10 Best and Safest Cities for LGBTQIA+ Travelers

From one fruity cutie to another

Traveling as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community is no easy feat (trust me, I know), especially when you’re traveling with your partner. Are public displays of affection a big no-no? Are you allowed to hug? Kiss? Hold hands? Are queer couples allowed to sleep in the same room or will they kick you out if they find out? Do you need to be discreet or are you allowed to wear your heart on your sleeve – and in this case be unapologetically yourself? 

There are so many things to consider when it comes to your safety and well-being as a queer traveler that you may as well spend your hard-earned queer cash at a destination where you know you’re accepted, welcome, safe to be yourself and celebrate love the way you want to and with whomever you want to. 

To keep your travel worries to a minimum (and make sure you’re traveling to a country that supports and welcomes the queers!) we’ve curated some of the best and safest destinations for LGBTQIA+ couples and singles to travel to. Whether you’re there for a quick visit, traveling solo, going with your partner, moving for good, or maybe thinking of going digital-nomad for a while, these 10 destinations are some of the best destinations to Klook with Pride, and live your best out-and-proud life! 

The birthplace of Pride and the location of one of the most important moments in queer history,  New York City is at the top of our list. Not only is there an established queer scene – from drag fests to gay bars, and an incredible nightlife, New York City is pretty much queer history. 

But don’t be fooled, New York’s connection to queer history long predates the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Even in the 1800s, New York’s Bowery was already home to saloons and resorts that catered to gay men. Later on in the 1980s, Pyramid Club along East Village’s Avenue A actually became the birthplace of drag and masquerade balls made up of cross-dressing performances (if you’ve seen Netflix’s Pose (which I highly recommend by the way), this is exactly what I’m writing about!).   

History aside, New York is still at the epicenter of a thriving queer community today and should definitely be a stop on your rainbow bucket list! While there, make sure to check out some of the famous LGBTQIA+ landmarks and attractions like the Leslie-Lohman Museum of LGBT Art, and the NYC Aids Memorial, walk along the iconic Christopher Street, and pass by CubbyHole (a known lesbian hangout) if you’re looking for something to do! 

Klook Tip: If you’re going in the summer to celebrate Pride, support the gays 🌈 cool down with a Rainbow Ice Cream cone from Big Gay Ice Cream!

With over 200 years of history leading the charge for LGBTQIA+ rights, Amsterdam is one of the best and safest cities for LGBTQIA+ travelers – and one of the favorite destinations too!

Much like New York, Amsterdam has also been at the forefront of queer history. Not only is Amsterdam the first country to legalize same-sex marriage; but it is also home to the oldest gay rights organization, the COC. In 1987, Amsterdam also put up the Homomonument, the first memorial of its kind to honor homosexuals who died during World War II.

Today, Amsterdam is home to a thriving queer nightlife, from bars like SoHo, Cafe t’ Mandje, and PRIK, to clubs like Club Church (the irony…), and Eagle Amsterdam, parties, and more. When there, make sure to visit the historic and abovementioned Homomonument, and Pink Point right next to it! Pink Point is an LGBTQIA+ information and souvenir shop, where you can stock up on the cutest queer merch from postcards to clothing, and get insider tips from the staff on some of the best places to visit as a queer tourist in Amsterdam.

Another historic first for the queers: Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. That historic moment in 2019 has earned it its rightful place as one of the best and safest destinations for queer travelers all over the world!  Aside from being an LGBTQIA+-friendly destination, Taiwan is a fantastic destination for all kinds of travelers! From foodies, to adventure junkies, to nature lovers, and city-dwellers, Taiwan has it all.

But, its capital city, Taipei, and its brimming gay nightlife scene is definitely one thing to highlight – it has everything from watering holes to local bear bars, and all-night gay dance events. Where exactly are these gay bars, clubs, and speakeasies? Drop by Ximen or Zhongshan and you’ll find one that’s sure to suit your tastes! 

Klook Tip: Speaking of tastes… when in Taipei, make sure to eat, eat, eat your heart out at any of the night markets throughout the city. Pro tip: Follow the locals – the longer the line at a stall, the better the food.

No visit to the West is complete without a visit to California’s gay hub, San Francisco. From Harvey Milk, the USA’s first openly-gay man to be elected to office in California, to Castro Street, the iconic SFO gayborhood, to the Transgender District, the first designated transgender district in the world, and the city’s multiple memorials, landmarks, and establishments all carrying their rainbow flags with pride, San Francisco is a must-visit! 

Aside from Pride in June and Castro Street Fair in October, you can celebrate your love in San Francisco all year long by visiting some of the famous landmarks and murals in the city from the Rainbow Crosswalks at the intersection of Castro and 18th Street, the AIDS Memorial Garden at the Golden Gate Park, to Juanita MORE! Murals and more.

One of the most progressive countries and cities in South East Asia, Bangkok is the epicenter of queer culture in Thailand. With a widely accepted lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer community, and its overall very affordable prices, Bangkok continues to be a popular hub for queer (and straight) travelers alike! 

Bangkok’s nightlife – from drag shows to karaoke bars, go-go bars, and cabarets – is one for the books and definitely one of the reasons the city is constantly flocked year-round by the LGBTQIA+ community. But, aside from its poppin’ nightlife, the city is also known as a shopping hotspot with fantastic food finds and really affordable wares from clothes, bags, and shoes to knick-knacks that would make really great souvenirs. 

