By KBC Associate 
Countless places worldwide are famous LGBTQIA+ hot spots, where vacationers can enjoy comfort, support and camaraderie. Also, outside of some extremely conservative regions, nearly all of the world’s major cities have at least one (and often several) neighborhoods with visible, thriving gay scenes, including San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, London, Paris and Rome.
Although these places are wonderful, several other unexpected destinations are becoming increasingly popular with LGBTQIA+ vacationers.
These largely off-the-beaten-path cities and resort towns offer new and surprising opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Here are a few of our top picks for the best underrated LGBTQIA+-friendly destinations in 2025.
Merida, Mexico
Rich with Mayan and Spanish colonial history and famous for its gastronomy, Merida is an ideal base for exploring the northwestern Yucatan — and it’s far less touristy than Cancun.
This beautiful city with a walkable, historic core is also extremely LGBTQIA+-friendly, with several gay bars and several other businesses owned or staffed by queer folks.
Many of the city’s colorfully painted Spanish colonial residences date to the 19th century and are now museums, hotels, cultural centers and restaurants. The city center features shady parks, festive cafes, boutiques and galleries, making this town feel sophisticated and relaxed.
Served by an efficient airport that offers direct flights from the U.S., Merida is about a three-hour drive from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It’s also within an easy drive of several carefully preserved Mayan archaeological ruins, including Chichen Itza and Uxmal (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), as well as dozens of gorgeous cenotes (natural freshwater limestone grottos where people can swim and snorkel).
Where to stay
Part of the Marriott-affiliated Design Hotels portfolio, the 17-room Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel and Spa (rates start at $228 or 33,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) comprises a pair of palatial Spanish colonial mansions situated along the city’s Parisian-inspired Paseo de Montejo.
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Salt Lake City
Sunny and scenic Salt Lake City is an island of inclusivity and progressive values in a region that tends to be otherwise conservative. This midsize metropolis nestled against the foothills of the magnificent Wasatch Mountains has a thriving LGBTQIA+ community and hosts a vibrant Pride celebration each year in late June.
The city has a long tradition of liberal politics: Jackie Biskupski, the mayor from 2016 through 2020, is openly lesbian. Salt Lake City has many inviting queer-owned businesses, from hopping nightspots like Milk+ and Club Try-Angles to colorful cafes and shops.
A hub of Delta Air Lines, the city is easy to reach. Plus, it’s a great base for outdoor adventures, and there are several iconic ski resorts (such as Brighton, Solitude, Alta, Snowbird, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain) all within an hour’s drive of downtown. Other highlights include the Utah Gay Ski Week in February and a bounty of chic boutiques and see-and-be-seen restaurants.
Where to stay
The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake (rates start at $335 or 61,000 IHG One Rewards points per night) has whimsically decorated guest rooms and common spaces and an outstanding restaurant (Bambara). It offers a terrific downtown location, just a short walk from the Gateway shopping center and leafy Pioneer Park, site of the famously bustling Downtown Farmers Market.
Antwerp, Belgium
A colorful port city that’s been a small but potent economic and creative force in Western Europe since the Middle Ages, Antwerp has a dynamic and highly visible LGBTQIA+ community.
It’s also easy to get to: It’s just 25 miles north of Brussels and less than three hours by train from Amsterdam, London and Paris. Distinctive buildings and houses (including the 400-foot spire of the ornate Cathedral of Our Lady, completed in 1521) dominate the skyline of this fashion-forward cultural hub.
There’s a concentration of queer-owned businesses and nightspots in and around the compact city center, where you’ll find cool attractions like the celebrated MoMu–Fashion Museum Antwerp and MAS–Museum aan de Stroom.
In August, the city’s four-day Antwerp Pride is one of Europe’s best-attended Pride events.
Where to stay
The refined, LGBTQIA+-popular Hotel Julien (rates start at $236 per night) is just a five-minute stroll from gracious Groenplaats and close to several hopping gay bars and clubs. Rooms in this chic boutique hotel feature Carrara marble bathrooms with Aesop amenities, original timber beams and trim, and, in some cases, terraces. Be sure to book a soothing treatment in the spa.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
The cultural and commercial center of Eastern Canada’s Maritime Provinces, this genial, hilly port city of around 350,000 people is set along a picturesque harbor. It offers plenty of cosmopolitan draws, including a vibrant art, music and theater scene. It’s also a handy base for side trips along the rocky and rugged Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. The quaint seaside villages of Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are within an hour’s drive.
