Sydney, Amsterdam & Cleveland? Our experts sound off on the absolute best of LGBTQ+ travel
Get to know the experts behind this year's Best of GayCities.
Mark
From guide books to influencers, and that P-Town photo dump from that one guy you still follow on Instagram, we know that when it comes to planning your next jet-setting gay vacation, there’s a lot of noise out there.
But definitive answers? Not so much.
That’s why, this year, we did Best of GayCities a little differently and went straight to the people who know LGBTQ+ travel best.
In addition to surveying our super-users and avid travelers, we brought together an editorial board of expert travel writers who shared their expertise, top destination picks, and some hot takes.
The result? The most colorful Best of GayCities guide we’ve ever had, with top-mark recommendations for everywhere from Sydney, Amsterdam, and Iceland, to even Cleveland.
Below, get to know the team behind this year’s Best of GayCities guide.
Tracey E. Gilchrist
I love Pride in another country — I’ve been to a few— but I also love the idea of visiting a place when it’s not at its most hyped. Feeling as though I’ve discovered a queer enclave or spot is the most compelling for me.
Travel Bucket List: Iceland
Most Important Travel Factors: Visible LGBTQ+ community, inclusive laws & policies, LGBTQ+-owned businesses
Trending Cities: Berlin, Sydney, Paris
What was your favorite LGBTQ+-friendly destination you visited in the last year, and what made it memorable?
Progressive Stockholm offers myriad delights for LGBTQ+ travelers year-round. A visit to Sweden’s capital for Pride was an immersive queer experience I didn’t realize I needed until I found myself at a Pride party dancing into the wee hours with about 1,000 other sapphics to Swedish pop stars Icona Pop, Robyn, and ABBA. Hosted by Stockholm LGBT and Visit Stockholm, I experienced everything from Sweden’s LGBTQ+ history, given a lineage of queer royals, to a boat ride deep into the archipelago where I bobbed in a kayak on the Baltic, and all with a sense of freedom of being a queer person in a country that celebrates diversity.
What is your favorite LGBTQ+ bar or nightlife venue anywhere in the world? What makes it special?
At Stockholm Pride, I danced with the most queer women I’ve ever seen at a monthly party called Moxy in the cavernous venue of Nacka. I’d never experienced that many queer women enjoying themselves together before.
What’s the best gayborhood for travelers?
Toronto’s The Village, with its queer-owned restaurants, 519 queer community center, and its diverse, politically active queer residents, is a draw. It’s queer heaven with a bit of revolution in the air.
What is the most underrated LGBTQ+-friendly destination you’ve visited?
Prince Edward County, a few hours outside of Toronto on Lake Ontario (I refuse to call it anything else), particularly the town of Picton, felt like Schitt’s Creek to me — small-town vibes free from homophobia. I was there during Pride Month, and all of the shops in town were decorated for the occasion. But it was more than Pride flags. Each storefront had curated queerness for its customer base. The bookstore displayed books by queer authors, both known and new, and the local record store featured albums in its window from queer artists, from Grace Jones to Jobriath. The care that went into the town’s curation impressed me. Within a few kilometers of the town center, art galleries and wineries catered to queer clientele.
Tracy E. Gilchrist (she/her) is the host and executive producer of her podcast, Holding Space with Tracy E. Gilchrist. She was editor-in-chief of The Advocate from March 2020 to August 2022. As EIC, she led The Advocateprint team in winning the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage in 2021 and 2022. A media veteran who went viral in 2024 with her Wicked“holding space” interview with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, she writes about the intersections of bipop culture and social issues.
Sean Howell
Seattle Pride is always so special to me because, on a hot summer day, you just want to dance in the Seattle Center fountain to music with your friends.
Travel Bucket List: Vietnam
Most Important Travel Factors: Safety, visible LGBTQ+ community, easy to meet people
Trending Cities: Santorini, Sydney, Berlin
What is your favorite LGBTQ+ bar or nightlife venue anywhere in the world? What makes it special?
I love Ferrytail in Taiwan; it is a cute, hip, intellectual but fun party bar.
What LGBTQ+ events are worth traveling for, and what makes them worth the trip?
