For those of us that have the ability to travel En Femme, it is good to know parts of the world that are LGBTQ friendly so we can be safe while enjoying ourselves and experience the many cultures and sites this world has to offer. After plenty of research, we have found these 10 destinations to be some of the absolute best for anyone looking to have a girls’ vacation. Pack those bags!
San Francisco
Let’s start with perhaps one of the most well-known cities for the LGBTQ community. San Francisco started making a name for itself as a destination for the LGBTQ community when the navy discharged gay sailors there during WWII. Be sure to spend time in The Castro District, one of the most iconic LGBTQ neighborhoods in the US. There is never a worry when in San Francisco and even as more and more places ease their laws and catch up, this city is a must for someone wanting to travel En Femme.
Berlin
In the 1920s, Berlin was a hotbed for the LGBTQ community. There have been many stories told of Hollywood star and known bi-sexual, Marlene Dietrich spending her time with Transgender dance-hall girls. Today, Berlin is well known for its liberal attitude when it comes to anything sex-related and was recently the first European country to legalize a third gender. A great time to visit Berlin is during their annual Christopher Street Day parade. While you’re there, be sure to check out a number of clubs that have Drag performances and where you can dress En Femme without a care in the world.
London/Brighton
These UK destinations are a great duo that you can do in one trip. Originally a seaside vacation destination, Brighton has seen an influx of the LGBTQ community over the years, as many Londoners have retired there. There are hundreds of bars, clubs, and restaurants to choose from so you will never have to worry about finding somewhere to go. In fact, Brighton is one of the most gay-friendly cities anywhere in the world. A great time to visit is August when the Brighton Pride Festival is happening.
London, being the city that it is, is so diverse that you can easily blend in and the nightlife is just fantastic. It is one of the most visited destinations in the world, so you will always feel comfortable and welcome anywhere you go.
Barcelona/Madrid
Another twofer. In fact, Spain is one of the most LGBTQ friendly countries in the world with Barcelona and Madrid ranking at the top of many lists for the community. If you’re looking to party, Madrid is where it’s at. Madrid’s Pride festival, held in June every year is one of the largest in the world with over 3 million people attending annually.
Barcelona takes things a step further with a 10-day festival called the Circuit Festival. Over 100,000 people come out for this huge event that has different themed parties going on each day. Besides all of this, Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in the world so what are you waiting for?
Tel Aviv
Now when many people think of Israel, one of the last things they would think is that Tel Aviv would be a destination for the LGBTQ community. Well, I am here to tell you that it is actually considered one of the best. Tel Aviv has an annual Pride Festival in June where attendees party all day and night through the streets of Tel Aviv. The city has lots to offer with hip neighborhoods offering everything from delicious food to a fun nightlife along with a big LGBTQ presence. Plus, you have a beautiful beach to enjoy!
Toronto
Canada is a great country for LGBTQ in general, as many of its major cities support the community. The city that stands above all the rest though is Toronto. The main reason? Toronto’s Pride Fest is a month-long affair making it one of the largest Pride celebrations anywhere in the world. With so much to do during that month (June), you can go for a few days or the entire month and just enjoy all the city has to offer.
New York City
New York City has a very rich history when it comes to the LGBTQ community. The Stonewall Inn (the first ever LGBT National Monument) and Christopher Street in the Village are famous worldwide as a must stop destination if you are visiting New York. New York has something for everyone, from Museums dedicated to LGBTQ culture, to restaurants and bars owned by those in the community. There is even an LGBTQ history walking tour which will take you to the previously mentioned Stonewall Inn and other spots throughout the city. Plus, if you have never been to New York City, it is somewhere that everyone should try and visit at least once in their lives. Plus, Glamour Boutique is right across the river so you can make a side trip for some great shopping!
Amsterdam
The Netherlands is often considered the most LGBTQ friendly country in the whole world. In fact, they were the first country to ever legalize same-sex marriage back in 2000. The country’s capital Amsterdam has so much to offer and you are sure to have an amazing time, from the culture to the canals and everything in between. Amsterdams Pride Festival (above) incorporates their amazing canals for one of the more unique and fun Pride Parades.
Buenos Aires
Argentina was the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage and have been considered one of the most advanced in the world when it comes to gay rights as their government is very supportive. While other parts of the country are a little more conservative, Buenos Aires is a beautiful and very LGBTQ friendly city. Consistently listed as one of the Top 10 destinations for LGBTQ tourism, Buenos Aires offers that amazing Latin flavor to your trip.
Paris
What we love about France is that they were the first country in the world to de-list Transgender identification as a mental illness. From the culture to the nightlife, to the site seeing, Paris is one of the best destinations in the world. In fact, France has a section of their tourism website (https://en.parisinfo.com/discovering-paris/themed-guides/gay-and-lesbian-paris) dedicated to LGBTQ travel with lists of all there is to see and do. If you have a lot of time to travel, Paris is also a great starting off before heading into other European cities.
Now that you have a great selection of cities all over the world to choose from, the only thing left to do is pick one, choose your outfits and accessories, pack your bags and most importantly have fun!
For more travel tips, check out this article on Flying En Femme. If you are looking for some travel destinations that are strictly in the US, we’ve got that covered too. Here are our Top 5 US Destinations for traveling En Femme.