It’s the time of year when people are planning their summer holidays, whether with family, friends, partners, or solo trips. But as an LGBTQ+ individual, it can be difficult to know where to take your next trip due to laws in different countries and activities that can be done safely.
With searches for “LGBT holidays” seeing a +1,000% increase over the past 12 months, it shows there’s a growing demand for holidays for LGBTQ+ couples and families who want to travel to somewhere that’s both fun and safe.
To help, the travel experts at Planet Cruise have revealed the top locations for the LGBTQ+ communities to visit this year*, taking aspects such as marriage laws, safety, and LGBTQ+ activities for all ages into consideration.
The Top 15 LGBTQ+ friendly locations from around the world are as follows:
| Ranking | Location | Safety Index | Marriage Legal | Adoption Legal | # of LGBTQ+ Bars | Total Score |
| 1. | New York City, USA | 292 | YES | YES | 27 | 3.843 |
| 2. | London, UK | 342 | YES | YES | 23 | 3.781 |
| 3. | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 248 | YES | YES | 23 | 3.619 |
| 4. | Manchester, UK | 342 | YES | YES | 18 | 3.596 |
| 5. | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 373 | YES | YES | 16 | 3.575 |
| 6. | Madrid, Spain | 356 | YES | YES | 16 | 3.546 |
| 7. | Paris, France | 338 | YES | YES | 16 | 3.515 |
| 8. | Sao Paulo, Brazil | 248 | YES | YES | 18 | 3.434 |
| 9. | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 260 | YES | YES | 17 | 3.417 |
| 10. | Brussels, Belgium | 343 | YES | YES | 13 | 3.412 |
| 11. | Berlin, Germany | 309 | YES | YES | 14 | 3.391 |
| 12. | Lisbon, Portugal | 358 | YES | YES | 11 | 3.364 |
| 13. | San Francisco, USA | 292 | YES | YES | 14 | 3.361 |
| 14. | Barcelona, Spain | 356 | YES | YES | 10 | 3.324 |
| 15. | Toronto, Canada | 383 | YES | YES | 7 | 3.259 |
New York City revealed as the top LGBTQ+ friendly holiday destination
The Big Apple comes in first place as the top LGBTQ+-friendly destination from across the globe. It ranks first as the best LGBTQ+ location across the globe, with a total score of 3.843.
LGBTQ+ adoption and marriage are legal in bustling Manhattan, and the total number of LGBTQ+ bars is the highest in the ranking. There are 27 in total, including the historic Stonewall Inn, that’s perhaps the most iconic of them all.
If it’s your first time in New York City, you’ll want to see all the major tourist attractions: think the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. But if you’re a seasoned regular of NYC, then it’s definitely worth spending a couple of days sampling the various neighbourhoods and all the cute coffee shops, restaurants and bars they have to offer.
Two UK cities take top spots in the five best LGBTQ+ destinations
London takes the second spot, followed by Manchester in fourth place, as some of the best LGBTQ+ locations globally.
London has the second-highest number of LGBTQ+ bars on our list, at 23, and a safety index score of 342. England’s capital hosts the vibrant hub of Soho, which has the most number of gay bars than any other area in London.
Manchester also scores high for safety, with 18 LGBTQ+ bars to choose from – many of which are clustered around the iconic Canal Street.
Dave Mills, Planet Cruise’s Global Supply Director, comments: “Feeling safe and relaxed on your holiday is at the forefront when choosing a location, and we understand it can be an even bigger concern for those of the LGBTQ+ community. We hope that with this in-depth look into the best LGBTQ+ locations, people within the community can find the perfect holiday location for them, their partners, and friends. and family.”
If you’d like to learn more about the top LGBTQ+ locations from around the world, follow this link- https://www.planetcruise.com/the-top-lgbtq-friendly-spots