Any of the over-the-top, super-large prides from NYC to Amsterdam to Sao Paulo and especially Taiwan. They’re just so giant, larger than some countries!
Which of the following is the best gayborhood for travelers?
Washington, DC is so walkable, international, and full of great museums and bars. I might not recommend living there, but certainly it is extra special to visit.
What is the most underrated LGBTQ+-friendly destination you’ve visited? Portland is a queer city, and you only have to dive into a few episodes of Portlandia to understand why it is unique. The city is really underrated and worth a visit for queer folks who love nature and good food, especially.
Sean Howell is an activist-turned-entrepreneur; he founded Hornet, where he built a 40-million-user gay social network. He serves as an officer of the board of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, where he is particularly interested in citizen diplomacy and the power of travel and tourism to build bridges across cultures.
Paul J. Heney
If you happen to be traveling and there’s a Pride event nearby, make it part of your adventure. We’ve had wonderful times at Prides in places like Rochester, N.Y. and Honolulu. I always enjoy seeing how different places do it up for their Pride events.
Travel Bucket List: New Zealand
Most Important Travel Factors: LGBTQ+-owned businesses, visible LGBTQ+ community, diverse representation
Trending Cities: London, Tokyo, Bangkok
What was your favorite LGBTQ+-friendly destination you visited in the last year, and what made it memorable?
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Providence, R.I. in 2026. My husband and I attended the 50th anniversary Rhode Island Pride in the city, capped off by the magical nighttime Pride March, where participants and floats are illuminated.
We were also able to experience the city’s fascinating WaterFire Providence program, where bonfires are lit amidst the city’s rivers — with live music and vendors all along the waterways. We found the city to be incredibly queer-friendly, young (thanks in part to all the local colleges), and focused on the arts. The city has a hometown sort of feel, and is very approachable and walkable. And there was a great diversity in the kinds of queer folks who we saw on the streets and interacted with at the parties, something that many larger cities can’t match.
What is the best Pride event you ever attended, whether in your hometown or while traveling?
World Pride in Sydney in 2023 was simply epic. The city, the people, the concerts, the hot men, the Aussie spirit and hospitality, seeing Kylie sing in person, and so much more. It was unforgettable.
Have you ever been to a gay resort?
My favorites are Santiago in Palm Springs and The Dunes Resort in Douglas, Mich. Santiago has such an elevated vibe (please invite me back sometime!) and the grounds, the food, and the staff are all simply top-notch. Very relaxing! And The Dunes is an absolute gem of a queer space in the Midwest, within easy reach of Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. The spaces are great, the pool is wonderful, and we had such a fun time with the entertainment and shows there.
What is the most underrated LGBTQ+-friendly destination you’ve visited?
I’m going to go with my hometown of Cleveland. We hosted the Gay Games back in 2014, and so many people told me how much they loved our city. Cleveland doesn’t have a very big gay scene for a city of its size, but if you’re not traveling just for clubbing, the city has so much to offer: an incredible parks system, gorgeous beaches (really!), great museums like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, all the sports and entertainment you’d wish for, cultural institutions like the Cleveland Orchestra, and a really incredible food scene; farm to table was a thing here many years before trendier places “discovered” the term.
Paul J. Heney is a lifelong writer and avid world traveler. Earlier in his writing and editing career, he served as Editorial Director for Luxury Hotelier, Hotel Design, and Hotel & Motel Management. Today, he focuses on both the consumer and B2B sides of travel. His work has appeared in publications such as GayCities, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel Weekly, Travel Pulse, Out Traveler, Porthole Cruise magazine, TravelAge West, and Vacationer Magazine.
Reuben Mourad
My goal is to explore more of Asia this next year – but specifically, to get to Japan or Korea. There’s so much unique and fascinating culture in those countries in particular, not to mention the incredible food scene that I am dying to experience first hand.
Travel Bucket List: Japan and Korea
Most Important Travel Factors: Visible LGBTQ+ community, friendly locals, LGBTQ+ nightlife
Trending Cities: Bangkok, Provincetown, Tokyo
What was your favorite LGBTQ+-friendly destination you visited in the last year, and what made it memorable?
