Are you looking for information on vacationing in France if you’re LGBTQ? Well, you’re in luck. My LGBTQ France guide highlights what it’s like to visit France if you’re queer or trans, LGBTQ laws and rights in France, and some of the best LGBTQ French cities to visit. You’ll also find city guides, LGBTQ France day trip ideas, and much more! I only recommend things I’ve done and loved, so these are all my honest opinions formed on multiple visits to France โ both queer friendly Paris and small rural communities. So keeping reading for an overview of LGBTQ rights, safety, things to see and do and more!
When I was in high school, my mother and I flew to Paris over winter break.
We froze our asses off! We spent a lot of time in cafes sipping coffee and chocolate chaud. But I still remember visiting the Louvre and the Musรฉe d’Orsay, where I ran into some of my high school classmates, and seeing the Eiffel Tower on a snowy day!
Years later, we went back to France on the invitation of a family friend, who had married a French citizen. Staying in their spare bedroom in Paris, we explored the city.
We also took a weekend trip to a small town in Burgundy.
A few years later, we went back to visit that family friend.
This time my wife came along for the journey.
After spending a week in Paris, eating delicious food and so many pastries, visiting museums, and exploring gay bars in the Marais (without my mom in tow, lol), we took a train to the Loire Valley for a weekend of wine tasting and castle visits.
Most recently, I spent three weeks in the south of France, visiting Lyon, Marseille, the French Riviera, and the medieval city of Carcassonne.
I prepared for my trip by taking French lessons. I’m now around a B1 in French skills with a 400+ day streak on Duolingo.
Now, Iโm excited to draw from my time spent traveling through France to highlight the country’s best things to see and do from an LGBTQ perspective!
LGBTQ Rights In France
France has strong LGBTQ rights and legal protections.
Homosexuality has been decriminalized since (I just double-checked because I could not believe it) 1791.
Yup, not 1971. 1791.
Gay marriage has been legal in France since 2013.
France allows โ and even pays for โ gender affirming procedures for adults and (with some exceptions) youth
LGBTQ French enjoy protection from employment and housing discrimination.
A majority of France’s LGBT population says they feel safe to be openly themselves, with low levels of threats or violence. Around half of France’s LGBTQ population says verbal harassment is a concern.
Legal and societal protections like these benefit France’s queer population โ and they make it easier for gay and lesbian travelers to enjoy an stress-free, relaxing vacation without having to mask.
For more about LGBTQ rights and social acceptance in France, check out Equaldex.
Where Is France Most LGBT Friendly?
Chic Paris is an obvious choice. Lyon, Marseille, and Nice have thriving queer scenes, too.
Under-the-radar options include Strasbourg, on the German border, and Toulouse, which has a small but lively club scene.
And donโt sleep on Montpellierโa youthful, progressive city with one of the most active Pride celebrations in France.
LGBTQ Paris
Paris went out of its way to demonstrate inclusivity in the 2024 Olympics.
The city at its heart has an inclusive spirit. It’s a place you can visit and be your full self.
If a local is rude to you, you can relax knowing it has nothing to do with your LGBTQ identity. Parisians are known for being brisk or edgy with foreigners.
The Marais is one of the cityโs most gay-friendly neighborhoods, with a relaxed and welcoming vibe. I make it a point to visit whenever I’m in Paris.
Montmartre, Pigalle, and St. Germain des Pres were important LGBTQ gathering spaces in the past. Those are worth visiting, perhaps on a walking tour of Paris’s queer history.
Once I’ve had my fill of exploring the Marais, I always treat myself to a Breton cider and buckwheat crepe at Breizh Cafรฉ. Eternal thanks to David Lebovitz for mentioning it on his Paris food blog!
LGBTQ Lyon
While all of France is very LGBTQ-welcoming, Lyon felt particularly welcoming.
Not just to me โ Mr. Travel ranked the city above gay Paris in a 2022 survey.
And in 2025, Lyon in going to host the Eurogames, a European sports competition that centers diversity in all its forms.
Lyon is also home to multiple queer events during the year โ you’ll find those listed on our guide to 60+ LGBTQ events worth traveling for!
