LGBTQ+: Lyon, France

Lyon boasts one of the most vibrant LGBTQ+ scenes in France, rivaled only by the capital city itself. The slopes of the Presque’île and the Croix-Rousse are crawling with gay bars, clubs and restaurants owned by members of the community.

The scene here offers something for every spice of life, with plenty of establishments geared toward a laidback experience and even more offering vibrant party scenes. La Ruche is one of the largest venues in the city and is often overflowing into the streets. La Chapelle Café is located down by the Saône and has a sizeable outdoor dining section popular with locals. Then there’s Le L Bar, the only real lesbian establishment in town.

Like most large cities, Lyon does have a Pride festival every year in June. It’s also home to Écrans Mixtes, a weeklong LGBTQ+ film festival that takes place in March.

But the gay clubs and restaurants aren’t the only things that make Lyon a remarkable city. The Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon is an impressive landmark where, at one point, nearly 1/3 of all citizens in Lyon were born. It’s been transformed into a luxury hotel and gastronomic complex. The Parc de la Tête d’Or is another must-see that sits on 400 acres of gardens and meadows alongside the city’s contemporary art museum. It also boasts a boating lake with floating bars.

The city also houses 29 bridges that cross the numerous rivers floating throughout Lyon, and you could make a day of exploring each of them alone.

Lyon is easily one of the most welcoming, luxurious and LGBTQ+-friendly cities in Europe and a must for any traveler.