New report reveals the safest European countries for LGBTQ+ people
It's never been more important for LGBTQ+ travelers to understand their destinations
Mark
It’s never been more important for LGBTQ+ travelers to understand their destinations, especially those in the trans community, amid shifting politics, travel warnings, and changing attitudes.
And it’s a rapidly changing situation, as shown by this year’s edition of ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, an annual report ranking 49 European countries on their queer-friendliness based on laws and policies.
For the first time ever, Spain slid into No. 1 due to the country’s commitment to equality for the LGBTQ+ community, including protections for LGBTQ+ families, legal gender recognition, anti-discrimination laws, freedom for queer spaces and assembly, and asylum policies.
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Rounding out the top-3, in order, are Malta (which previously ranked first, however has stalled in progress for queer citizens), and Iceland.
And on the other end of the spectrum were Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, which have minimal to no protections against LGBTQ+ discrimination or freedom of expression for queer citizens and visitors.
“This year’s Rainbow Map tells two stories at once,” Katrin Hugendubel, deputy director of ILGA-Europe, said in a statement.
“One of genuine courage, in Spain, in courtrooms, and in leaders who are choosing to stand with their communities rather than scapegoat them. And one of real and growing danger that cannot be underestimated. The question every government in Europe must now answer is which story they want to be part of.”
Interestingly enough, while marriage equality is available in 22 countries, there are 18 European countries without any “legal protection of same-sex couples,” and most worrisome, “freedom of assembly and association for [LGBTQ+] communities are restricted or under attack in at least 13 countries.”
Of course, living in a country and visiting one are two very different things. Popular destinations that are frequented by LGBTQ+ visitors, like France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, didn’t even crack the top 10, mostly due to their lack of legal protection for trans people.
Although this doesn’t mean these countries are not safe to visit, it’s important to understand how each European destination’s politics may reflect its cultural attitudes and the work that still needs to be done across the pond.
As Hugendubel said, “This is a reminder that political courage is a choice, and that governments who make it can effectively push back.”
Below, see the full list in order, based on their 2026 rankings, and for more info on the scores, visit the Rainbow Map’s website.
- Spain
- Malta
- Iceland
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Norway
- Sweden
- Luxembourg
- Greece
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Ireland
- France
- Austria
- Slovenia
- Montenegro
- Croatia
- Switzerland
- Estonia
- United Kingdom
- Andorra
- Albania
- Moldovia
- Czechia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Kosovo
- Serbia
- Cyprus
- Liechtenstein
- Latvia
- North Macedonia
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Hungary
- Poland
- Bulgaria
- Ukraine
- Romania
- Monaco
- Georgia
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Turkey
- Azerbaijan
- Russia
Related
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Can you guess the states that came bottom of the ranking?
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