Lisboa

Lisbon is one of Europe's most easygoing queer destinations: golden light, seven hills, rattling trams and a scene that is open, warm and refreshingly unpretentious. The heart of gay Lisbon is Príncipe Real, the elegant quarter just above Bairro Alto, with boutiques, concept stores, cafés and a tight cluster of bars around its handsome garden. Below it begins Bairro Alto, the nocturnal maze of narrow lanes where drinking happens on the street – in Lisbon you take your drink outside, and a friendly crowd forms on its own in front of the popular venues.

The night starts late. Bars fill around midnight and clubs peak between 2 and 3am. The classics are Bar TR3S (Lisbon's biggest gay bar), Shelter Bar, Bar 106 and the legendary Finalmente with its late-night drag show. For something more alternative, head to Anjos, where the younger, lower-key, collective-run queer scene now lives, with day parties and cheaper drinks. By day the river pulls you in; by evening it's the miradouros (viewpoints) with wine and a sunset.

Lisbon is cheaper than most Western European capitals, safe and very walkable – though the hills will test your legs. Portugal ranks among the most LGBTIQ-friendly countries in the world, and holding hands in the centre is a non-issue. For Swiss travellers: direct flights from Zürich and Geneva, barely three hours away, and a long weekend is enough to combine the scene, the beach (Beach 19) and the sights all at once.