Home to one of the highest per-capita queer populations in the country, Halifax’s LGBTQIA+ scene is well-integrated across the city. There are a handful of gay bars — including Rumors and Stardust — and many more cafes, restaurants and lounges that draw a mixed crowd or host queer events. Halifax Pride is the largest Pride event in the Canadian Maritimes, and it spans 10 days in mid-July. In late April, OutFest presents six days of queer performing and visual arts, including storytelling, stand-up comedy and a Makers Market.
Downtown Halifax is home to a colorful waterfront flanked by a nearly 3-mile wooden boardwalk. Stop by the outstanding Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the extensive Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which contains a remarkable permanent exhibit on the Titanic, which sank about 700 miles southeast. Up the hill from downtown, the grassy lawns of the five-sided Halifax Citadel National Historic Site provide a glorious vantage point for taking in the city and surrounding waters.
Where to stay
Sitting the edge of downtown and near the diverse cafe culture of the city’s North End, the hip but reasonably priced Moxy Halifax Downtown (rates start at $210 or 24,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) offers 160 compact but artfully appointed rooms, including several studios with kitchens. Bar Moxy is a welcoming spot for light meals and cocktails, and in summer, you can soak up the fresh sea air with sunset cocktails on the bar’s patio.
Malaga, SpainÂ
Although the compact beach city of Torremolinos is the LGBTQIA+ vacation hub of southern Spain, you’ll find an equally queer-friendly (and less party-driven vibe) just up the coast in gorgeous Malaga — the second largest city (population 600,000) in Andalusia.
Founded by Phoenicians nearly 3,000 years ago, this sunny Mediterranean gem exudes history. You can view remnants of ancient city walls in several places, including the Moorish Castillo de Gibralfaro, the delightful Museo Interactivo de la Musica Malaga and the basement of Museo Picasso Malaga.
Malaga has also undergone a boom in cutting-edge design, food and art, particularly in the trendy Soho district, with its stylish galleries and shops. The city also has several gay-owned cafes and bars, most of them set amid the narrow lanes of Centro Historico and around nearby Plaza de la Merced. On the city’s south side, Playa Guadalmar is a favorite swimming and sunbathing spot among LGBTQIA+ locals and visitors.
If it’s pure beach fun you’re after, Torremolinos is just a 20-minute drive down the Costa del Sol. You’ll find more than a dozen queer bars clustered together in the Nogalera quarter here. The town also hosts one of Spain’s largest Pride events in early June — this festive event serves the whole region, including Malaga.
Where to stay
AC Hotel Malaga Palacio (rates start at $203 or 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) has a great location across from Parque de Malaga, near the city’s bustling port and the artsy Soho neighborhood. The sleek rooms have light-wood walls and floors, and premium suites have balconies and views of the sea.
Medellin, Colombia
The second-largest city in Colombia sits nearly a mile high in a lush, forested valley, and it’s home to one of Latin America’s most dynamic LGBTQIA+ communities. Queer folks here are generally quite out and open.
The gay-popular nightlife district Zona Rosa is within the El Poblado neighborhood, known for vibrant cafes and restaurants, upscale shopping centers and an abundance of desirable hotels. One must-see attraction is the excellent Museum of Antioquia, with its exceptional collection of works by the country’s most acclaimed artist, Fernando Botero.
Medellin has undergone a remarkable turnaround since the 1980s and 1990s, when it was plagued by violence and instability during its notorious drug wars. Those days are long gone, and Medellin today is quite safe, especially in the areas where most of the attractions are.
Visitors who come here for the city’s huge Pride weekend in late June will find a wealth of festivities as the streets fill with beautiful people, colorful costumes and great music.
Where to stay
Ideally located near the queer nightlife of the Zona Rosa, the Medellin Marriott Hotel (rates start at $355 or 38,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) stands out for its excellent amenities, which include a rooftop pool and fitness center with great views and one of the city’s best Japanese restaurants.
