LGBTQ+ friendly holidays

Since the first gay bar opened its doors here, the LGBTQ+ scene has continued growing. Maspalomas is the epicentre of it all. It hosts two Pride weeks – one in the summer, and one in the winter – both packed full of pool parties and parades that paint the town into a rainbow. Plus, it’s home to the Yumbo Centre – a shopping complex dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.

Key events:

• Maspalomas Gay Pride: May

• Winter Pride Maspalomas: November

• Freedom festival: Summer

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Mykonos’ glamour and style make it a big hit, especially Elia Beach – it’s an unofficial nudist beach with a relaxed live-and-love attitude. On top of that, you’ve got some of the best beach clubs, like Paradise Beach and Jackie O’, known for its iconic drag shows. Plus, it hosts XLSIOR, one of the most popular international LGBTQ+ summer festivals.

Key events:

• XLSIOR Gay Pride: August

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Sitges is home to some of Spain’s best gay beaches, like Playa de la Bassa Rodona. There are cocktails and music playing all day, and it’s not far from the Old Town, which is a hub of gay bars. Even the souvenir shops sell ‘I love Sitges’ rainbow vests. And, when it comes to Pride, they go big, hosting pretty much any party you can think of.

Key events:

• Sitges Pride: June

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This place is often dubbed ‘The LGBTQ+ capital of the world’. You can walk in the footsteps of Harvey Milk – an iconic gay rights activist – under the Castro’s huge rainbow flag, or grab a drink in the original gay bar which opened in 1935. Polk Street is a must, too – it held the city’s first Pride parade and is now lined with LGBTQ+ owned boutiques, bars and bakeries.

Key events:

• Frameline LGBTQ+ film festival: June

• Fresh Meat Festival LGBTQ+ art festival: June

• San Francisco Pride: June

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The dazzling and vibrant ‘Sin City’ is known for its LGBTQ+ scene. On the regular, you’ve got drag shows, go-go dancers and performances from the Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race at The Fruit Loop, just east of the strip. Then during Pride, Fourth Street in downtown is packed with vibrant floats, drag queens and entertainment.

Key events:

• Las Vegas Pride: October

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Iceland may not be the first destination that comes to mind, but in more recent years the LGBTQ+ community aren’t just welcomed here, they’re celebrated. Two of the most popular bars worth a try are called Kiki and Curios. Plus, their Pride celebrations bring around 100,000 people – about a third of their population – to the country each year, so it’s a pretty big occasion.

Key events:

• Reykjavik Pride: August

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The Big Apple has the glitz and the glamour, the history and of course, Broadway.

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This city is the LGBTQ+ neighbourhood of Scandinavia, home to the oldest gay bar in the world and the host of two Prides.

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The Schwules Museum, gay saunas and the city’s Queer Film Festival are just the tip of the iceberg of Berlin’s LGBTQ+ scene.

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Rainbow flags hang from balconies and LGBTQ+ friendly bars line the streets right in the midst of the city’s top sites.

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The city of canals and the birthplace of LGBTQ+ rights shows off its credentials with the Homomonument memorial and thriving gay districts.

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Via San Giovanni – AKA Gay Street – lays out gay bars, hotels and restaurants right by Rome’s most iconic site, the Colosseum.

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On this Pride walking tour, you’ll hear all about the revolutionary 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Learn the history of the Stonewall Inn and understand the climate of the world that led to that historic night 50 years ago.

Find out more about the NYC Pride walking tour.

Amsterdam’s known for being a no-judgement city that’s open to people from all walks of life. Here, you’ll find a strong LGBTQ+ community with dedicated clubs, bars and so much more.

Find out more about the LGBTQ+ nightlife tour in Amsterdam.

Discover the LGBTQ+ community in Berlin on this guided tour with a local. Known as one of the most queer-friendly cities in Europe, the German capital’s full of surprises and welcomes everyone with open arms.

Find out more about the LGBTQ+ tour of Berlin.

Learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of the LGBTQ+ community in Paris on this two-and-a-half-hour walking tour of the Le Marais neighbourhood.

Find out more about the Le Marais neighbourhood tour.

This two-hour walking tour takes you through San Francisco’s Castro neighbourhood – the largest LGBTQ+ community in the world. More than 20 historical sites feature on the itinerary.

Find out more about the Castro neighbourhood tour.

From party getaways and romantic escapes to solo adventures and culture-filled breaks, we’ve got you covered with the best LGBTQ+ friendly holidays. Soak up the sun on Cancun’s white-sand beaches in Mexico, or head to Maspalomas in Gran Canaria for the Pride event of the year.

Read more about the best LGBTQ+ friendly holidays.

First of all, what is Pride? It’s all about people coming together to show support for LGBTQ+ communities, to celebrate how far LGBTQ+ rights have come, and to continue raising awareness.

Read more about the best destinations for LGBTQ+ Pride.

We know there are a few extra things to think about when you’re planning a honeymoon as an LGBTQ+ couple. That’s why we’ve caught up with our LGBTQ+ employee network group to get the info on the best places to go.

Read about the best LGBTQ+ friendly honeymoon destinations.

Congratulations! You’ve popped the question, and now it’s time to plan your big day. Does the UK’s unreliable weather have you daydreaming about leaving Blighty behind and swapping vows on white sands instead?

Read about the best same-sex wedding destinations.

Planning an LGBTQ+ friendly city break? Look no further. Whether you want to see the sights, party well into the night – or both – we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up the best LGBTQ+ city breaks spots, and we’ve got the info on everything from where to stay and what to do while you’re there.

Read more about LGBTQ+ friendly city breaks.