Recently I made a ranking list, (“The Ultimate Country Ranking for Gay Travelers“) because I wanted to know, what countries are actually safe to travel to? I want to know what stances countries currently take towards gay citizens as well as travelers and whether I should be traveling there. And I hope this helps fellow gay travelers who want to know what countries they should consider or not consider when making their travel plans. So I’m going to be making posts like the one below based off my prior research and the ranking list. I’ll look at all types of angles from the best countries, like this list, to some of the worst.

There are 12 countries on this list instead of 10 because, on my “The Ultimate Country Ranking for Gay Travelers” list, 3 countries earned a 9.90, 2 earned a 9.85 and 7 earned a 9.80; all based out of 10. This is as of 2019 and countries may fall off this list or some may join. I used 10 questions to decide how gay-friendly a country is and that can be found on the page “The Ultimate Country Ranking for Gay Travelers.” These countries earned a spot on this “top 10 list” because they ranked high as being gay-friendly countries to travel. So let’s explore the rankings and see what I believe are the top countries for gay travelers.

Questions asked:

• Anti-discrimination (hate speech) laws?
• Death penalty or imprisonment?
• Gay nightlife/pride?
• Promote gay travel?
• Public opinion?

• Recognition of same-sex couples?
• Safe to display affection?
• Safe to travel the country?
• Same-sex marriage?
• Same-sex sexual activity?

12. Ireland

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

Ireland tied for 6th along with 7 other countries and although I’m placing it at 12 on my list, it’s only because it lacks large gay cities and events that some of the countries below have. But certainly, the fact that Ireland made this list solidifies it as a gay-friendly country that any gay traveler would feel comfortable traveling. There are anti-discrimination laws on the books, gay pride events every year, lots of gay bars (at least in the bigger cities), and a beautiful country to travel that is safe. On top of that public opinion in favor of same-sex relationships has jumped to nearly 80% of the country feeling gays should have the same rights. That’s a great number for any country to have.

Travel

Ireland is not that big and is actually a relatively easy country to travel in. It’s suggested to rent a car and explore the entire island, stopping in small cities and seeing major sights like the Cliffs of Moher. Dublin is certainly a great place to start and where most travelers will start anyways. For gay travelers, Dublin is certainly the most gay-friendly city with many gay bars to visit and events to attend. As a whole, you should feel comfortable traveling with a significant other to any part of Ireland.

11. New Zealand

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

Like Ireland, New Zealand is also tied for 6th on my score ranking and is one of the best countries for gay travelers. Gays should expect an easy time in New Zealand with anti-discrimination rights, safety to be gay in public, same-sex marriage, and the ease to travel the country as a whole. I placed it lower on the list because although it has all these things, it doesn’t have large gay events or the gay scene like some of these other countries. But as a whole, if you’re looking to travel here, as a gay traveler, it’s easy to be yourself.

Travel

New Zealand is far from most other countries so getting in is expensive. I would perhaps bundle it with Australia or other Pacific Islands. New Zealand is divided by two major islands, the north, and the south island, the south island being the more beautiful of the two. There is plenty to do on both but Auckland will definitely have more of the gay scene some gay travelers are looking for while the south island is more about the rugged nature. New Zealand is stunning and you will be amazed.

10. Belgium

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

Belgium is tied for 6th on this list with a score of 9.80 and that has to do with Belgium being relatively lacking with small gay events and venues. However, that doesn’t mean Belgium isn’t one of the best countries in the world to be gay and Belgium should get a nod for being one of the first countries to accept gay people. Like the other countries on this list, it’s super easy to travel Belgium as a gay traveler and the country as a whole is easy to travel. Just take a train and you could literally be across the country within a couple of hours.

Travel

Belgium is small and well accessed by trains. Travelers could even fly into cities like Amsterdam and Paris and get into Belgium within a couple of hours. Brussels is the main hub for most activity in Belgium and obviously where most of the gay scene is. Now like New Zealand and Ireland, Belgium doesn’t have the gay scene offered in many other countries but that doesn’t mean the country isn’t gay-friendly. There are also a ton of cute cities I suggest like Bruges and Ghent.

9. Denmark

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

Denmark gets top points in every category and has about 80% acceptance towards gay people. Like others on this list, it does lack the large gay scene seen in other countries but it does have gay pride and gay bars in the larger cities like Copenhagen. Denmark was actually the first country to recognize same-sex civil unions which then later came to recognize same-sex marriage in 2012. Denmark leads the pack in being a generally gay-friendly and it’s gay citizens enjoy a gay-friendly attitude.

