Shutterstock/Zhukova Valentyna; Bill Perry; Yaroslav Astakhov; Pajor Pawel
A study has ranked 203 countries based on their safety for LGBTQ+ travelers. Luckily, their list features some of our all-time favorite ‘bucket list’ destinations.
The study looked at five key factors: the criminalization of LGBTQ+ relations; the criminalization of anti-LGBTQ+ violence; Gallup World Poll data measuring public attitudes; LGBTQ+ worker protections; and marriage equality.
Countries were rewarded or penalized for certain criteria. For example, countries with laws criminalizing same-sex sexual relations faced significant scoring penalties, while countries that criminalized hate-based acts of violence received a 50-point bonus.
The study was developed by MouseNotifier, a Disney dining alert software system.
Keep scrolling to find the top 15 safest countries for LGBTQ+ travel.
15. Luxembourg
Luxembourg City’s old town overlooking the Alzette River at twilight
ecstk22/Shutterstock
Luxembourg had a total score of 290.
14. Ireland
Marchers celebrate Ireland Pride 2022 in Dublin, Ireland
Yaroslav Astakhov/Shutterstock
Ireland had a total score of 293.
13. France
The Eiffel Tower and River Seine at sunset in Paris, France
Catarina Belova/Shutterstock
France had a total score of 301.
12. Iceland
The rainbow-colored Skolavordustigur street leading to the Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church in Reykjavík, Iceland
Bill-Perry/Shutterstock
Iceland had a total score of 303.
11. Switzerland
The Gornergrat tourist train crosses a bridge and a waterfall in Zermatt, Switzerland, with the Matterhorn towering in the distance
SCStock/Shutterstock
Switzerland had a total score of 311.
10. Belgium
Tulips in front of the Grand-Bigard castle in Dilbeek, Belgium
Wallophoto/Shutterstock
Belgium had a total score of 315.
9. Denmark
The lights of Tivoli Gardens at night in Copenhagen, Denmark
Mike Squires/Shutterstock
Denmark had a total score of 316.
8. Portugal
Rua Nova do Carvalho or Pink Street in the Cais do Sodre neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal
Pajor-Pawel/Shutterstock
Portugal had a total score of 320.
7. Spain
Gaudi’s famed Park Guell at sunset in Barcelona, Spain
TTstudio/Shutterstock
Spain had a total score of 329.
6. United Kingdom
Big Ben and Westminster Palace at twilight in London, United Kingdom
Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock
The United Kingdom had a total score of 330.
5. Malta
Family celebrating Malta Pride Week 2022 in Valletta, Malta
Chmaraa/Shutterstock
Malta had a total score of 331.
4. Norway
Northern lights fill the night skies above the village of Reine in Norway’s Lofoten Islands
Yevhenii Chulovskyi/Shutterstock
Norway had a total score of 343.
3. Netherlands
The picturesque canals of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Kavalenkau/Shutterstock
The Netherlands had a total score of 346.
2. Canada
Moraine Lake in the stunning Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Zhukova Valentyna/Shutterstock
Canada had a total score of 350.
1. Sweden
A bustling street in the Gamla Stan, or old town, of Stockholm, Sweden
Arcady/Shutterstock
Sweden had a total score of 356.