Finally, no trip to Bangkok is complete without a stop at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Wat Arun and Wat Pho, Ayutthaya, and the Floating Markets! So make sure to head on down to these favorites when you have the time. 

Klook Tip: Tired from all the walking, shopping, and eating? We feel you. Treat yourself to a spa date from one of the many popular spa chains in the area to relieve those aching bones.

Home to the iconic Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and one of the most colorful celebrations in the world, Sydney is known all over Australia and the world as a queer capital. Every year, the city is flocked by thousands of participants just to celebrate Pride, and just this year, Australia hosted Sydney WorldPridwe 2023, the world’s largest queer festival featuring art exhibitions, film screenings, community forums, and more.

But that’s not all, wherever you go in Sydney, and whatever time of year, you’ll spot rainbow flags displayed across multiple establishments and a variety of gayborhoods. If you’re looking for some nightlife and the biggest line of queer-owned establishments like bookstores, cafes, and restaurants, make sure to drop by Oxford Street. For those who prefer the quieter side of the city, a trip to the suburbs is just for you: visit the adjoining Surry Hills and Darlinghurst and you might even find a rainbow crosswalk or two. Perfect for that photo-op! 

Barcelona is easily a top destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers from all over the world, and rightly so! Most tourists go for the beautiful beaches, the vibrant culture, and the stunning Gaudi architecture but find themselves falling in love with the city because of the openness, safety, and acceptance of queer culture and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Just a stone’s throw away from the world-famous La Sagrada Familia is the heart of Barcelona’s queer community, “Gaixample” (an apt play on the words ‘gay’ and ‘Eixample’). The gayborhood is filled with gay bars, shops, and restaurants, where a lot of the local queer community has moved to. As an inside joke, one of the hotels in the area, the Axel Hotel, even declared itself the world’s first “hetero-friendly” hotel.

But that’s not the only thing to love about Barcelona! The city literally has a little bit of everything for everyone. Love the sea, sand, and sun? Perfect – head on over to Barcelona’s beaches. Want something more historical and cultural instead? Check out this full-day tour of Sagrada La Familia and Gaudi Houses. In Barcelona, you’ll never run out of things to do!

The ultimate LGBTQIA+ destination in the Middle East, Tel Aviv is Israel’s paradise for the queer community. The progressive and open-minded hub is undoubtedly a stark contrast to the rest of the region’s stance on the LGBTQIA+ community. This has solidified the city’s rank as one of the coolest up-and-coming hotspots for queer locals and travelers alike. 

Pride aside, there are plenty of reasons to visit Tel Aviv, starting with the city’s stunning landscapes, and colorful markets with unique food finds, all the way to its plethora of beautiful boutique hotels, and stunning luxury stays.

Klook Tip: If you want to see the only dedicated gay hotel in the city, check out the stunning Inta Hotel, conveniently located near Jaffa Flea Market – Shuk Hapishpishim.

With the election of the world’s first openly-gay head of government, Iceland’s 2009 Prime Minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, the 6-10 day-long Pride parade, Rainbow Reykjavik – a parade-cum-tour of the Northern lights during the winter season –  it would be a crime not to add breathtaking Reykjavik to this list. 

Aside from its stunning vistas, unparalleled view of the Northern Lights, challenging and rewarding hikes, plus picture-perfect lagoons, Iceland’s openness and acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community make the country one of the best and safest destinations for queer travelers.

For an added dose of queer culture, make sure to drop by Kiki Queer Bar, one of the popular gay bars in the city. If you’re looking for one of the most Instagrammable Rainbow locations in the city, make sure to drop by Reykjavik Rainbow Street. Keep walking down Rainbow Street and you’ll actually find one of the city’s most picturesque churches and one of the tallest buildings in the country: Hallgrimskirkja Church. Further down the street, you’d actually be just a fifteen-minute walk away from The Sun Voyager, a beautiful steel ship that’s now one of the city’s most visited attractions.

Klook Tip: One of the best ways to explore Reykjavik is by car. This way you can tick off every little thing on your bucket list while being able to customize it without having to deal with the crowds

Last but definitely not least: Berlin. The city’s flourishing queer community is amongst the most open and accepting in the world. There, diversity and freedom are celebrated with a variety of gay bars, clubs to visit, and queer parties happening throughout the year. Berlin also has a gay museum, Schwules Museum that walks you through the history of Berlin’s LGBTQIA+ community. 

Aside from Berlin’s Schwules Museum, they have many other LGBTQIA+ events and attractions: from the House of Presents to the Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism, and of course the annual Christopher Street Day Berlin Pride Parade. 

But, one thing that really highlights the city’s thrust for openness and diversity is its Pink Pillow Collection. The Pink Pillow Collection signifies that any hotel that is part of this group will open its arms to anyone under the rainbow spectrum. Whether you’re lesbian, gay, transgender, intersex, an ally, or just plain queer, you’re welcome to come as you are and stay as you are. 

Aside from these 10 destinations, there are so many other cities and countries around the world that are so welcoming and so accepting of the LGTBQIA+ community. From Manchester’s The Gay Village to rainbow crosswalks in Vancouver, Canada, to rainbow murals in Chueca, Madrid, not to mention Mexico City (in general), the gay beaches of Mykonos, Sao Paulo, and more!

From one queer to another, this growing list of safe and LGBTQIA+ destinations to visit is incredibly exciting, and one step closer to acceptance and inclusivity all over the world. So what are you waiting for? Pack those bags and celebrate your love and celebrate yourself one queer-friendly country at a time. 

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