Everybody say, “Love!”
We’re headed around the world in pursuit of exciting cities that embrace the LGBTIQ+ community with open arms (not to mention sequins and confetti).These are the kinds of places that understand that life is meant for celebrating – whether through rowdy drag shows that thrill with sass, joyous street parties that bring out crowds of thousands or thumping dance clubs that party on till sunrise.
Follow us to some of the most progressive, inclusive and accepting destinations around the world. Places where you can truly show your spirit of pride.
1. London, United Kingdom
Pride 2024:The biggest Pride celebration in the UK, and one of the largest in the world,London Pridetakes place this year on June 29.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:Sohoin London’s West Endhas historically been the city’s epicenter of queer life. To this day, it remains a hub of the city's LGBTIQ+ bars, shops and clubs.
London has been a most prominent center of queer culture for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to the city’s 18th-century “Molly Houses,” meeting places for LGBTIQ+ people. London remains a massively queer city and is known for a brimming underground scene that can be found at rotating parties, such as those put on byCybil’s House.
A must-visit for any LGBTIQ+ traveler is theAdmiral Duncan, a gay pub in Soho that was the site of a bombing perpetrated by a hom*ophobic neo-Nazi in 1999. In the aftermath of the tragedy, it became a site of resistance and resilience – and remains so to this day.
Learn about London’s queer history on this walking tour
2. Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA
Pride 2025:Provincetown’s 7th annual Pridecelebration takes place from May 31 to June 2, with adiverse lineup of events, from the town’s famous parade to a comedy showcase, 5k race, yoga sessions and more.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood: The entire town!Provincetown is a flourishing place for queer life. Located at the easternmost tip of Cape Cod, P-town has been a summer escape for the LGBTIQ+ community for over 60 years. From riotous parties atA-Houseto (technically illegal) nude sunbathing atHerring Cove Beach, there’s no shortage of fun to be had here. Plan your visit to align with one of the town’s many queer festivals, including Bear Week, Girl Splash, TransWeek and more.
14 ways to enjoy all Provincetown has to offer
3. Auckland, New Zealand
Pride 2024: Being in the southern hemisphere, Aucklandheld itsPride celebrationin the month February. But it’s not too early to plan a trip for 2025!
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:Karangahape Road – or “K Road” to locals – is where you'll find most of Auckland’s LGBTIQ+ nightlife. Many Aucklanders make a night of it by starting atThe Eagle, a local, unpretentious watering hole that welcomes all comers from the LGBTIQ+ community. Next is an inevitable stop atFamily Bar,located conveniently across the street, which has more of a club vibe, complete with bustling dance floor and weekly drag shows.
New Zealand has long been known as a friendly and welcoming country, with robust anti-discrimination laws and legalized same-sex marriage since 2013. Since then, the nation as a whole, and especially its major cities like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, have become known as some of the most LGBTIQ-friendly places anywhere in the world.
These are Auckland’s best neighborhoods
4. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Pride 2024:Puerto Vallarta Pridetakes place from May 20–26 May, andis one of Mexico’s biggest Pride celebrations, drawing a fun mix of locals and visitors.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:Emiliano Zapata (also called Old Town) is where you’ll find the vast majority of Puerto Vallarta’s queer nightlife. But the entire city is an LGBTIQ+ vacation magnet, so it’s virtually impossible to find any section of town that isn’t welcoming.
Throughout the years, Mexico has become more and more LGBTIQ-friendly, and the oceanfront resort town of Puerto Vallarta is one of the nation’s most progressive cities. All the big-brand resorts are LGBTIQ-inclusive, and there are even LGBTIQ-exclusive hotels, like theAlmar Resort. For socializing and meeting other members of the community, the options are endless. From the beachy, indoor/outdoorMr Flamingo,to the comic book–inspiredBlondies Loft + Slushbarand the sleek and trendyLa Noche, there’s no shortage of places to find fun. And that’s not to mention allthe fantastic beaches, with Playa de los Muertosknown as PV’s “gay beach.”
