Top 10 LGBT friendly cities in Europe

Europe is a great destination for your next trip! Visit some of Europe’s most famous gay bars or attend a Pride event with your friends and family.

Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or a supportive ally, it’s important to find cities that support liberal attitudes.

Read about the top 10 LGBT-friendly cities in Europe - including how you can always stay safe on your travels. Planning a trip? Don’t forget your Wise card! Spend your money in 150+ countries across the world.

What makes a city LGBT-friendly?

An LGBT-friendly city is a place where members of the LGBTQ+ community feel safe to be themselves.

It’s important to choose cities with liberal social attitudes, such as Amsterdam or Berlin, and many countries have laws that protect LGBTQ+ people, such as same-sex marriage rights.

Many cities in Europe also have a strong LGBTQ+ presence, with gay-friendly venues, cafés, clubs, and Pride events for the local community. All of these factors can influence how safe you feel in a new city.

Top 10 LGBT-friendly cities in Europe

There are lots of LGBT-friendly cities to visit for your next European trip. We’ve put together a list of the top 10 gay-friendly destinations in Europe.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s gay neighborhood, Schöneberg, is full of gay businesses. You can express yourself openly in this city, with a big Pride event every year in June.

There are lots of great LGBTQ+ history spots across the city, as well as gay bars to meet other people in the community.¹

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Amsterdam is known for its liberal policies, but did you know it’s also the gay capital of Europe?

It’s considered one of the gayest cities in the world, whether you’re looking for historic landmarks or fun gay clubs. The city’s oldest gay bar, Cafe t’Mandje, is a popular choice for gay travelers - and Amsterdam Pride is a huge, inclusive annual event.¹

London, UK

Soho, London’s gay neighborhood, was Europe’s first gay district, with lots of gay bars across the city.¹ The first gay club opened in 1912 and there are queer exhibitions, theaters, cafés, musicals, and bookshops to check out, too.²

Pride in London brings together thousands of people from across the world, including performances from big stars like Adam Lambert and Ava Max in recent years.

Madrid, Spain

Madrid is known for its tolerant social attitudes. In 2005, Spain legalized gay marriage, with equal rights for same-sex adoption and protection against discrimination.¹

Attend Madrid Pride in July or check out a bit of queer Spanish history on your trip.

Brighton, UK

Like London and Manchester, Brighton is a place for LGBTQ+ people to openly express themselves in a diverse and inclusive environment. However, unlike these big cities, Brighton offers cozy seaside venues for residents and travelers.

Brighton Pride and Trans Pride Brighton are huge annual events for people across the UK and further afield.

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is a lesser-known LGBT-friendly city in Europe, with liberal social attitudes and great places to visit across the city, but without the same crowds of tourists as European destinations like Paris or Madrid.

In 2003, Belgium legalized same-sex marriage and there are laws against LGBTQ+ discrimination.¹

Porto, Portugal

Porto has a thriving LGBTQ+ community. Portugal was the 6th country in Europe to legalize gay marriage and there’s plenty of gay-friendly accommodation for LGBTQ+ travelers.³ Porto offers beaches, gay bars, LGBT-friendly cafés and more.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a welcoming European city for the gay community. The center of the LGTB district of Barcelona, Eixample - colloquially called Gaixample - offers lots of gay-friendly bars and restaurants for people visiting the city.⁴

Barcelona Pride is also one of the most popular LGBTQ+ events in Europe.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen offers a range of different queer venues for LGBTQ+ travelers to check out. Unlike other LGBT-friendly cities in Europe, Copenhagen celebrates Pride twice - once in June and once in February!

From museums to gay bars, Copenhagen is a safe and inclusive city for your next gay-friendly vacation.

Paris, France

Known as the city of love, Paris is a fantastic place to visit with your partner. You could visit Paris’ gay bars and clubs or check out a few gay-owned businesses in Le Marais, the city’s gay neighborhood.¹

There are also lots of gay-friendly hotels in Paris, catering to LGBTQ+ couples and families.

Celebrated gay-friendly Cities in Western Europe

Some cities in Western Europe are renowned for their gay-friendly policies and inclusive events. Amsterdam is famous for its gay neighborhood, Reguliersdwarsstraat, and the city legalized same-sex relationships back in 1811.¹

Although Berlin took a step back during the oppressive Nazi rule, it has since taken big strides forward in LGBTQ+ rights. Visit memorials for LGBTQ+ victims of World War II during your trip to commemorate important history.¹

All of these cities have a welcoming atmosphere for the LGBTQ+ community. Gay couples feel comfortable expressing themselves in public and there are lots of places to meet local LGBTQ+ people.

Emerging LGBT-friendly cities in Eastern Europe

Although Western Europe is typically known for its liberal attitudes, some cities in Eastern Europe are fast becoming LGBTQ+ hotspots for tourists and locals.

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is an open and welcoming city. Although smaller towns and villages are more conservative, you can enjoy LGBTQ+ culture spots in big cities like Warsaw. Homosexuality is legal in Poland, with growing support for same-sex marriage rights across the country.⁵

Prague is also a popular choice for LGBTQ+ travelers, with charming towns and villages to explore. In 2006, gay partnerships received legal recognition, and the city is making strides toward more tolerant attitudes.

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Life in LGBT-friendly European cities: what to expect

Life in an LGBT-friendly European city offers lots of opportunities. You and your family can walk around the city safely. Gay-friendly cities in Europe also have more gay-owned businesses, giving residents and travelers a chance to appreciate local LGBTQ+ culture, art, and history.

Pride is a big event in LGBT-friendly cities, giving the local LGBTQ+ community a chance to celebrate and promote equal rights.

How do European cities support their LGBTQ+ communities?

As a minority group, it’s important to make sure LGBTQ+ people have a platform to express themselves. Many LGBT-friendly European cities provide opportunities for the community to enact change and campaign for equal rights.

Amsterdam’s ‘Pink Agenda’ is a policy that aims to support initiatives from the LGBTQ+ community, and the city council also supports LGBTQ+ interest groups.⁷

Which European cities have the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride events?

Many cities have big Pride events every year, bringing together hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ people from across Europe.

The biggest European LGBTQ+ Pride events include:
Madrid Pride Paris Pride Amsterdam Pride Pride in London Berlin Pride

Travel tips for LGBT travelers

Traveling abroad can be daunting, but there are a few ways to make your trip a little easier.

Safety should always be your top priority when visiting a new city. Meet up with members of the local LGBTQ+ community and make sure to research gay-friendly hotels and activities before you book your trip.

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There are lots of great places to visit in Europe, including LGBT-friendly cities like Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam.

You can appreciate local gay culture in these liberal European cities, and these popular travel spots also support their LGBTQ+ communities by putting effective policies in place to protect them.

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Sources:

1. Mr Hudson Explores
2. SAHBG
3. Portugalist
4. European Best Destinations
5. Equaldex
6. Matador Network
7. City of Amsterdam

Sources checked on 09.18.2023