Best in LGBTQ+ Travel 2023

Jan. 08 2023

by Lachlan

It's a new day, it's a new dawn, and we're feeling good about 2023! Here at misterb&b, we're obsessed with travel. So naturally, when the new year comes around, we start planning our travel bucket lists rather than setting new year's resolutions. If you're the same as us (and we have no doubt), you've also probably started thinking about which destinations you'd like to tick off this year. So, to feed your hungry travel bug, we've crunched current misterb&b data to determine what's hot in LGBTQ+ travel for 2023. From long-time favorite gay cities and countries to more off-the-beaten-track destinations, get inspired with our top LGBTQ+ travel picks of the year and get out those passports for plenty of adventures in 2023. 

 

Best in LGBTQ+ Travel 2023: Top Cities to Discover

Sydney 

_{©Daniel Boud}

While Sydney is great at the best of times, it will be the host city of WorldPride 2023, so naturally, it will feature on our list of best LGBTQ+ cities to visit in 2023. The harbor city will sparkle in a rainbow during WorldPride from February 15 to March 5, but if you can't make it for WorldPride, don't worry; Sydney still puts on a great show year-round. Not only will you love its iconic harbor and opera house, but you'll also feel right at home along Oxford Street, Darlinghurst - the city's main gayborhood. An excellent network of welcoming misterb&b hosts and a thriving LGBTQ+ scene will have you feeling like a Sydney local in no time. 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN SYDNEY NOW

 
Wilton Manors  

Wilton Manors is famous for many things! Firstly, it features in our list of best in LGBTQ+ travel for 2023. But along with that, Wilton Manors is South Florida's most famous gayborhood. With a very active gay scene, it understandably ranks in position two after Provincetown regarding the number of same-sex couples per capita in the USA. Suppose that's not enough to convince you. Indeed, its dreamy coastal location and its relaxed, open-minded vibe will cement it as a great LGBTQ+ destination to visit in 2023. Head to the city's main drag, Wilton Drive, where you can catch up on the latest gossip at one of the many gay-owned bars, restaurants, and clubs. 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN WILTON MANORS NOW

 
Madrid

_{©Flickr/Ted Eytan}

Locally, Madrid and Barcelona are rival cities, but we like to play fair, so we're happy to include Madrid in our list. Fair or not fair, Madrid stands its ground alone as a front-running LGBTQ+ destination to visit any time of the year. After all, it is home to Europe's most considerable Pride, so it's appealing to the LGBTQ+ community. Most gay life can be found in the rainbow-clad Chueca district, conveniently located in the center of town and even more conveniently home to loads of gay bars and clubs, where you can be acquainted with the local guapos! 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN MADRID NOW

  
Orlando 

We don't need to tell you how great San Fran or NYC is for LGBTQ+ life, but we do need to tell you that Orlando is, too! Surprise or no surprise, Orlando is home to one of the most active LGBTQ+ communities in the country. Following the Pulse Nightclub tragedy of 2016, the community has become even more united and remains committed to inclusivity and diversity. Excellent weather, a cosmopolitan vibe, and a distinctly Latin flair have put Orlando on the map for LGBTQ+ travel in 2023, so now you need to find the perfect misterb&b apartment or LGBTQ+-friendly hotel to stay in, and you're set!

BOOK YOUR STAY IN ORLANDO NOW

 
Rome 

While Italy's senate rejected a bill that would have banned anti-LGBTQ violence and discrimination nationally, the local LGBTQ+ community remains positive and united, just as we remain passionate about visiting Italy. Sure, Milan is home to the country's largest LGBTQ+ community, but we're smitten with Rome for 2023 travel. If you're a die-hard foodie, Rome is the city for you. Local dishes like carbonara and amatriciana dot most menus across the city, and relatively low prices will keep your wallet singing well after your trip. The city's gay street, Via San Giovanni in Laterano, is located in the shadows of the Colosseum and offers a series of gay bars serving great cocktails by excellent bar staff! See Italy's LGBTQ+ organization, Arcigay, for a detailed guide on what's hot in the city when you visit. For more on Rome, see our Gay Bucket List to the city. 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN ROME NOW

  

Marseille 

_{©IG/world_mappers}

Already shopped in Paris and drunk wine in Bordeaux? Well, we're inviting you down south to Marseille for something a little different. While Marseille sometimes gets a bad rap for being rougher around the edges than its neighboring French cities, we're all about the grunge! Even though Paris is home to the country's most extensive LGBTQ+ scene, the alternative pulse of Marseille can be found in the Cours Julien district to the north of the city. Here, graffitied walls give way to heaving bars and vibrant squares, with a diverse mix of locals filling the streets come evening. For great cocktails and an even greater crowd, head to the uber-cool Le Pulse, conveniently located on Cours Julien.

