Best LGBTQ+ city break destinations – including one just an hour by air from London
Looking for an urban escape? Check out these queer playgrounds. (Getty)
Looking for an urban escape? Check out these queer playgrounds. (Getty)
With thriving LGBTQ+ scenes and rich histories and cultural attractions to enjoy, urban escapes can make the perfect queer trip.
The best LGBTQ+-friendly destinations for a city break have been gathered by Expedia to mark Pride season, with one just an hour’s flight from London, there’s no excuse not to get packing.
Expedia’s LGBTQ+ Summer Travel Outlook surveyed 1,000 LGBTQ+ Brits to find the best destinations and travel trends for the coming season.
Here are the top 10, in no particular order.
London
A city break in London is one that promises a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, especially if you visit during Pride month (June).
Last year, London Trans+ Pride attracted some 60,000 marchers – a record number – to the streets of the capital to show solidarity with transgender and non-binary people across the world.
London is home to an array of LGBTQ+ bars and venues, with a new one – Coven – set to open its doors on 19 June.
Amsterdam
Situated little more than an hour’s flying time from London, the Dutch capital is frequently named as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the world.
In 2023, the Netherlands voted to expand part of its constitution so that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and disability were explicitly banned.
With predominantly LGBTQ+ areas such as Reguliersdwarsstraat and Amstel, the city makes for a culturally packed city break. Make time to visit the Anne Frank House, former hiding place of the famous (and possibly LGBTQ+) teen diarist and Holocaust victim.
Paris
Paris is another city that dominates the majority of queer-friendly travel lists.
Last year’s Olympic Games demonstrated the City of Love’s inclusivity to the world. In May, a memorial honouring LGBTQ+ victims of the Holocaust was unveiled in the French capital.
Barcelona
Barcelona has a long history of fighting for LGBTQ+ equality, and Primavera Sound 2025 sent queers flocking to the city at the start of June, with the line-up being one of the gayest yet.
As a bonus, Sitges is little more than 20 miles down the road.
New York
A review of New York for PinkNews previously noted that the scene for the queer community was “buzzing”, not to mention that it’s the home of the Stonewall Inn and an ideal place to find “cute boys”.
In February, in a continuation of the Big Apple’s civil rights history, New York attorney general Letitia James advised hospitals to go on providing trans healthcare, despite Donald Trump’s executive order. to the contrary.
Some 50 miles from Manhattan, within the state of New York, is Fire Island, long considered an LGBTQ+ utopia. The thin strip of land off the coast of Long Island features two main gay and lesbian hamlets: Cherry Grove and Pines. It’s been described as “a gay summer world where time works differently”.
Madrid
The city of Madrid is one of the friendliest in Europe, not to mention one of the most affordable. It also hosts some fantastic Pride celebrations should you wish to visit towards the end of June and the start of July.
It has an LGBTQ+ district, Chueca, but as they say in Madrid: “The whole city is gay”.
Berlin
For decades, Berlin has been hailed as one of the queerest cities on Earth. It’s filled with spots that celebrate the queer and kink communities with events throughout the year.
The city’s queer scene dates backs to the 1920s (with an obvious gap during the Nazi era), and the districts of Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and the “rainbow neighbourhood” of Schöneberg (where Pride takes place) have a range of restaurants, bars and clubs that all wave the queer flag with delight.
Bangkok
Bangkok promises to offer “something for everyone”, including “LGBTQ+ events, parties and nightlife”.
In a review for PinkNews, Amy Ashenden wrote that the Thai capital offered a bit of a surprise: “Lesbians everywhere. We couldn’t believe it. I’m used to getting the occasional lesbian nod while doing my weekly shop in Sainsbury’s but Bangkok is on another level.”
Tokyo
Japan is economic powerhouse and the capital Tokyo is fast becoming an LGBTQ+ hotspot with more than 40 queer nightlife venues.
Shinjuku Ni-Chōme, the city’s gay district, is famous for having the world’s highest concentrations of LGBTQ+-friendly businesses. Queen Tokyo, a lesbian bar with free karaoke from Sunday to Thursday, and drink deals all week, is well worth visiting, and if singing isn’t your thing, dance the night away at sister venue, King Tokyo across the street.
Lisbon
Last year, trans prosthetic experts at Emisil conducted a study to discover the best cities for queer travellers – and Lisbon claimed top spot.
Portugal’s laws and culture uphold LGBTQ+ rights, with same-sex marriage legal, and anti-discrimination protections embedded in the constitution.
Expedia’s Melanie Fish said: “Here’s my number-one tip when choosing your destination: check [our] ‘LGBTQ+ welcoming’ search filter to find a hotel that has opted into our Inclusivity Pledge – ensuring a respectful and welcoming experience for all.”
Expedia has also listed the best LGBTQ+-friendly destinations for a beach holiday.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
