9 up-and-coming LGBTQ+ destinations across the globe

For queer travellers, deciding where to go doesn’t just come down to picking between a beach destination and a city break – safety is a big factor, too.

While some may choose to avoid the 64 countries where same-sex relationships are criminalised, others won’t strike these destinations off their to-visit list. That doesn’t tell the full story, either: a country may have legislation in place protecting LGBTQ+ rights, or an annual Pride parade, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee the local society is welcoming to travellers from within the community.

Fortunately, new destinations are constantly emerging as safe havens for LGBTQ+ travellers. Here are ten up-and-coming LGBTQ+ travel destinations around the world.

Nepal boasts the most progressive gay rights legislation in South Asia, with protections for gender and sexual minorities as well as legal recognition for a third gender, and has been actively promoting ‘pink tourism’ for the past few years. While this isn’t a destination for those seeking out a buzzing queer bar scene, LGBTQ+ travellers looking for adventure will certainly feel welcome in the country that is known for believing ‘the guest is god’.

NB: Public displays of affection, such as kissing and hugging, are considered offensive in Nepal.

Read next: Exploring the medieval heart of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Thailand has long been regarded as an LGBTQ+-friendly destination, and its legislation now reflects society’s growing acceptance of queer individuals. In 2025, Thailand officially became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, with the same financial, legal, and medical rights as heterosexual couples, as well as the ability to adopt children.

In Chiang Mai, queer travellers flock to nightly drag shows at Sixcret, where the queens create their costumes and develop their choreography. While lesbian bars are closing across the globe, Sapphic Riot opened in 2023 and is a hot spot for locals and foreigners who identify as women-loving-women.

Read next: 12 of the best things to do in Thailand

Few African countries are making genuine progress in LGBTQ+ rights, with the exception being Mauritius, which decriminalised same-sex relationships in 2023. The island nation is still under-the-radar for many LGBTQ+ travellers, with Sunlife’s beachfront resorts – Sugar Beach, Long Beach, La Pirogue, the adults-only Ambre, and the private island of Ile aux Cerfs – among the top choices for queer vacationers looking for a luxurious getaway, particularly on honeymoon.

Read next: 8 places you must see in Mauritius

While ILGA’s rainbow map places Italy towards the bottom end of the scale for LGBTQ+ rights, that hasn’t stopped queer travellers naming Sardinia among their top travel destinations, according to Expedia’s Summer Travel Outlook. In fact, you’ll likely see more LGBTQ+ travellers heading to the island this year, with a 90% increase in searches.

Elsewhere in Italy, sapphics held their first Dyke March this year, and Italy’s Constitutional Court recently ruled that two women can be legally registered as parents on birth certificates.

Read next: Sardinia’s secret places: 5 hidden corners you must visit

Slovenia is one of the most recent European countries to protect same-sex marriages in 2022. The centre of the country’s LGBTQ+ scene is the capital Ljubljana, where you’ll find lesbian bar, Klub Monokel. Outside of Ljubljana, the best way to spend your time is out in nature. Lake Bled has long been a popular spot thanks to the picturesque Bled Island, but Lake Bohinj is lesser visited and just as beautiful thanks to the Savica Waterfall.

Read next: A first-time guide to the Julian Alps, Slovenia

The riverfront capital city of Uruguay is garnering attention from LGBTQ+ travellers. Uruguay has long been recognized as one of the most progressive countries in South America, with comprehensive LGBTQ+ protections, including same-sex marriage rights, in place since 2013. The local queer scene in Montevideo is small, with a handful of gay bars near Parque Rodo and pop-up sapphic events. For twenty years, the La Plaza de la Diversidad Sexual has been a space dedicated to celebrating the local queer community. Uruguay is an ideal destination for someone looking for a slow-paced holiday, complete with long walks on the riverfront boardwalk (the Rambla) and leisurely dinners of grilled meats paired with fine local oceanic wines.

Read next: First 24 hours in Montevideo, Uruguay

Puerto Rico’s tourism board has been working towards the lofty goal of becoming the LGBTQ+ Capital of the Caribbean, with tourism businesses’ staff across the island having received inclusivity training. The island is one of the most progressive in the region, with  Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court ruling that non-binary and gender-nonconforming people can update their birth certificates to ‘X’ earlier this year. The US territory has a rich queer cultural scene, with Santurce and Condado in the capital city of San Juan offering queer-focused entertainment, including Circo Bar’s drag bingo to nightclub Kweens Klub. Condado Beach is the unofficial gay beach of San Juan, with rainbow flags perched in the sand. Many queer travellers visit the island in November for the Puerto Rico Queer Film Festival. Coqui del Mar Guest House is an LGBTQ-owned property in San Juan.

Read next: Island of Enchantment: where to go in Puerto Rico

Salt Lake City, Utah, is one of the most inclusive and up-and-coming urban destinations for LGBTQ+ travellers. It made misterb&b’s top 30 unusual destinations list based on searches from the platform’s one million queer users.  There are many LGBTQ+ affirming businesses in town, from the Under the Umbrella bookstore which offers books by LGBTQ+ authors, to a night out at The SunTrapp, the oldest operating LGBTQ+ bar in the city.

Read next: What to see and do on a road trip around Utah, USA

Dunedin is the second-largest City in New Zealand’s South Island and is making its mark as a queer-friendly holiday destination. Ōtepoti, the Māori name for the City, has the second highest proportion of LGBTQ+-identifying people in the country, with the capital city having the highest percentage. Throughout the year, the city hosts LGBTQ+ friendly events, including the Dunedin FRINGE, as well as having numerous local queer-friendly and queer-owned eateries and businesses in Dunedin. The region is the wildlife capital of the country, making it one of the best places to see penguins, kiwis, and fur seals. The technicoloured Aurora Australis can even be spotted here.

Read next: The ultimate self-drive adventure in New Zealand’s South Island