Five of Europe'smost welcomingdestinations

There's something about Pride that gets to the heart of what it means to belong.

That feeling of walking into a space and immediately exhaling. Of being surrounded by people who get it—without explanation, without apology, without judgement. Of not having to perform a version of yourself you don't quite recognise, or fill the silence with small talk just to seem fine. It's a feeling that should be ordinary. And yet, for so many people, it isn't. It started in the summer of 1969, in a bar in Greenwich Village, New York. A small group of people from the local gay community, tired of being told they didn't belong, took a stand against authority. What followed was messy, imperfect and extraordinarily brave—and from it, something remarkable was born.

Fast-forward 57 years and Pride has evolved into something that stretches far beyond that original act of defiance. It's a movement, a celebration, a riot of colour and noise and joy. But strip it all back and what Pride has always really been about is that same deceptively simple idea: that every person deserves a space where they can be exactly who they are, surrounded by people who get it.

Five of Europe's most welcoming destinations

Every year, ILGA-Europe publishes its Rainbow Map—a ranking of 49 European countries assessed across 76 criteria, from hate crime legislation to family rights, gender recognition and civil society freedoms. It's the most comprehensive measure of LGBTQ+ equality on the continent, and it paints a clear picture of where in Europe that sense of belonging isn't just felt, but enshrined. Here are five destinations that consistently lead the way.

Malta

Malta ranked first on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map for ten consecutive years—a run that stands as one of the most remarkable records in European equality policy, scoring 88% across seven categories covering everything from anti-discrimination law to legal gender recognition. Valletta, the world's smallest capital, wears that legacy lightly—a sun-bleached, honey-stoned city where history and openness sit comfortably side by side.

Copenhagen

Denmark was the first country in the world to legally recognise same-sex partnerships, back in 1989—more than three decades before most Western nations caught up. That pioneering spirit has never left. Copenhagen is home to the oldest openly gay bar in Europe and has named the space beside City Hall Tower "Rainbow Square" in honour of the ongoing fight for equal rights. Copenhagen Pride takes place every August, drawing hundreds of thousands of people for a week of parades, film screenings, debates and performances—joyful and political in equal measure. 

Amsterdam

The Netherlands legalised same-sex marriage in 2001—the first country in the world to do so—and Amsterdam has been a beacon of LGBTQ+ culture for far longer than that. The city is consistently ranked among the most inclusive in the world, with a visible, thriving community and spaces that have welcomed LGBTQ+ travellers for decades. Every summer, Canal Pride transforms the waterways into something extraordinary: a floating parade of decorated boats winding through the city's historic centre, watched by hundreds of thousands of people lining the banks.

Lisbon

Portugal legalised same-sex marriage in 2010 and has built quietly but consistently on that foundation ever since. Lisbon continues to be one of the most welcoming cities in Europe for LGBTQ+ travellers—warm in climate and warmer still in atmosphere. The Príncipe Real neighbourhood is its cultural and social heart: a maze of independent bookshops, pavement cafés and inclusive bars spilling up the hillside above the Tagus. Lisbon Pride, held each June, draws over 100,000 people through streets lined with bougainvillea and rainbow flags.

Mykonos

Greece legalised same-sex civil partnerships in 2015 and extended full marriage equality in 2024. For decades, Mykonos has been one of Europe's most visited destinations for LGBTQ+ travellers—a place that has shaped its identity around welcome as much as beauty. Super Paradise Beach, the whitewashed lanes of Chora, the famous windmills at sunset—Mykonos offers the kind of beauty that doesn't need to try hard, in a place that has always known how to make people feel at home.

You belong here, too

At Solos, we've spent over 45 years building something that might sound simple but is rarer than you'd think: holidays where nobody travels alone, and nobody has to explain themselves to fit in. Our groups bring together people from every background, every story, every walk of life—united by curiosity, a willingness to explore, and the quiet relief of being somewhere you don't have to perform. Whatever your identity, whoever you are, there's a place on a Solos trip for you. That's not a tagline. It's how we've always worked—and it's not changing.

So to everyone celebrating this month—whether you're at the parade, watching from the sidelines, or simply feeling that quiet warmth of knowing your people are out there—happy Pride. You belong here.