LGBTQ+ travellers, listen up! If you’re looking for your next holiday destination, this article collects information from many travel websites and media outlets, such as Forbes and The Guardian, to collate the ultimate list of 13 queer-friendly countries and what activities you can do while there.
According to travel experts Asher and Lyric Fergusson, the following countries also fulfil 10 key requirements related to LGBTQ+ safety.
While Pride is usually celebrated during summer, there are plenty of destinations that host queer activities and visitors all year round. Whether you are planning a Christmas holiday or looking forward to going on a trip a few months from now, there are options for every occasion, budget and interest.
First, let’s check out 10 European countries that are worth visiting, from Mediterranean Spain to Nordic Sweden.
1. Malta
In 2024, Malta was declared the most LGBTQ+-friendly European country for the ninth consecutive year in ILGA-Euope’s Rainbow Index. Additionally, Malta is one of the only five countries that gives constitutional rights to LGBTQ+ people.
Malta offers lots of great attractions, such as Mdina Old City (a medieval cityscape that features some Game of Thrones filming locations), St. John’s Co-Cathedral, as well as its beautiful beaches.
Pride runs a full week (taking place in 2025 from September 2 to 11) and travellers can expect plenty of activities, which will be posted on their website.
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2. Norway
Despite the cold, the land of Vikings and cheese offers a warm welcome to LGBTQ+ people.
If you are looking to get the most out of your experience, it could be a good idea to make some Norwegian friends. Highlighted places to meet people are Bob’s Pub or Oche, where you can play digital darts.
If you are planning on visiting the country for Christmas, Fagottkor – a Norwegian gay choir and entertainment ensemble – has a Christmas show.
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3. Spain
If you’re on the lookout for sunny weather, lovely beaches, and some well-known ‘tapas’, you will fall in love with this country. The most queer-friendly cities to go to for holidays in Spain include Madrid and Barcelona.
In the former, the country’s capital, Pride Week is celebrated at the end of June and the beginning of July in the Chueca neighbourhood. During the festival, the streets are full of performing stages, art, culture, and sports and the parade goes all along el Paseo del Prado, one of Madrid’s main and most beautiful streets.
As for the Catalan city, neighbourhoods such as L’Eixample are a great option to submerge into the city’s culture while exploring queer pubs and soaking up the atmosphere.
It’s also worth taking a look at the Circuit Festival, a gay festival which will be held in Barcelona from August 9 to 17, 2025.
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4. Iceland
One thing Iceland is known for is its stunning landscapes, and if you want to stay updated on the LGBTQ+ latest news and events, Gayice is the ideal magazine. Pink Iceland is also an amazing option. Although primarily a wedding planner, it also organises many immersive travel experiences.
If you are visiting Reykjavík, Kiki Queer Bar is a must. Karaoke, drag shows, and dance parties are hosted from Thursday to Saturday.
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5. Denmark
There’s nothing like Denmark’s colourful and quaint houses along its canals – the scenery could have been taken from a fantasy book.
Even though it’s celebrated in August (taking place from August 9 to 17 in 2025) Copenhagen Pride takes up a full week with activities such as drag bingo, DJs, human rights talks, queer parenting classes and more.
Alongside the festival, there are plenty of nightclubs and bars which are full of life, such as Never Mind Night Club, Oscar Bar Café, and Centralhjørnet
If looking for other experiences, Bøssehuset is a cultural meeting place for queer people in Copenhagen. The space is used for cultural projects, parties, theatre, and music performances. It is located in the unique commune, Freetown Christiania.
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6. Belgium
Beer lovers, this is your paradise. If you are into bars and drink tasting, you should give this country a try.
From February 25 until March 5, there’s Darkland, a kink festival full of food, sex education workshops, and many midnight shows. You can stay updated on other events by having a look at social media accounts like Gay Event Belgium.
If you are willing to meet new people, the Brussels Queer Connection Meetup channel hosts plenty of activities, events, workshops, drinks, and book clubs to create meaningful experiences and boost connections among its members.
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7. Sweden
Summer might be the ideal time of the year for visiting Stockholm, an LGBTQ+-friendly country that welcomes queer travellers.
Pride is held during July and August and there’s Cinema Queer in the last week of September.
There are also many cool nightclubs such as Back Doors or Under Bron.
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8. The Netherlands
Of course, Amsterdam had to be on our list of destinations for queer people to visit. Its most popular areas are Reguliersdwarsstraat and Kerkstraat and, of course, the red-light district.
Utrecht is also a lovely queer-friendly city worth visiting. As well as Amsterdam, it has its own Pride and outstanding LGBTQ+ cafés such as Café Kalff or Body Talk.
If you are planning an overnight trip, Nijmegen is a highly-recommended option, where you can find the Regengoog nightclub.
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9. Portugal
Lisbon and Porto fulfil all the queer requirements you might have. Add to that some amazing food including seafood, Caldo Verde or Pastel de Nata. In Lisbon, you’ll find many delicious places to go to, like Bistro 100 Maneiras or Pap’ Açôrda
As for queer activities, drag shows held in Finalmente Club (Lisbon) or Invictur Bar (Porto) are worth a visit too.
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10. Germany
While there are plenty more queer-friendly countries, we are ending this European section with Germany. What can you expect from this destination? Castles, sausages, beers and cars, for sure.
But if you are not into any of those things, don’t worry, big cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg have plenty of queer activities you can have a look at.
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Finally, for the more adventurous ones, here are three queer-friendly countries that are worth travelling to:
11. Canada
Whenever you think of this country, reindeer and white landscapes might come to mind, especially during the Christmas holidays. But Canada is much more than that.
Amazing queer activities are happening all year long, and some of the biggest cities host shows, festivals, and events that you might only see once in your life.
One of the main queer neighbourhoods in Montreal is Le Village, located in the heart of the city, and home to numerous bars, such as Unity Club.
In Toronto, Church Street Village is the city’s main gaybourhood. There are also beaches to visit such as Harlan’s Point Beach (on the Toronto Islands) and Cherry Beach (east downtown).
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12. New Zealand
Far away, but definitely worth it, New Zealand is the ideal destination for experiencing cultural adventures and expeditions either on the North or South Island
Stay updated on the latest queer events and shows here so you don’t miss any!
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13. Australia
Let me guess: your goal is to go on a safari and see a kangaroo in real life. For sure, if you go to Australia that should be on your bucket list.
As for LGBTQ+ events, this destination hosts activities all year long, but the Midsumma festival is soon approaching, running over three weeks in Melbourne’s summer, from January 19 to February 9, 2025. It includes events such as the Midsumma Carnival, the Midsumma Pride March, and Victoria’s Pride Street Party.
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Whatever country you end up choosing, there will be plenty of queer activities to suit every taste. From iconic nightclubs and bars to annual festivals, these countries are celebrating diversity in countless ways.
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