Pittsburgh
Formerly one of America’s leading industrial powerhouses, this upbeat metropolis on the fringes of the Appalachian Mountains has reinvented itself as a hub of art, culture, education and tech.
The setting of the U.S. version of the early 2000s hit TV show “Queer as Folk,” Pittsburgh has a long and storied history as a center of LGBTQIA+ culture. The North Side is close to downtown and is home to the outstanding Andy Warhol Museum, which celebrates the life of the pop art icon and Pittsburgh native son. Nearby arts spaces with strong appeal in the queer community include the Mattress Factory contemporary art museum as well as Randyland, a campy outdoor homage to found-object art.
As you branch out to the east, you’ll pass through other neighborhoods with a pronounced LGBTQIA+ presence and some truly world-class attractions. Centered on the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University campuses, Oakland boasts the superb Carnegie Museum of Art and the adjacent Carnegie Museum of Natural History. In Shadyside, East Liberty and Lawrenceville, you’ll find queer-popular cafes, bars and boutiques.
Before you leave town, be sure to ride the bright-red Duquesne Incline funicular to the top of Mount Washington, where you’ll be treated to a stunning panoramic view of downtown’s architecturally impressive skyline and the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
Where to stay
Among several upscale downtown lodgings set in beautifully restored historic towers, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh (rates start at $198 or 35,000 IHG One Rewards per night) is within walking distance of a few downtown gay bars. It’s an easy stroll across the bridges over the Allegheny River to museums and ballparks on the North Side.
Osaka, Japan
Home to the second-largest LGBTQIA+ scene in Japan, Osaka is more relaxed and liberal than many other Japanese destinations, arguably even Tokyo. In 2024, the city hosted the global annual convention of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, and it continues to thrive as one of Asia’s leading queer destinations.
Osaka is a city of contradictions, as it is both a corporate banking hub and a center of arts and creativity. Street food stalls thrive amid the city’s blossoming cherry trees, and towering skyscrapers soar above a network of tiny sake rooms. The city is known for its first-rate culinary scene and fine locally made sake.
Osaka possesses a wealth of gay bars, clubs and saunas. As tends to be the case throughout Japan, gay bars here are typically smaller and more niche-oriented, and of the three LGBTQIA+-identified areas in Osaka, Doyamacho is especially popular with visitors. Remember that, per local regulations, some clubs will admit foreigners only as guests of Japanese citizens, and some do not allow women.
In addition to a buzzy nightlife scene, there is plenty to see in this pulsing metropolis with a greater population of nearly 20 million, such as Osaka Castle, eighth-century Nara Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Universal Studios.
Where to stay
If splurging is on the itinerary, the InterContinental Osaka (rates start at $365 or 74,000 IHG One Rewards points per night) is a beautiful urban oasis worth the steep rates. The hotel offers restaurants, a superb spa, a well-designed fitness center and proximity to some of Osaka’s most famous landmarks. It’s just a 10-minute cab ride from Doyamacho’s LGBTQIA+ scene.
Dublin
Ireland has garnered a growing gay following in recent years. The capital city of Dublin is remarkably welcoming and has a highly visible gay community. The entire country — which decriminalized homosexuality in 1993 and passed marriage equality in 2015 — has steadily become one of Europe’s most LGBTQIA+-friendly countries to visit. In fact, Leo Varadkar, who served as the country’s taoiseach (prime minister) until 2024, is openly gay.
Dublin offers plenty of ways for LGBTQIA+ visitors to enjoy themselves, from hobnobbing in the friendly gay cafes and pubs of the Temple Bar district to catching a play at one of the many acclaimed theaters. You can walk by the Oscar Wilde statue in handsome Merrion Square Park and tour the restored childhood home of the queer literary legend.
The Irish capital also hosts Gaze, a queer film showcase presented by the Irish Film Institute, in late July and early August. Formed in 1992, it’s the largest LGBTQIA+ event in Ireland after the extremely popular Dublin Pride celebration, in late June.
