Top 11 gay-friendly cities in the world

There are lots of incredible gay-friendly cities across the world, including travel spots with LGBTQ+ venues and progressive social attitudes.

We’ve put together a list of the best LGBT-friendly cities, including plenty of information about staying safe on your travels and what to expect on your trip. Attend local Pride events and meet like-minded people, all while spending time in an open-minded and liberal city.

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What makes a city gay-friendly?

You may consider a city gay-friendly if its laws protect the LGBTQ+ community, including equal rights for homosexual couples. Social attitudes are also important, as you need to feel safe when you’re out exploring.

It’s a good idea to think about the LGBTQ+ presence in a city, as places with a large LGBTQ+ community are typically more accepting. Many cities also organize huge Pride marches, as well as events at LGBT-friendly venues throughout the year.

How can cities support their LGBTQ+ communities?

Cities can support their local LGBTQ+ community by providing protection from discrimination. They can also offer services for local LGBTQ+ people to find support, such as liaisons with the local government.

How can you find out if a city is gay-friendly?

It’s important to do a bit of research before booking your vacation. You could ask other LGBTQ+ people about their experiences staying in a city to check if it’s tolerant toward the community. Searching online can also help you find great LGBT-friendly businesses to visit on your trip.

The world's most gay-friendly city

The most gay-friendly city in the world is Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It’s known as one of the most liberal cities in the world, maintaining an open and accepting outlook toward the LGBTQ+ community.

It also offers gay bars, drag clubs, and a huge annual Pride event for the LGBTQ+ community in Summer - so it’s well worth a visit!

The top 11 most gay-friendly cities in the world

We’ve put together a list of the top 11 most gay-friendly cities, including gay-friendly travel destinations across the world.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale is considered a very gay-friendly city! You’ll find over 100 LGBTQ-themed businesses and Sebastian Street Beach is an unofficial gay beach for locals and international visitors.¹

There are lots of gay bars in Fort Lauderdale, with a fun and diverse nightlife for gay visitors to enjoy.

Paris, France

Paris has a lot to offer for LGBTQ+ travelers. Le Marais is the city’s gay neighborhood, with a range of bars, restaurants, and shops for the gay community.

In 1791, France legalized homosexuality - and there are several same-sex marriage and adoption laws in place, making this a safe, gay-friendly travel spot.²

San Francisco, California

The history of San Francisco goes a long way to explain its forward-thinking attitude, with a huge influx of young men moving to the city in the 1800s. From gay bars to rainbow sidewalks, this city is the perfect choice for a gay-friendly vacation.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam has long been considered a safe destination for gay travelers across the world, with open-minded attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2001, the Netherlands introduced same-sex marriage rights, becoming the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage.¹

New York, New York

New York has a huge local LGBTQ+ community - and many people flock to New York every year to visit gay establishments in the West Village and Chelsea.

Ever since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, LGBTQ+ rights have played an important role in this city. In 2011, same-sex marriage became legal and there are anti-discrimination laws in place to protect LGBTQ+ people.³

Toronto, Canada

Toronto is a very gay-friendly city! Visit Toronto’s Gay Village for famous gay bars and inclusive drag clubs or attend Toronto Pride to meet like-minded members of the LGBTQ+ community on your trip.

Brighton, England

Brighton is home to many LGBTQ+ people, with the highest proportion of LGBTQ+ households in the UK.¹ Brighton also hosts two big international Pride events every year, Brighton Pride and Trans Pride.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is famous for its gay nightlife, with drag shows and gay bars across the city. Schöneberg is the city’s gay neighborhood - and German history is full of LGBTQ+ history. In fact, the first LGBTQ+ rights organization was founded in Germany in 1897.⁴

Madrid, Spain

Madrid has a large gay population, with approximately 500,000 LGBTQ+ residents across the city.⁵ Chueca, the city’s gay neighborhood, has a range of top gay-friendly venues to check out, including bars, cafés, and regular Pride celebrations.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, with gay-friendly bars and clubs across the city. Although other countries in the Middle East aren’t as open-minded, Tel Aviv welcomes the gay community.

Tel Aviv Pride Parade is also a huge LGBTQ+ event to check out every year in June.

Melbourne, Australia

As one of the biggest cities in Australia, Melbourne has a big LGBTQ+ presence - and there are lots of cool gay-friendly venues. Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival is Australia’s premier LGBTQ+ cultural festival for queer artists, celebrated every year.⁶

Emerging gay-friendly cities in the world

There are a few new emerging gay-friendly cities, including places making strides in LGBTQ+ rights as their communities grow.

Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is becoming an open-minded and gay-friendly city. Although Mexico itself isn’t known for its liberal policies, Puerto Vallarta has many LGBT-friendly neighborhoods.

Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, has also experienced progressive strides in recent years. The city legalized same-sex marriage in 2015 and Dublin Pride is a big annual LGBTQ+ celebration.⁷

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Living in LGBT-friendly cities: what to expect

The top gay-friendly cities across the world offer an inclusive and diverse place to visit or live for anyone. Express yourself openly and enjoy the safety of living in a welcoming and tolerant environment.

Living in a gay-friendly city also lets you appreciate queer culture, such as art shows, gay-owned businesses, Pride events, gay film festivals, and more.

Which cities have the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride events?

Pride events are a great chance to meet other members of the LGBTQ+ community and supportive allies. Although cities of any size can host Pride for the local community, some events are huge international celebrations every year.

The biggest worldwide LGBTQ+ Pride events include:
New York Pride Madrid Pride São Paulo LGBTQ Pride Parade Amsterdam Pride Berlin Pride Parade

Safety tips for gay travelers

Staying safe is very important when traveling across the world. Make sure to respect any local cultures while you’re out and about, such as covering up in religious cities or keeping public displays of affection to a minimum.

It’s also a good idea to find gay-friendly accommodation for your vacation. If you want to connect with like-minded LGBTQ+ people, you can attend a big Pride event to celebrate with locals and travelers in safety.

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If you’re heading abroad, make sure to look out for gay-friendly travel spots where you can meet local LGBTQ+ people and feel welcome. There is lots to see and do in the gayest cities in the world, including big annual Pride events and local queer culture.

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Sources:

1. Nomadic Boys
2. IGLTA
3. City Clerk
4. IGLTA
5. The Gay Passport
6. Midsumma Festival
7. BBC

Sources checked 09.12.2023