Alluring day trips from Puerto Vallarta
5. Barcelona, Spain
Pride 2024: July 18–21.Barcelona Pride’sofficial 2024 lineup and event details are still to come.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:In the heart of Barcelona,L’Eixampleis one of the biggest LGBTIQ+ boroughs in all of Europe. (It’s even been lovingly given the nickname “Gaixample,”) Here, you’ll find LGBTIQ-owned beauty salons, bookshops, saunas, cafes, bars, restaurants, sex shops and everything in between.
Spain has long been at the forefront of LGBTIQ+ rights. The nation legalized same-sex marriage back in 2005 and has since enacted numerous laws that ensure equality and protection for the queer community, including those who are nonbinary and trans.Platja de la Mar Bellais Barcelona’s premier gay beach – and it also happens to be clothing-optional, with most beachgoers baring it all. Among the numerous other LGBTIQ+ hotspots,Arena Classicis a popular lesbian bar that’s a staple to the local community, whileWarhol-inspired clubCandy Darlingsees partygoers dance nightly until the early hours of morning, and sometimes until after the sun comes up. This is Spain, after all.
20 free things to do in Barcelona
6. New York City, New York, USA
Pride 2024:One of the largest Pride celebrations on the planet,NYC Pridekicks into high gear toward the end of June, culminating in the annual Pride March on June 30, which draws up to 2 million revelers. If that’s not enough, kick off the month with Queens Pridein Jackson Heights, a fabulous parade and street party that takes place in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the world.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:No LGBTIQ+ visit to New York City would be complete without stop in the West Village. It’s here that the Stonewall uprising took place during the summer of 1969, after police raidedthe Stonewall Innand began arresting patrons and bartenders. When these LGBTIQ+ folks fought back, the modern gay rights movement was born.
New York has a deep history and profound connection to the LGBTIQ+ community – both painful (this was the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS crisis) and joyous (Harlemgifted the world ball culture). No queer traveler here can fail to feel it.
These days, LGBTIQ+ folks tend to turn up inHell’s Kitchen, on the west side of Manhattan, whose main drags of Ninth and Tenth Aves are packed withLGBTIQ-owned restaurants, barbershops, cafes and bars (denoted by frequent rainbow flags). Go-to HK nightlife spots include the wildly popularIndustrybar; and the campy, country-themedFlaming Saddles Saloon, where short-shorts-wearing bartenders frequently two-step on the bar.
Drag legend Lady Bunny has a few tips for savoring the West Village
7. Berlin, Germany
Pride 2024:The culmination ofBerlin’smonth of Pride festivities (which kick off on June 28) isChristopher Street Dayon July 27.Germany’s largest Pride celebration, the annual festival is named in honor of the Manhattan street where the historic Stonewall Inn is located.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:The heart of Berlin’s LGBTIQ+ scene is in Schöneberg, which has had gay and lesbian bars since the 1920s, making it one of the oldest gay boroughs on the planet.
Berlin has a fascinating LBGTIQ+ history. In the ’20s and ’30s, queer culture flourished in the city, before being almost completely eradicated by the Nazis during World War II. After the war, the community was forced to rbuild from the ground up, ultimately creating the buzzing and beautiful scene of today.
Berlin is famous for being a city where people stay out clubbing until the sun rises at institutions likeGMFor Berghain (good luck getting in). But Berlin has so much more than dance floors. ItsGay Hostelis a unique lodging opportunity that’s only available to LGBTIQ+ people under the age of 38, creating a safe space where you’re bound to meet some new friends. The city is also home to theSchwules Museum, one of the only museums in the entire world dedicated to researching and preserving the history of LGBTIQ+ cultures around the world.
Berlin’s new era of club culture
8. Sydney, Australia
Pride 2024: Taking advantage of southern-hemispheresummer, Sydney’s annual Pride extravaganza is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which took place in February. Mark your calendars now: the next edition runs from February 14 to March 2, 2025.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:The heart of gay Sydney isDarlinghurst, which is conveniently located near Sydney’s central business district and is easily accessible by the city’s mass-transit system.