Where to stay
A tony 101-room boutique hotel that has long had an LGBTQIA+ following, the Temple Bar Inn (rates start at $195 per night) lies in the heart of Dublin’s lively riverfront nightlife quarter, close to several gay establishments and the oft-photographed Ha’penny Bridge. Rooms are compact but smartly decorated, and the inviting public spaces include an endearingly quirky bar and restaurant.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
After formally legalizing same-sex marriage in January 2025, Thailand has furthered its already impressive reputation as one of Asia’s LGBTQIA+ magnets. Thailand’s queer scene is mostly focused on its thriving capital, Bangkok, as well as in the beach resorts of Phuket and Pattaya. But set aside at least three days to travel to the largest metropolis in Thailand’s mountainous north: Chiang Mai.
Established in the 13th century and famous for its elaborately designed temples, well-managed elephant sanctuaries, distinctive and flavorful cuisine and generally cooler and more refreshing weather than in the south, Chiang Mai has a surprisingly sizable, if low-key, gay nightlife scene and just as welcoming a vibe as Bangkok. Many gay bars are in the city center, close to the colorful Night Bazaar district.
The city’s Chiang Mai Pride takes place in late May and continues to grow in popularity, but you might also consider timing your visit to attend one of the region’s other iconic festivals, including the Yi Peng (when hundreds of glowing lanterns are released into the sky) in November and the Songkran water festival in mid-April.
Where to stay
Centrally located and offering a full slate of urban resort amenities, the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel (rates start at $124 or 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) rises above the adjacent and extremely popular Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. Guests can dine in the hotel’s first-rate Chinese and Italian restaurants, book a couples massage in Quan Spa and soak up views of the Doi Suthep Mountains from the infinity-edge pool.
Queenstown, New Zealand
One of the world’s greatest destinations for adrenaline-fueled adventures, ranging from snowboarding to tandem skydiving to bungee jumping, this small but fast-growing city on Lake Wakatipu has also blossomed into a bona fide LGBTQIA+ vacation hub.
Near the southern end of New Zealand’s spectacular South Island, Queenstown hosts a phenomenally popular Winter Pride celebration over 11 days in mid-August. The celebration features skiing and snowboarding on the gorgeous slopes surrounding the area, hikes in the foothills and a host of parties.
And while Queenstown doesn’t have any gay bars per se, virtually all of the many pubs and clubs near the downtown lakefront are quite welcoming.
However long you plan to visit this bewitching city, add at least a day or two to explore New Zealand’s iconic Fiordland National Park.
Where to stay
A sponsor of Queenstown’s Winter Pride, and a romantic top-of-the-line accommodation any time of year, the Swiss-Belsuites Pounamu (rates start at $235 per night) sits on a bluff near Queenstown Cove and the Queenstown Trail. It’s worth splurging on one of the deluxe rooms with a fireplace, balcony and lake view.
Taipei, Taiwan
Home to Asia’s biggest and most colorful Pride celebration, Taipei is arguably Asia’s most welcoming for LGBTQIA+ visitors. The Taiwanese government legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, and a massive, multifloor queer nightlife complex, Ximen Red House, practically bursts with bars, clubs, clothiers, gift shops and restaurants.
This modern, bustling metropolis with about 2.6 million residents is one of Asia’s most celebrated culinary destinations, with hundreds of both swanky and modest restaurants serving Taiwanese, Chinese and other fare from across the continent — the city’s exuberant night markets provide a great way to sample myriad delicious dishes.
Taipei is also known for its fashionable shopping, with one of the city’s top malls at the base of the iconic Taipei 101 tower (don’t miss the panoramic view from the 101st-floor observation deck). Other notable draws include the National Palace Museum, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.
Taiwan Pride is always held in autumn, an appealing time to visit, as the weather tends to be mild and dry. It’s also the same season as the indie-spirited Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, which always screens some queer-focused movies.
Where to stay
The chic and contemporary W Taipei (rates start at $373 or 115,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) is a favorite spot for LGBTQIA+ parties during Taiwan Pride and a fantastic place to stay anytime. Rooms have soaring windows, some facing the iconic Taipei 101 tower, and amenities include a beautiful rooftop pool and sundeck, the see-and-be-seen Woobar and Yen Bar and the 31st-floor Yen Chinese Restaurant.