Travel

Denmark is easy to travel to with many nonstop flights from across the globe to Copenhagen as well as easy access from Sweden, Germany, and Norway. For gay travelers, there is plenty of gay events to take part in but it won’t be on the same scale as some of these other countries. Denmark as a whole is relatively flat and is known for its relationship to the sea with many islands. I would definitely explore the city of Copenhagen and then branch out to other relatively less-traveled cities and islands across Denmark.

8. Germany

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

Germany has only recently ascended to the top of the list as one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world. Now Germany has always had pretty good laws towards gay people but until recently it did not have gay marriage on the books. But after gay marriage has been deemed legal it has all the rights of other liberal countries and for gay travelers, it is especially a great country to visit. The fact that as a gay person you are free to express yourself in the larger cities, even go nude if that’s your forte; it is certainly one of the great gay countries of the world.

Travel

Germany is one of the best countries to travel to with a lot of direct flights across Europe and the rest of the world. Cities like Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hamburg, etc all have some sort of gay venues / gay scene. Unlike some other countries on this list, Germany does have a large gay scene and it’s fairly open to even more extreme forms of being gay, especially in cities like Berlin. This country may be one of the best for gay people to live and certainly is one of the best for gay travel.

7. France

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

France has always been pretty gay-friendly and was one of the few countries, even as far back as the 1700s, to at least open up towards acceptance. But what is so surprising is that now it has been passed by some of the top countries who have a higher public opinion towards gay people. Religion may play a factor in that but even today France still scores pretty high with around 80%. With great gay-friendly laws, really great gay venues, especially in cities like Paris, it scores high in my list and is certainly a country nobody should pass up.

Travel

France is one of the most well-traveled countries in the world! And for a European country, it’s relatively big with many great gay-friendly cities like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice. The great thing about France is that there are many directs flights from the rest of Europe and the world. There is a lot to see and do in France with things like major international cities, stunning Alps, and amazing views in the Mediterranean. My suggestion, if you’re new to France, is to start in Paris and then work your way out to some of the other major cities, landscapes. You will love the food, wine, and cities.

6. Canada

(tied for 6th)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.80

Reasoning

Canada has become one of the leading countries to be a gay person in, with everything a gay person would need in the bigger cities. Now Canada is a large country and not everybody approves of gay people but compared to the USA, Canada has a higher percentage of acceptance at around 80%. On top of that, it’s one of the safer countries to travel in and offers a chance for gay travelers to not fear to be openly gay. As a half Canadian, I’m happy that Canada is one of the leading countries and happy to put it at number 6 on my list.

Travel

Canada is a relatively easy country to travel although perhaps the one downside is that it can be expensive, especially air travel. The country is large and if you wanted to drive it, you would at least need a couple of weeks to be able to see all the major parts of the country. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and even Calgary are great cities to be gay in and offer gay bars and gay events. Beyond the cities, Canada is a vast country with a lot of scenery to offer and that is certainly something to consider when traveling to Canada.

5. Norway

(tied for #2)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.85

Reasoning

Norway enjoys all the same rights as other countries on this list but comes just behind the top countries only because of public opinion. This may have changed because opinions do change fast, but the last reliable data shows that 85% of Norwegians approve of same-sex couples. Don’t get me wrong, this is very high and one of the best in the world. Norwegians have been ahead of countries in accepting same-sex relationships and their laws and attitudes reflect that.

Travel

Norway is not a well-established travel destination yet. Sure it has the fjords but they are challenging to get to and the country is expensive to travel. So it’s more of a high dollar destination but that doesn’t mean there aren’t gay activities in its bigger cities. Oslo hosts gay pride and has some gay bars but it won’t be the same scene as other cities across Europe. Norway’s is really for a traveler who loves the outdoors, winter, and the chance to see things like the northern lights. Yes, it’s expensive but well worth the effort.

4. Spain

(tied for #2)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.85

Reasoning

Spain ties with Norway with very good rights in law, as well as a great public opinion towards homosexuality. Like Norway, your sexuality won’t be a concern while traveling the country. Spain itself is a world destination and a very easy country to travel in with unique cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville. The let live attitude Spain has, also makes for a great time for gays with many gay pride parades, gay bars, and other gay activities. And although the economy is behind much of Europe, socially the country is very strong and is a great destination for gay travelers who want to have fun in a safe setting.

