The world’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities, according to LGBTQ+ travellers

Sticking to just one LGBTQ+ scene in New York is like doing drag in the middle of the day: it’s possible but not advisable. I’ve had equally fun nights out hitting up the piano bar circuit of Duplex, Marie’s Crisis and the Monster in the West Village, bopping to top 40 at Hell’s Kitchen bars like Rise and Industry and dancing all night to house and techno at Brooklyn hot spots like Good Room, Elsewhere and 3 Dollar Bill. I’ve also found that it’s a good policy to check out what one-off LGBTQ+ events are happening at Knockdown Center in Queens.

I’ve called Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico (the unofficial LGBTQ+ capital of Latin America) home for two years. I arrived on the last day of pride in 2021 and headed straight to the lesbian-owned-and-operated bar, Elixir Mixology. I instantly felt accepted and decided to make Puerto Vallarta my homebase. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Jalisco since 2016, and Puerto Vallarta has been a queer destination since the 1960s when Elizabeth Taylor moved to town and gay travelers began flocking to the area. Emiliano Zapata is the town’s gayborhood where many LGBTQ+ events take place, including Vallarta Pride, BeefDip, and nightly drag shows.

London’s streets are drenched in queer history: they’ve been stalked by Virginia Woolf and Oscar Wilde, hosted secret gay coffee houses, and fought over by generations of activists. But what I love about its LGBTQ+ scene is that it's anything but stuck in the past. While this country was losing its mind over the corrie naish, I was watching drag kings rip into an outdated institution at Dalston alt-cabaret haven The Glory. London's brand new LBGTQ+ Community Centre offers classes in decolonising queerness or comfort activism, while bookshop The Common Press puts intersectionality first. And if you want an old-school night on the tiles? Soho's buzzing, storied gay district is still pretty hard to beat.

I’ll never forget the morning of November 15, 2017, when the results of Australia’s same-sex marriage equality came in. We’d won. Nerve-wracking doesn’t come close to describing the painful few months that preceded our victory – but the one thing that held us together? Community. In many ways, the struggle for our rights made Melbourne’s queer community even stronger. The LGBTQ+ scene reflects the city’s creative, slightly rebellious personality, especially in the arty inner northern neighbourhoods of Fitzroy and Collingwood. Smith Street, has become the northside’s unofficial LGBTQ+ nightlife village, but it’s not just about partying. On any night of the week, you could catch a subversive drag king show at Beers for Queers at the The Fox Hotel, a poetry reading at Hares and Hyenas bookshop, a queer pottery throwdown at Pink Ember Studio, comedy at Pride of our Footscray or visit a neurodiversity-friendly space at Beans Bar. If you visit in May, don’t miss the annual Kylie Birthday Ball at Sircuit Bar, where queer Melbourne’s patron saint is celebrated.

Even though I don’t speak Portuguese, people in São Paulo have been so welcoming each time I visit! The vibe of the city is exciting, especially for queer visitors. LGBTQ+ activism has shaped the character of the city, where being visible is key to dispelling homophobic attitudes in a country that can still be dangerous for queer people. Queer creativity is thriving; visit LGBTQ+ library in Frei (‘Gay’) Caneca Street, or see a spectacle in Blue Space Drag Club. Try to plan a visit in June for the world’s biggest Pride march, which attracts over 2 million people.

Glasgow’s gay scene is not small, but there is a special place tucked south of the river that’s a haven for LGBTQ+ introverts like me, where just by quietly walking around you feel like you belong. The Southside’s independent bookshops and coffee shops open a space for queer creativity to flourish, and helped to shape my bisexuality. I felt heard and seen the very first time I stepped foot in Category is Books, a small, independent and purposefully queer bookshop. I like to soak up the welcoming energy of busy Victoria Road after an oat flat white from Short Long Black Coffee, and head to the Glasgow Zine Library, a space that gave my bisexual poetry a collective platform to exist.

We stumbled onto Vienna’s queer scene by accident. After a friend’s wedding, my partner and I returned to the Parkhotel Schönbrunn. Built in 1787 as an imperial guesthouse, it’s a stately establishment – so the new rainbow lights caught us off guard. So did the queer glam crowd packing the lobby. We’d found the Rainbow Ball, an LGBTQ black tie waltz that’s the unofficial start of Vienna’s gay calendar. At 2am, we made the only possible choice: we joined in and danced until sunrise. The only downside? The DJ had terrible taste in music and played English-language Christmas songs (in May)!

