Cape Town has been recognised as one of the top 30 most LGBTQ+ friendly travel destinations in the world — and the only African city to make the list.
The UK-based travel platform EnjoyTravel.com published its latest rankings of the most queer-friendly cities just in time for international Pride Month, celebrated globally every June.
The site evaluated a range of factors to compile the list, including legal protections for LGBTQ+ people, the vibrancy of the nightlife and dating scenes, the openness of residents, and low levels of hate crimes.
Additional criteria included the size of the city’s Pride celebration, the existence of a gay village, and whether the country is a member of the United Nations LGBTI Core Group.
Lisbon Takes the Top Spot
Topping the list as the most LGBTQ+ friendly destination was Lisbon, Portugal. The rest of the top five featured:
- Dublin, Ireland
- Porto, Portugal
- London, United Kingdom
- Madrid, Spain
The rest of the top 10 included Berlin (Germany), Amsterdam (Netherlands), San Francisco (USA), Toronto (Canada), and Sydney (Australia).
Cape Town at Number 16
Cape Town – which is set to host WorldPride in 2028 – secured the 16th spot, placing ahead of other globally renowned cities such as Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montreal (Canada), Barcelona (Spain) and Vienna (Austria).
The site acknowledged South Africa as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights in Africa, noting that it was the first country on the continent to legalise same-sex marriage.
“The progressive and inclusive stance makes the city both welcoming and fun for queer locals and visitors, with a schedule of gay-friendly events throughout the year,” the site said.
Celebrating Queer Cape Town
The ranking also highlighted Cape Town’s annual Pride celebrations, held in February/March, and the De Waterkant neighbourhood, described as the city’s LGBTQ+ hub.
De Waterkant is home to gay-owned bars, gyms, shops, cafés, and the iconic rainbow crossing — a bold visual symbol of South Africa’s anti-discrimination laws.
Cape Town was the only African city to be featured in the top 30, further cementing its status as a queer-friendly beacon for travellers on the continent.
