Trending travel: What cities are LGBTQ+ travelers most interested in?

Trust us, it's a great list.

Mark Mark
Sep 7, 2026 - 20:00
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Trending travel: What cities are LGBTQ+ travelers most interested in?
Two men hold hands in front of a scenic city background holding Pride flags in their other pockets.

If there’s one thing about the gays, it’s that we’re always planning our next trip — even if we’re already on vacation.

That’s why we asked Best of GayCities readers what cities they’re most interested in visiting in the next two years, from Seattle to Santorini.

Of course, there were some outliers, like Belize, Rio de Janiero, and Rome, but we were pleased to learn there’s some clear trends amongst the spots we’ve got our sights set on.

And trust us, it’s a great list. So, maybe we’ll see some of you out in the wild?

According to our Best of GayCities editorial board, the top six were…

  • Bangkok
  • Berlin
  • London
  • Provincetown
  • Santorini
  • Tokyo

Below, check out the top 6 destinations that GayCities readers are most interested in visiting….

Bangkok

At the top of many travelers’ lists for the next two years is Bangkok. Don’t the let nearly 20-plus hours-long flight from the United States deter you, this Thailand gem is one of the best cities in Asia for LGBTQ+ explorers.

The epicenter of nightlife is its resident gayborhood Silom, where bars like DJ Station stay open until sunrise, world-class drag queens take the stage at spots like The Stranger Bar, and the street food is as good as gourmet. That said, we’re partial to its buzzing bath house scene, which must be seen to be believed.

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Berlin

If there’s one thing we’ve gleaned from our survey, it’s that Berlin is very, very “in” right now. More than a handful of respondents professed that they hope to visit this German hot spot in the next few years, and we certainly understand why.

Between its traditional gayborhood Schöneburg, which carries a deep queer history, to its spots like men-only leather bar Prinzknecht and the notoriously selective Berghain, the city takes LGBTQ+ nightlife, sexual liberation, and unabashed queer celebration to the next level. Don’t count out its educational opportunities either, like the impressive gay history collection at the Schwules Museum.

Madrid

Two women kiss draped under a Pride flag on the streets of Madrid.

Bar-hopping, tapas, with some rich Spanish history sprinkled in? Say less. Madrid was another must-see for our readers, thanks to its impressive collection of museums and cathedrals, naughty and nice gay bar scene — we recommend making Chueca your home base — and incredible culinary options.

Thank goodness you’ll be doing a lot of walking… and calories don’t count on vacation.

Provincetown

A house on the streets of Provincetown with a large rainbow hanging from its window.

Provincetown, located at the tippity-top of Cape Cod, has transformed from an isolated artists’ community in the 1960s to one of the world’s most charming LGBTQ+ summer vacation spots and weekend getaways.

There’s no shortage of spots to make friends (or more), from its go-to dining joints like The Lobster Pot and Spiritus Pizza, to cozy bars like A-House and Crown & Anchor, and, ahem, that infamous dock.

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Tokyo

A drag queen waves on a boat in Tokyo during a pride festival.

Blame it on Disney, Lost in Translation, or that Phoebe Bridgers song, but Tokyo has quickly risen to the top of many gay travelers’ lists to check out over the next two years. And understandably so, between its packed-out and intimate gayborhood Shinjuku Ni-Chrome, overwhelming shopping options, top-notch restaurants, breathtaking art, and safe streets, we fully endorse adding this city to your must-sees.

Washington, D.C.

We didn’t expect to hear Washington, D.C. is of interest for so many respondents, but we’re not shocked. The nation’s capital is worth a trip, if for the sightseeing alone. From the more educational opportunities at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Smithsonian, to the subculture of Dupont, and the buzzing bar scene, it’s the type of city where your itinerary builds itself.

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