Growing up as a queer African with a love for travel was not an easy feat, but Johannesburg became a safe haven for me. It’s where the first African pride march was held in 1990 and since then, the queer movement has continued to grow in South Africa, with the annual October Jo’burg pride now dubbed the Pride of Africa. I usually spend my days exploring the adjoining neighbourhoods of Melville and Illovo, where most of the city’s gay nightlife is. To really get acquainted with Johannesburg’s queer scene, I recommend Babylon Bar and Beefcakes.

The city where I shakily set foot in my first ever LGBTQ+ club, Bristol will always hold a special place in my heart. Back then, we used to party at the now-defunct Wonky – an early blueprint for Sink the Pink, according to its Bristolian founder Glyn Fussell – but as the years have passed, this inclusive, experimental spirit has held fast. From the incredibly niche Bristol Bear Bar to the trashy-but-dependable OMG, there’s something for everyone here, and in June beloved London night Big Dyke Energy is set to take over clubbing institution Lakota for a big all-dayer. I also love Modern Queers – the quarterly LGBTQ+ Bristol-based newsletter which cheers up my doormat with its pale pink paper.

​​Auckland is truly a jewel in New Zealand’s queer scene. I spend most of my time at the bars of Ponsonby – the whole place practically pulsates with energy. Or sometimes I’ll explore the art-infused thoroughfare of Karangahape Road, or ‘K-road’ as it’s affectionately known. Once Auckland’s red light district, the road is now a hub of gay bars and clubs and fabulous drag shows. (Make sure to catch the talented and unapologetic performers at Caluzzu Cabaret). In Auckland, it’s easy to lose yourself in the warm embrace of the city. I’ve certainly found a place I can truly call home.

Santiago has been my hometown for years and is where I came out in 2016. I’ve seen and lived through a lot of progress in terms of LGBTQ+ rights. Last year, marriage equality was finally legalised! Chile’s capital is a haven for the country’s queer communities who may not experience the same tolerance in other parts of Chile. As a result, there’s an active LGBTQ+ community and plenty of queer spaces. Check out the bustling lesbian hangout Chueca in the trendy Barrio Italia neighbourhood, or explore entire streets packed full of gay clubs in the leafy downtown Bellavista district.

Berlin’s Schöneberg is one of the world’s oldest queer districts, and every July – along with the rest of the city –  it largely shuts down, as crowds of over 1 million take to the streets for the city’s Pride parade. As an LGBTQ+ capital, Berlin knows how to go big. But whether it’s drag shows and English-language pub quizzes at the Tipsy Bear in Prenzlauer Berg, leather-clad men at Schöneberg’s Prinzknecht, or trans and non-binary night in Kreuzberg’s Möbel Olfe, the city knows how to welcome you among friends. No matter who you are, Berlin loves you back.

Buenos Aires is preceded by its reputation as a gay hotspot. After all, it’s the capital of Argentina: a country which introduced same-sex marriage in 2010 and has legally recognised gender self-identification since 2012. The city’s hate crime laws offer protection against discrimination based on gender identity and sexuality, leading to a visible queer contingent on the city's streets. I went to Buenos Aires to ease the sting of heartbreak and, once there, found myself among welcoming friends of friends who were relatively new to the city but knew all of the best queer haunts. Together, we visited LGBTQIA+ cultural centre Batacazo Cultural, a trans-feminist, self-run space that runs queer milongas (tango parties) every week, and danced to reggaeton and Anitta at Glam Disco in Recoleta. During the days, I visited MALBA to see Las Dos Frida by Las Yeguas del Apocalipsis, and was hugely moved to see such a vivid record of the artistic duo.

Montreal is renowned for being an exceptionally LGBTQ+-friendly city. It offers a welcoming environment with inclusive legal protections, a diverse and accepting community, and vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhoods like the Gay Village. The city also hosts one of the largest Pride festivals, LGBTQ+ organizations providing resources and support, a cultural scene that highlights queer artists and events, specialised healthcare services to enhance to community’s well-being… I could go on. Though challenges may persist, Montreal is a fantastic place to be LGBTQ+.

A pioneer in the fight for LGBTIQ+ rights (it was the first Spanish city to hold a demonstration in 1977), Barcelona is today one of the world’s capitals of tolerance. The ‘Gaixample’ – the Eixample Esquerre enclave where most of the city’s queer-friendly venues are concentrated – continues to fly the flag for the LGBTQ+ community in the city, led by the incombustible Candy Darling: a bar open every day that hosts exciting events. In Poble-sec, La Federica and La Raposa are institutions, while La Casa de la Pradera celebrates its 12th anniversary in the Raval this year. The city’s effervescent drag scene can be witnessed on the Ravalada Drag Tour, and the Maricxs party offers the perfect mix between techno music and queer culture.

