Happy Pride! We’re celebrating with this list of LGBTQ+ positive spots worth visiting for their welcoming atmospheres, jubilant celebrations and fabulous neighbourhoods.

Dubbed “the gay capital of the world,” San Francisco has a vibrant LGBTQ+ culture. The lively district of the Castro is the heart of the LGBTQ+ community, home to the iconic Rainbow Crosswalk, famous gay bars such as the Twin Peaks Tavern and bronze plaques on the sidewalks commemorating important figures in the battle for equality. Other areas of the city, such as SOMA, the Mission District and Haight-Ashbury, have thriving scenes too. Read our guide to exploring San Francisco's LGBTQ+ scene here.

With its fuchsia bus shelters and trash bins, Davie Village is Vancouver's LGBTQ+ ‘hood. It’s a lively 24-hour strip with an excellent selection of interesting shops, bars, clubs and restaurants for all budgets and tastes. The street is also home to Vancouver Pride Festival, which kicks off in late July. If you want to hit the beach, Sunset Beach and Wreck Beach, situated a few blocks southwest of Davie Village, are favourites of the LGBTQ+ communities.

With an open and inclusive atmosphere, legendary nightlife and one of Europe’s biggest Pride events, Madrid Orgullo, the Spanish capital flourishes as a top destination for LGBTQ+ travellers. Rainbow flags hang from shop windows and balconies in Chueca, where you'll find a bar or club to suit every taste while the edgy neighbourhood of Lavapiés is home to some legendary spots such as lesbian hangout Club 33.

Europe’s gay capital Berlin has an active LGBTQ+ scene with a packed calendar of events. June sees the streets around Nollendorfplatz come alive with the Lesbian and Gay City Festival and July draws crowds who dance all the way to Brandenburger Tor for the Christopher Street Day Parade. The best of Berlin’s many gay districts is scintillating Schöneberg, where sexual freedom and superb cocktails await. This is also where you’ll find the world’s first gay museum.

Copenhagen is home to Centralhjørnet, one of the world’s oldest gay bars, where cheap beer is served in a laidback and cosy atmosphere. The drag shows at G*A*Y Copenhagen are legendary, while sister bar Jailhouse CPH is notorious for its unpredictable nights (in the best sense). Rainbow flags fly from flagpoles and buildings across the entire city during Pride in August while October sets the stage for Mix Copenagen, one of the oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world.

Ultra-cool Tel Aviv is a top destination for LGBTQ+ travellers looking for a great night out. The city is famous for its nightlife, with some bars pouring last orders as late as 5 or 6am. The parties only get better during Tel Aviv Pride, the largest gay pride event in Asia. A week-long series of festivities attracts a quarter of a million revellers from around the world to celebrate across the city streets.

Sydney has earned its inclusive reputation by playing host to the legendary Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations on the planet. Every year in February and March, this huge event draws thousands to the city with its comedy, cabaret, drag and dance. But the party doesn’t stop there. Darlinghurst is the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene, home to huge gay club ARQ, lively gay bar Stonewall and the Oxford Hotel, which offers great city views from its top floor.

A guide to exploring San Francsico's LGBTQ+ scene

Anything goes when it comes to a night out in San Francisco...

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