Why Toronto Is A Top Destination For LGBT Travel

Canada is recognized as being the most progressive nation in the Americas for LGBT locals and travelers alike. In turn, Toronto is home to Canada’s largest LGBT population, and throughout the year, there are numerous events that celebrate the creativity of the city’s gay community. Here’s why Toronto is one of the world’s top destinations for LGBT travel.

In a recent report, Toronto was ranked as the third best LGBT city in the world—just after Madrid and Amsterdam. The criteria on which the report based the rankings were the vibrancy of the local gay dating scene and alternative nightlife, the open-mindedness of the citizens, and the level of hate crime. It also took into consideration the national laws affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, including the right to get married or adopt children.

Toronto is home to an active and energetic gay village characterized by various gay-owned bars, clubs, and businesses that sit around Church and Wellesley. The district has deep historical roots in the city, reaching back to the 1970s when the area emerged as the hub of the city’s gay subculture. Beyond the Village, Toronto’s LGBT community stands at almost 350,000, with another hub being “Queer West,” situated along Queen West.

As an international center of finance, business, and arts, the LGBT community in Toronto invests itself deeply in the city’s urban cultural mosaic. A popular event of interest that takes place in Toronto is the Inside Out LGBT Film Festival, which occurs over two weeks in May and showcases more than 200 queer-themed films along with artist talks, premieres, and industry panel discussions. Additionally, during Pride Month, the Writers’ Trust of Canada presents its annual Dayne Ogilvie Prize, which is Canada’s only established literary award for LGBT writers.

In the Village, you won’t want to miss going to Woody’s, which you may recognize from Showtime’s award-winning show Queer as Folk. Just as in the show, the bar is a local institution that is known for its laid-back atmosphere, and it has long been one of the most popular hangouts in the Village. There’s also Crews & Tangos, a converted Victorian house that hosts some of the best drag shows in the Village—there’s drag entertainment seven days a week, along with karaoke nights, and fun that transpires across two dance floors and a patio out back. Another hot spot is The Beaver, a well-established queer-friendly venue in Toronto’s Queer West Village. A restaurant during the day, the place transforms into a party zone every night of the week, with DJs playing everything from pop to hip-hop, dancehall to country.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.