Top queer-friendly destinations to visit around the world

Get your glitter on because 2023’s Pride celebrations will once again be bringing music, dancing and street parties to cities around the world this summer. Although Pride Month is officially celebrated in June, but the festivities extend far beyond that. Other major Pride parades include San Francisco (June 25), Madrid (July 1) and Berlin (July 22).

Pride festival takes place in August in Iceland (Alamy)

Both safe and beautiful, this Nordic island is a great spot for queer couples and families, who can be themselves when exploring black-sand beaches and Martian-like national parks riddled with geysers. The tiny capital of Reykjavik does have a couple of gay bars, but its Pride festival (8-13 August) is when everyone comes out to play.

Parades in the capital of Valetta (Shutterstock)

Malta will be hosting EuroPride Valletta from 7 to 17 September. The Maltese archipelago may be small but Malta and Gozo are decidedly more chilled alternatives to gay hotspots such as Mykonos and Ibiza. Ideal for a long weekend, make sure that you squeeze in paddleboarding to the Blue Grotto or explore Valletta’s medieval past.

Taipei Pride takes place in October (Alamy)

Taipei offers plenty of gay bars, cruise clubs and abundant hot springs, and will host its Pride parade on 28 October this year. Outside the main event, the country has an intriguing blend of cultural influences from both East and West, and its verdant national parks, mountains, lakes and wilderness shrines are well worth adding to any itinerary.

South Africa is the safest place on the continent for LGBTQ+ people (Shutterstock)

Widely credited as the safest place on the African continent for queer people, South Africa hosts Cape Town Pride in February/March and Johannesburg Pride on 28 October, but both cities offer queer nightlife year round. In between parties, you can hike on Cape Town’s Table Mountain or spy the ‘Big Five’ barely an hour’s drive from Jo’burg.

As well as being one of the most socially progressive countries in Latin America, Uruguayan capital Montevideo will be hosting its annual Pride festival on 29 September. Owing to its Portuguese roots, this city on the Atlantic coast has some beautiful colonial-era architecture as well as lots of fun beach towns nearby and colourful birdlife to spot.