From Medellin to Taipei: 12 underrated LGBTQIA+-friendly destinations to visit in 2025
Andrew Collins
May 19, 2025
Countless places worldwide are famous LGBTQIA+ hot spots, where vacationers can enjoy comfort, support and camaraderie. Also, outside of some extremely conservative regions, nearly all of the world's major cities have at least one (and often several) neighborhoods with visible, thriving gay scenes, including San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, London, Paris and Rome.
Although these places are wonderful, several other unexpected destinations are becoming increasingly popular with LGBTQIA+ vacationers.
These largely off-the-beaten-path cities and resort towns offer new and surprising opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Salt Lake City
Sunny and scenic Salt Lake City is an island of inclusivity and progressive values in a region that tends to be otherwise conservative. This midsize metropolis nestled against the foothills of the magnificent Wasatch Mountains has a thriving LGBTQIA+ community and hosts a vibrant Pride celebration each year in late June.
The city has a long tradition of liberal politics: Jackie Biskupski, the mayor from 2016 through 2020, is openly lesbian. Salt Lake City has many inviting queer-owned businesses, from hopping nightspots like Milk+ and Club Try-Angles to colorful cafes and shops.
A hub of Delta Air Lines, the city is easy to reach. Plus, it's a great base for outdoor adventures, and there are several iconic ski resorts (such as Brighton, Solitude, Alta, Snowbird, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain) all within an hour's drive of downtown. Other highlights include the Utah Gay Ski Week in February and a bounty of chic boutiques and see-and-be-seen restaurants.
Where to stay
The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake (rates start at $335 or 61,000 IHG One Rewards points per night) has whimsically decorated guest rooms and common spaces and an outstanding restaurant (Bambara). It offers a terrific downtown location, just a short walk from the Gateway shopping center and leafy Pioneer Park, site of the famously bustling Downtown Farmers Market.