BOOK YOUR STAY IN MARSEILLE NOW

 

Hong Kong

Are you a sports fan? If so, why not pencil in a trip to Hong Kong for the Gay Games 2023? Hong Kong will be the first city in Asia to host the games, so we think that's a remarkable achievement! Outside of the event, Hong Kong's international scene has rendered it more gay-friendly than many other countries in Asia. An active network of misterb&b hosts, along with several LGBTQ+ friendly hotels, also means you'll be able to stay in this thriving metropolis hassle-free. That means less worrying and more time enjoying the city's breathtaking geography and mouthwatering (literally) food. 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN HONG KONG NOW

 

Barcelona

_{©IG/thetravellinggays}

We're sure you're as unsurprised as we were to see Barcelona featured in our list of top LGBTQ+ cities for 2023. Nevertheless, it's included for a good reason. With great weather, fantastic food, and an LGBTQ+ scene to boot, Barcelona is an obvious choice for those seeking some fun in a super open-minded city. While Eixample (Gayxample) is Barcelona's main gayborhood, several LGBTQ+ bars and clubs can also be found in the slightly grittier El Ravel district, which is located just down from Eixample, closer to the beach. Home to a vibrant Pride, which takes place each year in June, experience your Pride in epic proportions for 2023 in Barcelona. 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN BARCELONA NOW

   
Phoenix 

Familiar with Phoenix? You should be! If you're looking for a vitamin D fix, add Arizona's capital to your 2023 travel list; the city boasts roughly 300 days of sunshine annually! So, as well as packing your best shirt, be sure to bring along plenty of SPF and some sexy shades! Regarding an LGBTQ+ scene, we pick the Melrose District, which you'll find between 7th Ave and 7th Street and Indian School and Camelback Mountain roads. For the area's best gay bars and clubs, consult our dedicated city guide to Phoenix so you can bookmark your faves and meet some Arizona locals! 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN PHOENIX NOW

   
Chicago 

Quiz time. Where is the oldest gayborhood in the US? Answer: Chicago. Boystown has many claims to fame, and it is worth making a trip to Chicago for a visit here alone. Besides being the first officially recognized gayborhood in the US, Boystown is also home to the award-winning Legacy Walk. Running down Halsted Street from Belmond Avenue to Grace Street, Legacy Walk is the world's only outdoor LGBTQ+ history museum, which pays tribute to LGBTQ+ icons and historical events through a series of bright monuments. Do you happen to be a hipster personified and looking for something more alternative? Head on over to Boystown's slightly edgier step-brother, Andersonville. Here, you'll find a more alternative LGBTQ+ scene, with everything from dive bars to record shops and vintage outlets. For more on Andersonville, look at our round-up of Top Gayborhoods in North America.

BOOK YOUR STAY IN CHICAGO NOW

   
Athens 

Regarding Greece, Santorini and Mykonos may sometimes steal the limelight, but we're here to remind you that no one puts a baby (Athens) in the corner! A bit of a concrete jungle - where many dreams are made - Athens ticks many boxes: great food, great weather, great history, and a great LGBTQ+ scene. While the Orthodox Church still reigns strong in Greece, and LGBTQ+ people often face pressure from their families, the tide is beginning to shift with local lobbying groups and an increasingly open scene. Although Athens does not offer an identifiable cut-out gayborhood, many of the city's gay bars and clubs are scattered around the Gazi neighborhood. Come June, Athens also hosts its annual Pride, which is gaining more and more momentum yearly.

BOOK YOUR STAY IN ATHENS NOW

Torremolinos 

_{©FB/Delice Dream Eden Beach Club}

Torre where? You might ask. While Torremolinos may sometimes fall in the shadows of its larger Spanish counterparts like Barcelona, Madrid, or Sitges, this seaside town on the Costa del Sol has cemented itself as one of Europe's hottest LGBTQ+ destinations - in every sense of the word. Torremolinos promises plenty of LGBTQ+ life year-round, with beach parties, club nights, and more or less everything in between. During the day, work on your tan (weather permitting) at the famous gay beach, El Gato, then, as night falls, head to the city's gayborhood, La Nogalera. Many gay bars open throughout the night, including local hits, Vida Bar and La Nuit.

BOOK YOUR STAY IN TORREMOLINOS NOW

 

Best in LGBTQ+ Travel 2023: Top Countries 

FRANCE

MEXICO

GERMANY

USA

CANADA

GREECE

AUSTRALIA

SPAIN

ITALY

DENMARK  

Best in LGBTQ+ Travel 2023: Top Gayborhoods

The Village, Toronto

Chueca, Madrid

Hell's Kitchen, New York

Dalston, London

Andersonville, Chicago

Le Marais, Paris

Neuköln, Berlin

Eixample, Barcelona

South Beach, Miami

Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta 

So whether you plan to dance the night away in Dalston, London, or take things down a notch with a relaxing getaway by the sea in Marseille, experience your Pride for 2023 with our curated list of what's hot in travel for the year. We know you've probably got loads of LGBTQ+ destinations you'd love to visit, so add these to your list and experience your Pride with misterb&b for 2023. If you have any suggestions on other destinations or gayborhoods to feature, send us an email at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you.   

Loved this? Why not check our round-up of the World's Most Unique LGBTQ-friendly Hotels and enjoy accommodation with a difference?  

 

Cover Image: Nomadic Boys: Follow the link to their homepage for more content on LGBTQ+ travel.