Walking around the streets of the Croix-Rousse and the city center, I saw lots of LGBTQ-friendly graffiti. I even spotted other same-sex couples and queer coded people.
I may have been jet lagged when I visited Lyon, but I felt right at home.
I think you’ll fall for Lyon, too.
Check out the LGBTQ Lyon guide I created for GayCities!
LGBTQ Marseille
With a history of opening its borders to immigrants and offering meaningful inclusion, not lip service, Marseille has an anything-goes attitude that makes it a super welcoming, LGBTQ friendly city.
I spent a week in Marseille, wandering alleys filled with colorful murals and wheat pastes for progressive political parties. I tried on clothes in secondhand shops without wondering what the store clerks would make of my gender, or whether something was ‘meant’ for me.
The Vieux Port (Old Port) is the hub of Marseille. I never felt unsafe or scrutinized walking around there (or anywhere in Marseille). The local queer hotspots are tucked away in neighborhoods like the artsy Cours Julien.
Walking around the port city, I saw signs of openness in rainbow flags, street art and graffiti, and the local population, meeting at cafes for espressos or something stronger.
Check out our guide to gay and lesbian Marseille to plan your adventure!
LGBTQ Nice and the French Riviera
In the Cรดte d’Azur, Nice is where you’ll find the most gay nightlife options and LGBTQ-friendly hotels.
The Bonaparte area, right in the heart of the city, is home to many queer-owned businesses, easily recognizable by their โIrisรฉe Naturellementโ designation.
For gay clubs in Nice, head to the Place du Pin, a cozy gay district marked by rainbow crosswalks at either end.
Promenade des Anglais is where everyone hangs out. Stroll the beach boardwalk to people watch or rent a lounger on the rocky pebble beach below to soak up the sunshine.
I spent a few days exploring Nice, visiting the Chagall Museum and the Matisse Museum, and blending my own perfume at an amazing workshop.
Nice makes the perfect base for French Riviera day trips. So do yourself a favor and get out there, taking a day trip to Monaco or exploring cute Riviera towns like Villefranche Sur Mer!
When To Go
France is a fantastic destination year-round.
Summer is the peak travel season, with warm weather, long days, and a packed calendar of festivals like the Paris Pride Parade and Niceโs summer celebrations. Expect crowds and higher prices, but the lively atmosphere and vibrant events make it worth it.
One important note: August in France is when a lot of things shut down. There were a couple things I wanted to do and had to put on the back burner when I visited France in August.
Fall is still lively. It’s an ideal time for exploring cities with fewer tourists.
September is also the wine harvest time. While visiting Chateaneuf du Pape, we got to see trucks loaded with grapes on their way to be crushed.
Later in the month, skies turn grey.
October tends to be rainy, so bring your rain jacket.
Winter in France can be magical.
Paris sparkles with holiday lights.
French ski resorts like Chamonix and Courchevel are bucket list destinations for ski buffs. Not into skiing: Head south, where cities like Nice and Marseille enjoy a mild winter.
Spring is low season. The weather starts to warm, and you get enjoy some outdoor adventures without the crowds.
How To Get Around France
France has an excellent public transit system.
High-speed trains run to every corner of the country and internationally.
I’ve used those trains to travel from Paris to the Loire Valley, Paris to Burgundy, and Paris to Marseille, with a stopover in Lyon along the way.
In the French Riviera, regional trains connect the major cities. It’s possible to travel around the Riviera without a car, using trains and buses to get around.
A car is nice to have, bur not essential there.
If you want to explore Provence, like I did, you’ll definitely want to rent a car. Regional buses do connect smaller towns in the Luberon and elsewhere, but they don’t run all that often. Plus, half the fun of a week in is driving around to all those small towns on market day.
LGBT France Stories
- Ultimate LGBTQ Marseille Travel Guide
- Gay Nice France: What to See and Do
- 11 Best Day Trips from Nice
- Day Trip to Monaco From Nice
- The Ultimate South Of France Road Trip Itinerary
- Perfect Camargue Itinerary For One Day
- Pink Lakes Of France: Camargue Salt Lake Day Trip
- The Best Destinations In Europe For Queer Women