European LGBT-Friendly Cities to Visit in 2023
From the intriguing volcanic landscapes sprawling around Reykjavik to the sun-kissed shores of Lisbon, Europe is teeming with holiday opportunities. If you’re from the LGBT community, you may well have specific criteria when it comes to planning your next getaway.
Which cities offer the best opportunities to mingle, especially if you’re single? Which are to be avoided because the locals can sometimes be conservative in their attitudes? Let’s take a deeper dive into what this diverse continent has to offer LGBT people looking for city breaks.
Social changes toward equality and inclusivity
The good news for the LGBT community is that many European countries have embraced the climate of social change. Strict legislation is in place that identifies prejudicial behavior against someone on the grounds of their sexual orientation as a potential hate crime. Nevertheless, some gay, lesbian, bi, or trans individuals might still be concerned about pitfalls. If you’re single and seeking traveling companions, a good place to start your search would be going online. Dedicated platforms for gay local hookup, chats or similar online forums will instantly put you in touch with a cross-section of friendly site users. Interaction is always straightforward and relaxed, and you can take as long as you wish to develop a rapport. Use the chat room facility to get recommendations for the best cities to head toward. Flexible communication channels mean that many of your arrangements can be made online. The next question to consider is: which European cities are most LGBT-friendly?
Five cities for comfortable LGBT tourism
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Home to over one million citizens, this thriving Dutch city is known as ‘Venice of the North,’ due to its crisscrossing canal system. As if this wasn’t enough reason to attract visitors, the Netherlands was the first country to decriminalize homosexuality, as far back as 1927. The world’s first gay bar opened here in 1927, while gay rights organizations have been active for decades. Besides communication and local gay hookups, there are so many activities you can enjoy here, from browsing through the masterpieces in the Van Gogh Museum to booking a canal cruise and enjoying Amsterdam light festival boat tour.
Barcelona, Spain
Spain’s second-largest city has always been autonomous (it’s the capital of the region of Catalonia, with its distinct language and culture). Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cityscape is famous for stunning architecture by Antoni Gaudí. Same-sex marriage is legal here, and there are numerous local gay bars, nightclubs, cruise clubs, and saunas where you’ll be made to feel more than welcome.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark’s capital is another tolerant metropolis you could add to your shortlist of ‘must see’ LGBT destinations. You don’t need to be concerned about any negative remarks if you stroll through the wonderfully atmospheric streets hand-in-hand. You must try out the local cuisine in the hippest part of the city, Vesterbro (once upon a time, the red light district).
Berlin, Germany
Recent surveys have revealed around one in 10 Berliners identifies as gay, bi, or trans. Berlin also boasts the world’s first LGBT-oriented museum, which opened in 1985, as well as a vibrant queer nightlife. Clubs such as the KitKat in Mitte and the Berghain at Ostbahnhof are popular with gay revelers, so you’ll be able to dance into the small hours after a day sightseeing.
Brighton, UK
This city on England’s south coast, known as the gay capital of the UK, has a long history of gay-oriented culture. The best way to sample this is to book a walking tour through its colorful lanes and iconic beachfront. Everyone here dresses as they wish, and nobody is afraid of displaying who they are. Pop ‘St James Street’ into your favorite roaming app. This charming location is home to independent shops which are all LGBT-friendly.
Important Pride events that are worth visiting
There are many Pride celebrations to choose from. Paris offers La Marche des Fiertes. Spain’s capital, Madrid, holds the Orgullo Gay (held every year since democracy was restored in 1979 following the death of the dictator, Franco), attracting over 1.5 million visitors. London LGBT Community Pride takes place around June or July and is second only to the city’s Notting Hill Carnival in size.
We’ve covered some of the obvious landmarks when it comes to LGBT-oriented holiday destinations in Europe (and be sure to check similar article covering USA destinations). Once you set off to travel, you’ll undoubtedly bump into interesting people from a variety of backgrounds. Go online and do some research because the above suggestions are merely the tip of the iceberg. You might cast your net wider and check out Eastern Europe. How about Bosnia or other parts of the Balkan region? Or the Baltic states? Compile a shortlist that you can add to at any time. Now, you can start some serious vacation planning. Just make sure your passport is up to date, then embark on exciting quests!