Travel

Spain is one of the most popular destinations in the world so it’s no surprise that there is also plenty to do or see. You could easily spend weeks in Barcelona eating Spanish food, going to beautiful museums in Madrid, and partying your way across Spain. The thing with Spain is that it really is a perfect place for all types of gay travelers, especially gays who like to party. I think of Spain as tourist heaven and there is really no way to do Spain wrong. The whole country offers amazing destinations to discover and the best part of all, gay people are welcome.

3. Sweden

(tied for #1)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.90

Reasoning

Sweden has a high rating because of it’s known history of anti-discrimination laws, same-sex rights, public opinion and the fact that Sweden is very safe to travel to. Some have argued that Sweden is the best country to live in as a gay person and it would be hard to dispute that given the wide acceptance in culture. Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to have such liberal stances towards gay people; way before most of the world even acknowledge gay people existed. Sweden is just a great country to travel in general and one of the few countries in the world where gays can fully be themselves.

Travel

Sweden maybe overlooked from other European countries but it would be to your detriment if you left Sweden off your travel list. Stockholm is certainly a place to start and is connected by most of Europe and several cities from overseas. Stockholm hosts gay events all the time, including gay pride, and there are many gay bars, saunas, and gay spots to meet up with other gay people. Beyond that Sweden is easy to travel in and it would be very rare that your sexuality would get you in trouble anywhere in the country. Sweden is a long, vertical, country and there is much to do including many winter activities up near the Arctic circle.

2. Netherlands

(tied for #1)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.90

Reasoning

The Netherlands is perhaps the most gay-friendly country in the world and you could certainly argue even above Sweden. In fact, I nearly put the public opinion at 95% but stuck with 90% due to recent polls. However that doesn’t discount the fact that the Netherlands is a great place to be gay due to favorable gay laws, a great gay scene, and a safe country to travel in. If you looking for a country that is the most accepting of gay travelers and wanted to kiss your partner in public, it doesn’t get much better than the Netherlands.

Travel

The Netherlands is a very accessible country and easy to travel. Amsterdam is the heart of the country and offers gay travelers plenty of ways to be gay. Beyond that Amsterdam has plenty to see including the Royal Palace, the canals, plenty of beautiful museums, and a very active gay scene. The Netherlands as a whole is a small country so hopping over to Rotterdam, the Hague or Groningen is simple. I spent a couple of days in the Netherlands and really enjoyed Amsterdam and the Dutch attitude.

1. Iceland

(tied for #1)

ShawnVoyage Total out of 10:

9.90

Reasoning

Iceland is placed number 1 along with the Netherlands and Sweden. It scores all 1’s in all the major categories including anti-discrimination, and the legality of same-sex activity. I have placed Iceland, for now, as the top country for gay travelers because of how accepting this country really is. You can be open here and free to express yourself. When I traveled to Iceland, it was refreshing to be in a country that felt so freeing and open where literally nobody cared that I was gay. That feeling of judgment was nowhere to be found and on top of that many Icelanders simply felt, of course, why wouldn’t we be accepting? And although the gay scene isn’t as large as most on this list it still has one. For such a small country with a population the size of Wyoming, that is an achievement. On top of that Iceland, has hosted a gay pride since the early 2000s, one of the first to do that.

Travel

Iceland is an expensive yet easy country to visit. As an American, the flight to Iceland is not that far and although WOW Airlines has left most of North America, there are many airlines traveling to the capital Reykjavík. Iceland is shockingly beautiful and the best of Iceland is just beyond the capital. Some base themselves from Reykjavík and then travel to many of the waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes like we did and that is a perfectly good idea. There is also the opportunity to travel the entire country by taking tours or doing the tour yourself. I recommend taking a tour as Iceland is not known for the best road maintenance.

Thoughts

These countries currently lead the pack in terms of gay-friendliness with their liberal policies and stances towards gay people. It’s easy to be pessimistic because there are plenty of countries that are not welcoming to gay people but I think the world is becoming more progressive towards gay people as a whole. Europe is leading the way but countries like the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Brazil, and Costa Rica are already pretty gay-friendly and may make the top echelon in the future. This ranking list is not to attack a certain country, it’s to point out the facts and the current world stance towards gay people.