Amsterdam’s World Pride was an absolute blast. The city turned on an incredible celebration that was embraced by visitors and locals alike, and witnessing the canals lighting up with the color and extravagance that only Amsterdam Pride can achieve was truly memorable.
What is your favorite LGBTQ+ bar or nightlife venue anywhere in the world?
Berlin’s KitKatClub is a seriously unique venue, and a must do for anyone visiting the city. I know Berghain gets a lot of attention, but KitKat is, in my opinion, a really fun night out. The building itself is absolutely ridiculous (in the best way possible). From hidden dance floors, a swimming pool, an even a fire breathing dragon – it’s legitimately one of the wildest places you can party. And you’ll always leave with some great stories to tell.
What is the best Pride event you ever attended, whether in your hometown or while traveling?
Ok, so I know I’m biased, but Sydney put on a spectacular show for WorldPride in 2023. The entire city felt electric. From watching Kylie perform at an open-air concert in the heart of Sydney to a wild party literally on the sands of Bondi Beach, it felt like the whole city, locals and visitors alike, was swept up in this incredible sense of celebration. More than the individual events, though, it was the atmosphere I remember most: for those few weeks, Sydney just felt joyful. It remains one of the most memorable Pride experiences I’ve ever had, and every WorldPride since has inevitably been compared to Sydney, and with good reason.
What is the most underrated LGBTQ+-friendly destination you’ve visited? Tell us why more people should know about it.
Sitges, Spain holds a special place in my heart when it comes to LGBTQ+ destinations. Think a charming seaside town with beautiful beaches, wonderfully camp drinking spots, welcoming restaurants, winding historic streets, and a genuinely vibrant queer scene. It’s certainly become more popular in recent years, so my advice is to visit before the secret is completely out. Just an hour by train from Barcelona, it feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city – a laid-back, sun-soaked escape that’s absolutely worth the trip, even if you only have a day to spare.
Reuben Mourad is a food and travel journalist, born in Sydney, Australia, and now based in Los Angeles, or at least, that’s where he pays rent. More often than not, he’s somewhere else, eating his way around the world, exploring new destinations, and collecting the stories and experiences that come with them.
Carson Mlnarik
I have a soft spot for Pieces in the West Village, mostly because I’ve never had a bad night out there. Yes, I’ve won $75 playing drag bingo, enjoyed happy hour drinks with co-workers, ran into exes, met new boyfriends, but most importantly, the music has always been great.
Travel Bucket List: Puerto Vallarta
Most Important Travel Factors: Safety, visible LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ nightlife
Trending Cities: Berlin, London, Santorini
What was your favorite LGBTQ+-friendly destination you visited in the last year, and what made it memorable?
I absolutely fell in love with Amsterdam after a visit last fall — bicycling around the cobblestone streets, exploring museums and parks, queer art shops, the vastly different styles of nightlife, talking with strangers at a David Bowie-inspired dive bar. Returning for its Pride festivities one year is a must!
What LGBTQ+ events are worth traveling for, and what makes them worth the trip?
I’m a big entertainment guy, so any kind of LGBTQ+ event, be it Pride-related or not, with a good lineup is enough to have me considering pricing out a flight. Otherwise, I think it’s really rewarding to experience how different cities celebrate Pride Month, especially those off the beaten path. Seeing how the community can really rally together to celebrate living their authentic lives can be so inspiring, no matter how big or small.
What is the best Pride event you ever attended, whether in your hometown or while traveling?
I attended Toronto Pride by myself in 2023 and was amazed by how friendly the people were, the freebies, and the openness and adventurousness of its queer community. Bonus points for the parade, where I saw both Carly Rae Jepsen and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dancing on different floats.
What is the most underrated LGBTQ+-friendly destination you’ve visited?
I don’t think people consider Rome a big LGBTQ+ destination as much as a checklist on their tourism bucket list, but I’ve had some of the best nights of my life dancing with boys in Italian gay clubs until the early morning and then sneaking out to watch the sunset at the Trevi Fountain. Pro-tip: There’s far less tourists around before 5 AM!
Carson Mlnarik is a New York-based writer, comedian, and social media manager who specializes in the intersections of LGBTQ+ life, travel, and pop culture. You can read his work on GayCities, Queerty, Nylon, MTV News, and NewNowNext.
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