Growing up, I lived half an hour away from San Francisco, and the city quickly stole my heart. Since the late 1960s, the Castro neighbourhood has been a colorful beacon of hope for queer travellers. Follow along the rainbow-paved road to discover LGBTQ+-owned vendors, speakeasies, pubs, restaurants, and bars. On a weekend night, the places to be are Lookout, the Cafe, Toad Hall, or Beaux. Most of these spots host drag nights and Sunday morning brunches that may get a little out of hand – in the best way possible!

I was born and raised in Adelaide, a city that has come, cartwheeling, out of the closet. It’s shaking off its conservative roots and ‘city of churches’ label and becoming a place that’s fluid, fun and flamboyant. While overlooked for its size, the LGBTQ+ community owes a lot to the city – with South Australia being the first state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1975. And the LGBTQ+ spirit is felt even more because of Adelaide’s small size. Within its convenient square-mile, CBD heart, there are drag parties, lesbian bars, the Rainbow Walk, and the annual queer Feast Festival. Mary’s Poppin and My Lover Cindi are LGBTQ+ venues that celebrate queer life, along with the city’s arts and cultural festival circuit. 

Queer parties in Athens may be the most comfortable parties I know. Filled with and organized by political activists, parties like Draga Drouga and QReclaim (held in the recently closed Communitism) have a unique history: they are heavily defined by anger over the transphobic killing of activist and drag queen Zackie Oh in 2018. The LGBTQI+ scene in Athens is still constantly developing but it’s incredibly vibrant and artistic. Squats and universities routinely host art shows, drag performances or vogueing competitions, while clubs like BeQueer offer a welcome escape.

Not only did I grow up in Leeds, but it’s also the city I found myself and my identity in. From Leeds Pride  to open mic nights, LGBTQ+ bars, venues, and clubs; the city is brimming with a vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Feeling like drinks and a cabaret? Check out Viaduct Showbar, for performances by drag artists, tribute acts, or just a good old dance. If you’d prefer to sit down and eat, also located in Freedom Quarter — known as the heart of the Leeds LGBTQ+ scene  —  is Fibre, a bar that hosts a Bottomless Drag Brunch every Saturday afternoon. For something a little more lowkey, try one of many spoken word and open-mic nights; I recommend That’s What We Said, which is open to speakers of marginalized genders this July at Hyde Park Book Club.

From Moxy’s queer women-only party to Pride Park where I danced at a silent disco, I’ll never forget Stockholm Pride. I witnessed bondage demonstrations, and swooned while Kool and the Gang sang ‘Celebration’. Sweden has a proven track record of supporting the LGBTQ+ community: in 1972 it was the first country to allow gender changes and same-sex couples have been able to marry since 2009. I felt very welcome as a pansexual woman in the ‘open city’ while sipping champagne at the gay-owned Mälarpaviljongen bar and performing ‘Mama Mia’ with holograms of the iconic bandmembers at the ABBA Museum.

This south Indian city offers plenty of safe spaces to be queer. The People’s Choice Cafe is queer-owned and welcomes everyone, while LGTBQIA+ movie nights, queer fests, Pride parades, and DragVanti – a space to discover India’s drag culture – make up a fun and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ travellers. Hyderabad hosted India’s first-ever drag convention and is the proud home of India’s very first queer magazine, where the LGBTQ+ community can express themselves and celebrate their identities. The city even has a queer support and legal aid center. Despite instances of homophobia and transphobia, Hyderabad’s diverse culture offers the queer community a home away from home.

Sun-drenched beaches, samba rhythms, and a queer scene that sizzles like a caipirinha on a summer’s day: Rio de Janeiro is pure magic. From the legendary Copacabana to the pulsating beats of Ipanema, Rio embraces LGBTQ+ travelers and locals with open arms. The Gamboa neighborhood is my favourite: I love the dazzling drag shows at Rio Scenarium. You’ll also find great nights out at Bar Bukowski and the LGBTQ+ parties at Seven Cruising Bar and Pink Flamingo. Rio dances to its own rhythm, and it’s an irresistible paradise for LGBTQ+ souls who seek a little extra sparkle in their lives.