7 Honeymoon Destinations Same-Sex Couples Love

Now that wedding planning is well underway, there’s another important task: figuring out the honeymoon. If you’re looking for LGBT honeymoon destinations in gorgeous locales that are welcoming to same-sex and trans couples, you’ve got tons of options. Thanks to gay rights activists around the globe, your best honeymoon options span several continents and cultures. The destinations below are loved by same-sex couples because they include an established gay cultural district and/or legal rights for gay couples.

Don’t plan your jaunt without exploring these seven LGBT honeymoon destinations.

Amsterdam

As the capital city of The Netherlands, which became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, it’s no wonder that this cultural hub is one of the top lgbt honeymoon destinations. The city’s queer culture is felt throughout Amsterdam’s many gay clubs and “pink businesses,” which show their support for LGBTQ tourists with pink ribbons or balloons outside of their storefronts.

Amsterdam is also home to some of the world’s most famous tourist attractions, including the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum, which is full of art by Dutch masters. As one of Europe’s great canal cities, a stroll through just about any neighborhood becomes an Insta-worthy photo opp. If you’re visiting in the spring, you’ll also be enjoying Holland’s world-famous tulips, which are on full display throughout the capital.

Mexico City

This urbane capital is often compared to New York or San Francisco in decades past as a place where LGBT artists flock because of its affordable digs and gay-friendly culture. Mexico City has also supported same-sex marriage since 2009, making it a popular LGBT honeymoon destination for the past decade.

Newlywed couples in search of an urban vacation full of fine dining and fine art will love the many museums and foodie restaurants of Mexico City. ArtSpace Mexico, a contemporary art museum dedicated to LGBTQ artists, is a must-see. The city’s hotspots rotate, so picking up a copy of local gay mags, Ser Gay and Homópolis, will help you manage your trip.

Paris

Of course the city of love is also one of the top LGBT honeymoon destinations. Home to an established gay scene that goes back at least a hundred years (Oscar Wilde, amiright?), Paris is an enchanting city where members of the LGBTQ community have long felt at home and welcomed.

Le Marais is the recognized gayborhood of Paris, and also home to the city’s contemporary art museum, Pompidou Centre, the picturesque Place de Vosges and lots of ethnic restaurants, trendy shops and bookstores.

Cape Town

One of Africa’s most developed cities is also a favorite LGBT honeymoon destination. Thanks to post-apartheid constitutional changes, the nation of South Africa is hugely supportive of human rights, including those of LGBTQ people. This legal support combined with Cape Town’s mild weather, stunning beaches and beautiful natural attractions make this oceanside city an exciting honeymoon option for same-sex couples.

Visit the De Waterkant neighborhood for a spot of gay bars, clubs and hotels. Table Mountain, the 3,550-foot mountain that shrouds the city, Clifton Beach and the V&A Waterfront, a thriving port with shops and restaurants, are popular attractions.

San Francisco Bay Area

Couples looking for LGBT honeymoon destinations in the States shouldn’t count out the San Francisco Bay Area. The sprawling region is not only home to the city’s famous winding roads, but includes the wine countries of Napa and Sonoma and the ultra-trendy Oakland suburb.

While the entire area is pretty gay-friendly, sightseers looking for gay landmarks would be remiss if they didn’t stroll San Francisco’s Castro District, one of the first gay neighborhoods in the U.S. The famous Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are other popular tourist destinations.

Curaçao

Couples looking for LGBT honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean will love the Dutch-influenced Curaçao. While not as liberal as The Netherlands, the influence of the mainland means this island recognizes same-sex marriages and doesn’t have any laws against same-sex couples. Curaçao Gay Pride Week and South Caribbean Pride Week are celebrated on this island as well, further adding to the LGBT appeal.

While beach bumming is always on the itinerary at one of the many beachfront hotels or resorts, couples looking to venture into the cities will love the capital, Willemstad. Pastel-colored colonial-style architecture along with the floating Queen Emma Bridge and restaurants serving local Afro-Dutch cuisine are all big draws in the city.

Bangkok

As Thailand’s cosmopolitan capital, Bangkok has a long-established gay culture that makes it a top Asian destination for LGBT couples. Gay marriage isn’t legal in Thailand, but LGBT people enjoy widespread cultural acceptance. Bars and clubs are centered around the fast-paced Silom Road. Nearby restaurant Eat Me, a soi, or “sidestreet restaurant” owned by a gay restaurateur, has become a must-visit destination for anyone looking for an authentic Thai experience. The art epicenter of Bangkok, Thonglor, while not an explicitly gay neighborhood, is trendy, worldly and very welcoming to LGBTQ folks.

Other must-see destinations while you’re visiting Bangkok are the Grand Palace and its sacred Wat Phra Kaew temple and the largest market in Thailand, Chatuchak Weekend Market.