Places that slay at self-expression
Travel is all about letting go of life’s stresses, finding yourself and having fun, right? Unfortunately, the reality is that picking a place to do all this is a lot harder for the LGBTQ+ community right now. It takes a lot more research into where to visit, where to stay and where to go out to pick your next destination – one that slays at self-expression and celebrates you for being you
You deserve to be yourself, wherever you are in the world. Whether you fancy celebrating at a Pride event, seeking out the best LGBTQ+-friendly clubbing spots, or just want to chill on a dreamy beach, check out these picks to get yourself a country that campaigns for gay rights and plays those club classics x
PS all the pics you see above are from our very own LGBTQ+ travellers in the First Choice team.
Top LGBTQ+ beach destinations
Sun, sand and relaxation – or all-night beach-party vibes. These LGBTQ+ friendly beach destinations do both.
Malta flies under the radar as a modest queen of progressive action and the beaches are stunning – spend your days on Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay for watersports or at the Blue Lagoon for unreal swimming.
Of all the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria’s been bringing the gay bar vibes since the 60s and, being closer to Africa than Spain, it’s an ideal pick all year round – not just for Pride.
Greece is giving Mamma Mia! and Mykonos is the island everyone thinks about. Super Paradise Beach is a well-known LGBTQ+ spot here, and the town is buzzing with gay bars and clubs for the eve.
Ibiza Town literally has its own LGBTQ+ area and a long old history with gay culture. You’ll love the beach club vibes of San Antonio so you can beach and party in one, plus the scene along Calle de la Virgen, AKA the ‘gay street’.
Benidorm’s not all classic lads’ holidays… You can beach by day and live it up with the local drag queens by night. Levante Beach Boulevard meets both briefs and the whole place is known to be great for your budget.
This city’s considered a top queer-friendly pick – a super aesthetic, colourful and creative place with rooftop bars and beaut beaches, so you already know you’re gonna love it…
Why pick from LGBTQ+
PARTY WITH PRIDE
COMMUNITY VIBES
BE YOUR BEST SELF
Top LGBTQ+ city destinations
These city break picks are serving urban, brat realness for your next LGBTQ+ holiday.
New York City is one of the most progressive parts of the US and literally where the Gay Rights movement as we know it started, with the Stonewall Riots in June 1969.
Nollendorfplatz is the centre of queer activity in Berlin and, we already know you’ve heard of Berghain – it was actually founded as a gay club, so you’ve actually got the best chance of getting in if you’re queer.
Madrid’s Chueca is rated one of Europe’s biggest ‘gaybourhoods’. It’s an iconic district for LGBTQ+ community and the nightlife has got so popular, you can’t keep the heteros away now either.
Barcelona is a hotspot on the Euro summer circuit so, naturally, there’s a thriving LGBTQ+ scene. You’ve got beaches, mountains in day-tripping distance, unreal tapas and great nightlife.
Helsinki’s considered one of the safest cities for LGBTQ+ travellers and is full of gay bars, clubs, gay-rated hotels, gay saunas – the works. Madonna and Elton have loved Club Plastic…
The city’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community goes back to as early as 1917, when supposedly the world’s oldest gay bar, CentralHjørnet first opened its doors.
Staying safe
We want everyone to be able to enjoy their holiday with their family or their tribe, their way. It’s important to research the destinations that you’re visiting on holiday, to know exactly what the legal regulations are.
The government website has a lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender foreign travel advice page, which is a super informative source we’d recommend using.
Here at First Choice, we’ve also picked out some of the best destinations for LGBTQ+ travel, so you can read our article to pick your next place, too.
Read MoreThe Rainbow Map is an amazing tool to look at different countries and see how they rank for their LGBTQ+ policies.
Read MoreBest LGBTQ+ hotels
These hotels all welcome the LGBTQ+ community with a few special features…
Best experiences for LGBTQ+ holidays
Check out these top experiences to build out your break.
Learn all about the historic 1969 Stonewall Uprising, the history of the Stonewall Inn and how it’s lead to the Pride movement we know today.
Get taken around the city by a local member of the LGBTQ+ community, meet like-minded people and get the goss on the best bars and clubs you’ll want to visit.
The best queer stories go way back to ancient Greek mythology, and this guide invites you hear all about them across five different LGBTQ+-friendly beaches.
LGBTQ+ holiday inspiration
Read our articles for all the hottest LGBTQ+ holiday recs to get planning.
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FAQs
Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, we’ve shortlisted some of the best places known for their inclusivity, queer culture and camp party scene, ofc – get yourself a country that campaigns for gay rights and plays those club classics x It’s all in this article.
We understand that travelling as an LGBTQ+ person these days can be daunting. So, make sure you look up the government‘s travel advice page, specifically for the LGBTQ+ community.
Whether you’re with your family or your chosen family, everyone should be able to enjoy their holiday. Our selection of Family holidays cover a wide range of destinations, so there’s something for everyone.
Hi, it’s me, Thomas (he/him)! I work for First Choice in the Marketing team and have been looking at different ways we can improve our LGBTQ+ holidays. I’ve had some amazing help from my other colleagues and members of the community, too – they’ve provided the gorg travel pics you can see on this page.
As a proud gay man, I understand the challenges of going abroad these days. Whether it be laws or restrictions, it can be really daunting. I deffo recommend checking out our blogs for some recommendations. PS, Berlin is my absolute fave holiday pick.
Not looking for an LGBTQ+ holiday?
Find what you’re really after with the rest of our travel picks…
