Issue #24: Forget Venice. Try These 7 Romantic LGBTQ Escapes

Plan thrilling, queer, safe escapes without the faff. Need help? Email me by hitting reply, or message me on LinkedIn. No bots, just me.

Planning something romantic and thinking of heading to Europe?

Here’s the thing: you don’t need another trip that screams honeymoon clichés — gondolas, Santorini sunsets, or Paris selfies with 300 couples in the background.

Real romance happens in places where you can hold hands without a second thought, grab a drink in a queer bar where the locals actually chat to you, and wake up somewhere that feels like it’s just yours.

So, I’m doing this special feature, it has all the hallmarks of an Outbound Adventure – city/town + nature combo but a lean on the romantic side for all you lovers.

Here are 7 spots across Europe that deliver private, playful, and proudly welcoming escapes. I literally want you to steal this list and use it to plan a ‘likkle sumting’ for you and yours soon. You can thank me later, no worries.

Think of this list as the foreplay. The rest is up to you.

·       Do this: Get lost in the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira late afternoon, when the day-trippers have gone. Secret staircases, mossy tunnels, and fountains that feel like they’re keeping your secret.

·       Make it sexy: Stay at Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, an 18th-century palace hotel with balconies made for vinho verde at sunset.

·       Community vibe: Base in Lisbon for nightlife. Start with cabaret at Bar Finalmente (the city’s oldest gay bar) or dance with locals at Trumps Club.

·       Best time to go: May–June or September–October for warm weather without Lisbon’s summer crush.

·       Do this: Rent a rowboat and drift across the lake as church bells echo at dusk.

·       Make it sexy: Book SeeHotel Grüner Baum, where balconies hang directly over the lake. Breakfast in bed is basically mandatory.

·       Community vibe: Salzburg is your nearest LGBTQ+ hub (1 hr away). Check out Diva La Vie for drag and disco or Dark Eagle if you’re after something, well… darker.

·       Best time to go: April–June or September. Summer is rammed with tour buses.

·       Do this: Skip the group aurora buses. Book a private husky sled ride through Lyngen’s snowy valleys with Lyngen Adventure.

·       Make it sexy: Stay in a glass-roofed igloo. Northern Lights above, fur blankets and whisky hot chocolate inside.

·       Community vibe: Tromsø Pride happens every November, the world’s northernmost Pride. Small, but joyful, and no one blinks if you’re holding hands in a bar.

·       Best time to go: November–March for aurora; September for autumn colours.

·       Do this: If there are a few couples going, charter a vintage Riva boat with your own Captain. Champagne (and extra budget) required.

·       Make it sexy: Several hotels in Lake Como are known for being LGBTQ+-friendly and welcoming. Some popular options include Hilton Lake Como, Hotel Borgovico, and various apartments and guesthouses listed on misterb&b.com

·       Community vibe: Milan is your LGBTQ+ anchor (1 hr by train). Cocktails at Mono Bar, then dance at Plastic Club or Q21. Daytime Como, night time Milan = chef’s kiss.

·       Best time to go: April–June or September.

·    Do this: Cycle the Voie Verte du Lac d’Annecy which is a dedicated path for cyclists, rollerbladers, and pedestrians, stretching approximately 33 kilometers along the lake's western shore.

·  Make it sexy: Les Trésoms Lake & Spa Resort does lakefront rooms with French windows that open right over the water. Damn!

·  Community vibe: Lyon (2 hrs away) has France’s second-biggest queer scene. Sip at Le Marais Café or dance at La Chapelle. Time it with Écrans Mixtes (queer film fest) in March.

·  Best time to go: June–September for swimming, May or October for fewer crowds.

·       Do this: Kayak across Lake Bohinj’s glassy water, then find your own quiet patch of shoreline.

·       Make it sexy: Stay at Vander Urbani Resort in Ljubljana — rooftop pool, sleek design, and right in the Old Town.

·       Community vibe: Ljubljana Pride (June) is one of Eastern Europe’s most joyful. Nightlife hubs like Klub Tiffany and Pritličje make the city feel like family.

·       Best time to go: June–September for lakes; December for Ljubljana’s Christmas lights.

·       Do this: Watch flamenco in a tiny Triana tavern — sweaty, raw, and surprisingly erotic.

·       Make it sexy: Stay at Corral del Rey, a boutique riad-style hotel with rooftop plunge pools for cooling off after hot nights.

·       Community vibe: Seville’s queer scene is vibrant: grab a gin and tonic at El Bosque Animado, then dance till dawn at Itaca. Add Seville Pride (June) if you want romance plus rainbow chaos.

·       Best time to go: March–May or October–November. Avoid July/August unless you enjoy slow-roasting in 40 degree heat.

Romantic trips for queer couples aren’t about ticking off the same photo spots as everyone else.

They’re about finding places where you can laugh, flirt, skinny dip, sneak into a bar, and feel like the world is giving you space.

So if you’ve got an anniversary, a milestone, or just a craving for “us time” — skip the clichés. Do a trip that feels like you two, not like everyone else.

That’s a wrap on this week’s issue. If you’ve ever tried to DIY a trip and ended up overwhelmed by tabs, or second-guessing what’s actually safe, that’s exactly what I help with.

Like this issue? Forward it to a travel-loving friend. Or better yet, let me help plan your next one.

I’m Steve, your LGBTQ+ adventure curator. If you’re tired of rainbow-washed travel tips, rigid group tours, or just wondering where to go, you’re in the right place.

Connect with me on Linkedin