5 of the top global LGBTQ+ destinations

Pride season is on the horizon in many parts of the world, so take a look at our selection of the most appealing destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers – then pick one of our suggested places. All accommodations are Proud Certified, so you can be sure of an especially warm welcome, no matter whom you love or how you identify.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Call us biased, but we think our home city of Amsterdam is a pretty great place to be LGBTQ+. Widely regarded as the most LGBTQ+ friendly country in the world, in 2000 the Netherlands also became the first to legalize marriage for same-sex couples – and its open-minded capital continues to lead the way with its come-as-you-are attitude.

The city center’s triangular Homomonument is a memorial to persecuted LGBTQ+ people, and next to it, the Pink Point stand offers info about LGBTQ+ travel in the city. From there, tour the canals, wander the streets of the Jordaan, and perhaps stop by the Rijksmuseum. Then, get your nightlife fix at spots like Bar Blend and SOHO on the Reguliersdwarsstraat or PRIK on nearby Spuistraat. Come early August, you won’t need to think twice about where to party because you’ll find that the energy of Amsterdam Pride takes over the entire city.

After that, experience the glitz of the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam at the water’s edge inside the UNESCO-recognized canal ring. Or, for something more low-key, rest your head in a stunning 18th-century Amsterdam house at 23 SouS.

Manchester, United Kingdom

Canal Street is at the heart of Manchester’s thriving LGBTQ+ scene, known as “The Village.” The area originally arose amid the decline of the city center’s industrial heritage, and these days—during the city’s Pride celebrations in late August or any other month—LGBTQ+ travelers are guaranteed a friendly welcome and a great time here.

Manchester’s forward-thinking attitude doesn’t end with the warm welcome it offers LGBTQ+ travelers, either. Discover how the city has blended history and modernity at the Science and Industry Museum, then call it a night at the striking Victorian-era Kimpton Clocktower.

San Francisco, United States

Home to one of the United States’ largest LGBTQ+ populations and often called the gay capital of the world, San Francisco is steeped in history, particularly that of the American LGBTQ+ rights movement. Indeed, it was here that the rainbow flag was first flown during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade in 1978.

These days, the Castro District is still the heart of LGBTQ+ life in San Francisco. Stop by the GLBT History Museum for a crash course in the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality in the city and the United States as a whole. Then, grab a drink at the Twin Peaks Tavern, the country’s first gay bar where windows meant customers no longer had to hide themselves away from the outside world.

If you’re in town for San Francisco’s Pride celebrations in late June, look out for the pink triangle hung from the Twin Peaks hills above the city – originally dreamed up a quarter of a century ago as a way to make Pride visible across San Francisco. There’s similar artistic flair at citizenM San Francisco Union Square – the perfect spot to recharge after all that exploring.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is one of the most welcoming cities for LGBTQ+ travelers in not only Australia, but the world. If you head down under during the early March Mardi Gras spectacular—which has taken place in Sydney since 1978—a colorful, fun-loving, and open-minded vibe takes over.

In the Darlinghurst area, Oxford Street began establishing itself as the beating heart of Sydney’s LGBTQ+ scene as far back as the mid-20th century, and the neighborhood is still packed with cafés, restaurants, cocktail bars, and nightclubs today. After partying your way into the night, give yourself the celebrity treatment with harbor views at five-star The Darling at The Star, just a 15-minute drive from the airport.

Toronto, Canada

Home to the early-2000s drama Queer as Folk, Toronto is Canada’s diverse LGBTQ+ capital. It’s home to the country’s largest population of LGBTQ+ residents, has a rich history of Pride activism dating back to the 1970s, and boasts not just one but arguably three distinct centers of the LGBTQ+ scene: Church and Wellesley, Queen West, and Cabbagetown (said to have originally earned its name for the cabbages new arrivals from Ireland planted in their front gardens).

Highlights of the main Church and Wellesley neighborhood include Woody’s (in business for over three decades) and North America’s longest-operating LGBTQ+ bookshop, Glad Day. Late June is the ideal time to visit Toronto, not only for the pleasant summer temperatures but also to catch its month-long Pride, which culminates in a large-scale parade and festival weekend. Closer to Queen West, consider staying at the striking Gladstone House, with its mix of playful, exposed-brick bedrooms and restored classic features, like the statement old-fashioned glass elevator.