courtesy Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet’s The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide by queer neurodivergent travel writer Alicia Valenski is a first queercentric offering from the travel guide publisher.
The 240-page coffee table book covers 50 LGBTQ-friendly destinations worldwide with relevant interviews and tips for where to eat and stay, suggestions for activities and itineraries, and more for queer travelers. The guide also provides important safety information for each destination.
“We recognised the queer community was looking for a guide that understands them, especially given the challenges they continue to face when travelling. For example, Booking.com recently revealed 59 percent of LGBTQ+ travellers have experienced discrimination when on holiday,” Chris Zeiher, senior director of trade sales and marketing at Lonely Planet, says online. “Creating a guide that is community-led, inclusive, and a little bit surprising in terms of destinations featured felt absolutely essential.”
Lonely Planet’s The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide retails for $50. You can learn more about the guide, including how to purchase, at www.lonelyplanet.com.
You can learn more about queer neurodivergent author Alicia Valenski in the video below.
Keep scrolling to see our curated list of our editors’ 15 favorite destinations from the new guide.
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Austin, Texas
Tracking the End of the Rainbow statue in Austin, Texas, USA
Steve Heap/Shutterstock
Austin is the LGBTQ+ safe space for queer folks in the red state of Texas. Check Will and James in Austin on their YouTube series Get Back Out There as they explore the capital of the Lone Star State.
You can read more about Austin at Lonely Planet.
Bangkok
Floating lamps in the Yi Peng Lantern Festival at Wat Arun, Bangkok, Thailand
Southtownboy Studio/Shutterstock
It is no surprise to see Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, featured in the Lonely Planet LGBTQ+ Travel Guide. Same-sex sexual relations have been decriminalized since 2003, and Vajiralongkorn, the king of Thailand, signed a law recognizing marriage equality in 2024. The country also features amazing beaches, friendly people, and a lively nightlife scene.
“From tasty meals at luxurious hotels to impressive performances by amazing drag queens, Thailand is the best getaway for a top-of-the-line vacation,” Out Traveler’s Ricky Cornish writes about the country following his recent visit.
You can read more about Bangkok at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: Ricky Cornish says to pack your Speedos because Thailand is the ultimate LGBTQ+ getaway
Edinburgh
A rainbow of balloons on the Royal Mile celebrating 2019 Pride in Edinburgh, Scotland
Ludovic Farine/Shutterstock
When the Romans first set foot in what is now Edinburgh at the end of the first century C.E., they found descendants of a people who had settled the area since at least 8,500 B.C.E.
Stepping back into the modern era, Scotland has emerged as a front-runner in European progressivism. In 1981, it legalized same-sex sexual relations and facilitated a vibrant LGBTQ+ community. The city’s progressive values extend to its art scene, with events like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest (and perhaps wackiest) performance arts festival.
You can read more about Edinburgh at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: Elska presents the queer men of Scotland
Lisbon
The famed Pink Street (Rua Nova do Carvalho) in the Cals do Sodre neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal
Pajor Pawal/Shutterstock
Lisbon offers a bustling urban environment while retaining its historical charm. The city’s history is reflected in its architecture, with landmarks and well-preserved buildings dotting the landscape.
The city’s reputation as a gay romantic destination is evidenced by its queer-welcoming restaurants and hotels, and iconic gay locations like the Rua Nova do Carvalho, or Pink Street, with colorful umbrellas providing shade.
Set in a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters, Lisbon is a year-round LGBTQ+ destination.
You can read more about Lisbon at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: Escape to Lisbon, Portugal, with gay travel influencers Michael & Matt
London
Big Ben and Westminster Bridge at sunset in London
S. Borisov/Shutterstock
Medieval, modern, and multicultural all at once, London is a top destination for LGBTQ+ travelers — if you can handle the rainy weather.
Once you’ve finished with London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben, Soho, Shoreditch, Dalston, Camden, and Vauxhall await with their numerous LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, and restaurants.
You can read more about London at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: London calling – Your ultimate gay guide to London
Melbourne, Australia
Colorful beach houses at Brighton Beach in Melbourne, Australia
f11 photo/Shutterstock
Melbourne, Australia, might not have a designated gayborhood like the Castro or Boystown, but Victoria’s capital city has plenty of bars and nightclubs catering to the LGBTQ+ community. And the transgender Wachowski sisters chose Melbourne as a stunning filming location for their 1999 classic The Matrix, which makes this city Down Under übercool as well.
You can read more about Melbourne at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: Why Sydney WorldPride was more than just a party down under
Portland, Oregon
A ‘Keep Portland Weird’ sign at the Music Millenium record store in Portland, Oregon
Joshua Rainey Photography/Shutterstock
“Keep Portland Weird” is a way of life for some in this beautiful Pacific Northwest city, which might explain why it’s so popular among LGBTQ+ travelers. The city hosts numerous LGBTQ+ events like the Portland Pride Festival and Queer Film Festival and is surrounded by sa tunning natural landscapes. The food scene is diverse and vibrant, with vegan and vegetarian options popular among many in the community.
You can read more about Portland at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: Your gay guide to the Oregon wine country just outside of Portland
Stockholm
A colorful pedestrian alley in the Old Town of Stockholm, Sweden
Arcady/Shutterstock
Sweden’s relaxing national mindset of lagom – not too much, not too little, but just right – might explain why its capital city, Stockholm, is a popular gaycation destination. The historic Old Town of Stockholm, known as Gamla Stan, is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe, same-sex sexual relations have been legal since 1944, and the surrounding lakes, mountains, and fjords are stunning.
You can read more about Stockholm at Lonely Planet.
RELATED: See Stockholm through the eyes of this Swedish icon
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