Barcelona tops list of Europe’s most LGBTQ-friendly cities
– 2 min read
Travel giant TUI has released its third annual LGBTQ+ Travel Ranking, spotlighting the continent’s most inclusive and welcoming cities for queer travellers. The study, which prioritises safety, legal protections, and social acceptance, places Barcelona at the very top of the list with Brighton making the top 50.
The ranking draws on a variety of factors, including hate crime legislation, legal recognition of nonbinary individuals, Pride event scale, and even Google search interest for terms like “gay” in relation to each city. While the methodology isn’t without limitations, it offers a valuable snapshot of where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel most at ease.
Top 10 LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in Europe:
- Barcelona, Spain
- Berlin, Germany
- Ibiza, Spain
- Porto, Portugal
- Madrid, Spain and Cologne, Germany (tied)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Vienna, Austria
- Hamburg, Germany
Que(e)r durch Europa: TUI LGBTQIA+ Travel Ranking 2025
Akzeptanz & Awareness: Welche Städte sind am queer-freundlichsten? Wo fühlt sich die Community sicher? Wo gibt es die größten Prides? Mehr erfahren.
Spain and Germany dominate the top tier, each boasting three cities in the top ten. Portugal also makes a strong showing with Porto and Lisbon, while Amsterdam and Vienna round out the list. The only UK cities to make the Top 50 are London, Brighton and Manchester.
Germany stands out for its progressive legislation, being the only country in the ranking to formally recognise nonbinary individuals. The Netherlands, meanwhile, is the sole nation where hate speech against queer people is explicitly criminalised. Spain leads the Global Equality Index for gender and sexual diversity, closely followed by Germany and the Netherlands.
TUI’s ranking also reflects broader societal trends. According to a recent Ipsos study, 12% of Germany’s population identifies as queer, up from 7% in 2021. The Netherlands leads with 17%, while Belgium, Spain and Sweden each report 11%.
However, not all countries fared well. Destinations in Sweden, France, the UK and Greece were noted for underperforming, largely due to weaker legal protections and safety concerns for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
