands, Aruba, Saint-Barthélemy and the Mexican Caribbean coast .
sar Brigitte
brigitte
