Hottest Places to Visit for Queers
Finding the perfect destination to celebrate love and individuality is more important than ever for the queer community in 2024. Whether you're traveling with a partner, friends, or solo, there are cities around the world that offer welcoming environments, vibrant scenes, and endless opportunities for connection. From cultural hotspots to nightlife adventures, these destinations are known for their inclusivity, diversity, and rich LGBTQ+ history.
Here are some of the best cities for queer travellers to explore this year.
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is a leading capital for queers in Canada. The Pride Toronto Festival was held in June 2024 to celebrate the culture and deep history of the Canadian gay community. Established in 1981, the Pride Toronto Festival is dedicated to LGBTQ+ activists who have fought for human rights and the freedom to love who they want. More than 3 million people visited the 2024 Pride Toronto Festival.
It is among the safest cities to live for the gay community. Queer couples can stay at luxury hotels, hostels, and rented apartments in Toronto to experience the gay culture for themselves. You can walk up to the Toronto Gay Village to meet queers in local stores and cafes. The Glad Day Bookshop situated in the Toronto Gay Village is the first LGBTQ+ bookstore to have opened in Canada.
WorldPride 2014 was held in Toronto after the LGBTQ+-friendly city won 77 votes in an international poll. The opening ceremony of WorldPride 2014 took place at the urban plaza, Nathan Phillips Square, in Toronto with performances by Melissa Etheridge, Steve Grand, and Tom Robinson. Pride flags can be seen around major pubs and bars in Toronto, giving queers a reason to visit Canada during their hot adventures.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas provides equal rights to gay individuals and couples in the US state of Nevada. It is one of the earliest cities to allow same-sex marriage, bringing in plenty of queers from various countries into the city of Las Vegas. You can grab your better half and get married in Las Vegas churches to announce your commitment to the LGBTQ+ community on social media platforms to make your vows official.
Home to drag queens and queers, Las Vegas offers a variety of activities for fun and entertainment. You can visit the biggest casino hotels and theatres in Las Vegas to lift your spirits throughout the night. Casinos like the Wynn Las Vegas have a number of table games that include blackjack and roulette. Queers can challenge gamblers at the Wynn Las Vegas casino to win chips as couples.
Beauty boutiques and souvenir shops in shopping malls turn Sin City into one of the hottest places to visit for queers. You can purchase designer bags, wallets, jewelry, and fashionwear from international brands like Gucci and Levi’s in Las Vegas to look splendid on dates. Queers can catch a cab at any time in Las Vegas to travel between LGBTQ+ centers for a magnificent experience. You’ll be happier with a few drinks to keep your buzz going after devouring meals from fine-dining restaurants in Las Vegas.
New York City, New York
New York City (NYC) is a major node for queers from around the world. It has over 250,000 gays, lesbians, and bisexuals living in the city along with the local residents. A few of the most famous queers from NYC include Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Cara Delevingne, and Perez Hilton.
Art installations around NYC depict the struggles of the queer community and their exuberant lifestyles. You can visit Hell’s Kitchen in the city for affordable housing. Hell’s Kitchen is closer to several Broadway theatres such as, the original Improv, and the Manhattan Plaza. The LGBTQ+ community regularly stages its plays and performance acts at these theatres in NYC to entertain people throughout the year.
Queers associated with NYC have been represented fairly in popular culture. The Marvel superhero series, Daredevil, is focused on the activities of people living in NYC, solving crimes and saving citizens to prevent them from being harmed. Many American movies like the Taxi Driver and State of Grace were filmed in NYC.
Sydney, Australia
The LGBTQ+ community in Sydney has the largest population of gays and lesbians in Australia. The Rainbow Crossing at Taylor Square in Sydney was painted with the colors of the pride flag to support the gay community.
In 2023, Sydney hosted the WorldPride with more than 500,000 people attending the 17-day festival. Kylie Minogue, Kelly Rowland, Nicole Scherzinger, and Charli XCX, are a few musicians who have performed at the 2023 WorldPride. Sydney is a top destination for queers to spend quality time while touring Australia with their loved ones.
Club hopping in The Beresford region is the best way to spend Sundays in Sydney. Queers can sip beverages and have conversations with gays in Sydney bars while admiring drag queens to feel turned on during night outs. The Opera House is also an amazing spot to interact with queers while venturing the globe for LGBTQ+ activities.