Australia has long been a welcoming place for the queer community, with Sydney in particular earning a global reputation for its inclusivity. Not only does the city have excellent LGBTIQ+ nightlife – such as the expansive, three-storyStonewall Hotel– but it also has a rich cultural scene that celebrates LGBTIQ+ art and history.The Darlinghurst Bookshophas been selling queer books, magazines and films since the ’80s, and the city hosts the yearlyQueer Screenfilm festival.
Visit all of Sydney’s best beaches
9. Toronto, Canada
Pride 2024:Toronto’sPride celebrationconsists of a parade, parties and a popular street fair from June 28–30, offering a more laid-back and kid-friendly Pride experience.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:Queen St has been Toronto’s main LGBTIQ+ stretch for decades. (You might recognize it as the filming location of the US version of the groundbreaking dramaQueer as Folk.)
Canadaas a whole is known for being welcoming and is considered one of the friendliest places on the planet.Church St’s oldest LGBTIQ+ establishment, Woody’sdatesto 1989, and remains one a staple of Toronto’s queer culture. For something you can only find in Toronto, visit theBuddies in Bad Timestheater, a queer performance space and cabaret that transforms into a nightclub on non-show nights.
Toronto’s 5 best independent shops
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Pride 2024: July 27–August 4.Amsterdam Prideis one of the world’s more unique celebrations, since its parade takes place on boats floating along the city’s famous canals.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood: While you’ll find LGBTIQ+ venues throughout this famously progressive city, much action is centered within the Reguliersdwarsstraat neighborhood, located in the center of town.
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, in 2001 and, has remained one of the most LGBTIQ-inclusive countries on the planet thanks to its numerous anti-discrimination laws and policies that protect civil rights for the queer community.
First opened by flamboyant lesbian impresarioBet van Beeranin 1927,Cafe ’t Mandjeremains a staple of the city’s queer scene, with its eclectic interior and friendly crowd. If late-night adventures are more your style, check outEXIT Café, a thumping LGBTIQ+ bar that welcomes all comers and allies. Best of all, EXIT is open later than most bars in the city, making it perfect for night owls and those looking for an epic night on the town. First-time visitors should stop in at thePink Point, a dedicated LGBTIQ+ information booth that provides travelers with tips, recommendations and information on all things queer in the city.
All you need to know before heading to Amsterdam
11. Palm Springs, California, USA
Pride 2024:Thanks to the city’s year-round warm weather,Palm Springs Pridetakes place much later than most, this year from October 31 to November 3.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood:All of Palm Springs is an LGBTIQ-centric neighborhood. In fact, Palm Springs has such a queer presence that even adjacent towns like Cathedral City and Palm Desert have drawn growing LGBTIQ+ populations, and have holding their own, discrete Pride celebrations.
During Hollywood’s heyday, actors, actresses, directors, producers and agents escaped to Palm Springs ro relax and let their hair down. Heavily represented among these visitors, the legend has it, was a heavy contingent of LBGTIQ+ artists, in search of privacy and discretion. This vibe still exists in this desert town to this day, withnumerous LGBTIQ+ resortsdotting the town, many of them clothing-optional. For a bit of the city’s famed nightlife, be sure to check out longstanding staples likeChill BarandHunters.
Top things to do in Palm Springs
12. Tel Aviv, Israel
Pride 2024:Tel Aviv Pride, taking place this year on Friday June 7, is a celebration beloved by Israelis and international visitors.
Must-visit LGBTIQ+neighborhood: While sophisticatedTel Aviv doesn’t have a specific “gayborhood,” the entire city is LGBTIQ-friendly. In fact, in 2016 theBoston Globereported that a full quarter of the city’s population identifies as LGBTIQ+ – making it truly one of the gayest places on Earth.
While much of Israel remains socially traditional, with gay marriage not legally recognized in the country, Tel Aviv does things differently. Look no further thanHilton Beach,a hub for the LGBTIQ+ community (you’ll see many deeply bronzed, Speedo-wearing boys on parade). One of the city’s most popular locales for queer people and their allies isShpagat, a club that draws a great mix of locals and tourists, ensuring that you’ll always be meeting someone new.
Fabulous rooftop bars in Tel Aviv
This article was first published Oct 8, 2019 and updated May 21, 2024.
