Italy Is Officially the Worst EU Country for LGBTQ+ Travel — and the Numbers Are Brutal

Italy has been ranked the worst country in the European Union for LGBTQ+ travel — and the gap between it and the rest of the bloc is not small. The 2026 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Map placed Italy 36th out of 49 countries, down one place from last year, with a score of just 24.11%.

That score measures compliance with the legal and political criteria set out to guarantee human rights and equality for LGBTQ+ people. It represents a fall of 1.23 percentage points compared with 2025 and sits far below the EU average of 52%, according to Plataforma Media.

The report was presented at the opening of the fourth edition of the European LGBTQ+ Tourism Summit, promoted by the European LGBTQ+ Travel Alliance (ELTA) in partnership with Roma Capitale, with the institutional patronage of the European Parliament and Federturismo Confindustria.

What the safety map found

The authors did not soften the verdict. Italy is described in the report as "the true Achilles' heel of southern Europe when it comes to welcoming 'gay' and lesbian tourists." The index weighs laws, policies and political signals rather than hotel reviews or nightlife listings, which is why a country with a world-famous queer scene can still rank this low.

That contrast is stark. Milan appears at number six on Out Magazine's separate affordability ranking for gay travelers, published a day later, with Porta Venezia painted as a rainbow-filled gateway to the city's LGBTQ+ bars. Affordable is not the same as safe, and a lively scene in one neighbourhood does not offset national law.

Who is doing better

Spain leads the European list with a score of 88.7%, followed by Malta, Iceland, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg. Portugal stands out specifically on hospitality and services, according to the report.

"Europe remains the safest region in the world for 'queer' travelers, but progress is uneven," the report concludes. The gap between Spain at the top and Italy near the bottom is the clearest illustration of that unevenness.

"Italy is the true Achilles' heel of southern Europe when it comes to welcoming 'gay' and lesbian tourists." — 2026 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Map

What it means for your next trip

If Italy is on your list, go — but go informed. Check whether your accommodation and the venues you plan to visit explicitly welcome LGBTQ+ guests, look up local laws rather than relying on how a city feels, and keep public affection situational outside the biggest urban centres. The report is a risk map, not a ban.

For travelers who want the legal and social framework to match the nightlife, the Netherlands remains a safer bet. Amsterdam sits in the top tier of Europe's LGBTQ+ destinations for rights and visibility, even when its hotel prices land near the bottom of an affordability table.

Wherever you land, Vibra is the shortcut: build a free profile, browse LGBTQ+ parties in Amsterdam, book tickets, and earn Pulse points for showing up. Your next trip starts with a community, not a guidebook.

Sources: Plataforma Media, "Italy classified as worst EU country for LGBTQ+ travel" (9 November 2026); ANSA, "Italy worst EU country for gay tourists - survey" (9 November 2026); Out Magazine, "Ranking the 11 best European cities for gay travelers by cost" (10 November 2026).