If you are part of the LGBT community and are looking to travel or move, take a look at our list of the top 15 gayest cities in the world.
While you’re at it, also check out our list of the most gay-friendly countries in the world.
As a person in the LGBT community, it can be difficult to know whether or not you will always be accepted for who you are. Regardless of social and political strides made in recent years in certain parts of the world, non-straight people are a minority group that can still be made to feel marginalized, underrepresented, left out, or even at risk for harassment and violence. But this can be avoided— to some extent— with research. So how does one judge which destinations would be the safest and most enjoyable for an LGBT person, couple, or group?
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In order to compare cities and create our list, we used The Straight Dope, U City Guides and Shawn Voyage. These sources allowed us to see which can be considered the gayest cities in the world. We then sorted our list by averaging the rankings across all sources.
Continue reading to learn more details about the gayest cities in the world.
15. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is one of the best cities for gay people, with 14% of the population identifying as gay. Locals enjoy some the best gay beaches and pride parades. Also, there are a lot of gay clubs, pubs, and restaurants to enjoy for a night out. Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited travel destinations for gay people, not only because people who live here are very open-minded, but because it also promises a safe and fun stay.
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14. Toronto, Canada
Toronto is one of the most visited destinations for gay people. Church Street or Church Wellesley Village– which is also known as just The Village— has been the heart of LGBT life in Toronto for a few decades now. This Village abounds with restaurants, pubs, bars, theaters, and galleries.
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13. Miami, Florida
Miami is an excellent choice of destination for gay people, as the nightlife is almost unbeatable. The city abounds with bars and clubs where LGBT people can go and have a great time. There are also beautiful beaches all along the coast where people can go to relax.
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12. Sydney, Australia
Australians are very open-minded when it comes to LGBT people, which is one of the main reasons why Sydney is one of the gayest cities in the world. They boast some of the best gay beaches, pride parades, and LGBT spaces in the world, with the added bonus of amazing beaches and outdoor activities.
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11. Berlin, Germany
Berlin found its way to our list, most notably for having one of the biggest and best pride parades in the entire world. The city also abounds with gay restaurants, pubs, and clubs where members of the LGBT community can meet and have fun. Many gay people choose to move to Berlin because of the gay lifestyle, while many others are taking the time to visit there as a top vacation spot.
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10. Chicago, Illinois
Chicagoans are very open-minded and liberal people, which is one of the main reason why LGBT people love Chicago. There are around 60 gay bars in Boystown, and Andersonville even has a specific village for gay people. Chicago offers a great lifestyle, nightlife, and one of the biggest pride parades in the world.
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9. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is a huge liberal city, so it is not a surprise that it has a large population of gay residents. It offers some of the world’s best beaches, bars, and clubs, where the LGBT community feels comfortable and confident enjoying their time. LA remains one of the top vacation destinations for gays.
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8. Tel Aviv, Israel
We are continuing our list of gayest cities in the world with Tel Aviv, Israel, that is fast becoming one of the most visited destinations among gay travelers. The city is extraordinarily welcoming to gay travelers and new residents. Tel Aviv is one of the best cities for LGBT people, because of the gay beaches, nightlife, and open-minded residents, which are somewhat unique in the Middle East.
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7. Madrid, Spain
Spain has always been tolerant and accepting when it comes to the LGBT community, which is why Madrid has made it to our list of top 15 gayest cities in the world. The city hosts one of the best pride parades, with hundreds of thousands of people marching marching, as well as some of the best gay-friendly nightlife in the world.
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6. Paris, France
France is very gay-friendly country, and Paris– its major cosmopolitan city– provides ideal conditions for gay people. The city of lights has many gay bars, clubs, restaurants, and pride events. Also, it is a mecca for fashion, food, and art. Who wouldn’t want to take a trip to Paris?
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5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Not only is Amsterdam one of the most beautiful cities in the world, full of adventurous people of all ages, but it is also gay-friendly, which is a great plus. The gay lifestyle, including pubs, bars, and clubs started here in the Red Light District. Their pride parades are also uniquely held on water!
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4. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona ranks 4th in our list of gayest cities in the world. It is one of the most visited cities in the world, by gays and straights alike. This city has it all, and is also very welcoming to LGBT people, allowing for the relatively high population of gay-identifying residents. The gay nightlife in Barcelona is noteworthy, as well as the host of beaches, restaurants, etc.
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3. London, United Kingdom
London is among the best gay cities in the world, not only because there are many gay people who live here to feel at home alongside, but because the straight residents also tend to be quite open-minded. There are countless gay spaces in London, and the city also hosts one of the most popular pride parades in the world.
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2. New York City, New York
New York City is ranked so highly on our list of gayest cities in the world, because it is truly a city that has something for everyone. People who live in NYC are exceptionally liberal. Often gay people move to the Big Apple because it promises great life opportunities and exciting LGBT nightlife; for instance, Fire Island is one of the best gay beaches in the world.
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1. San Francisco, California
San Francisco has taken the cake as our top gayest city in the world. LGBT people feel safe and included in this coastal California haven. As one of the oldest gay cities in the world, there are countless amazing gay spaces to explore. Not to mention The SF Pride Parade, a legendary event that attracts people from all over the world.
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Thanks for checking out ur list of the 15 gayest cities in the world. We hope that wherever your travel plans take you, you will feel safe, at-home, and proud.
