Paris is officially the top destination for gay travellers

Each year, millions flock to the French capital chasing a fantasy, packing padlocks in their suitcases and watching ‘Moulin Rouge’ on a loop.

For some though, the romance of Paris has started to fade, with certain travellers opting for quieter, more secluded destinations.

Still, there’s one group who continue to swoon at the idea of stumbling across a quiet café, falling head over heels for a Gallic stunner sporting a moustache, and spending lustful nights swaying to Édith Piaf.

According to new data from Grindr, Paris is officially the number one destination for gay travellers.

From cabaret to the lively community in historic Le Marais, it won out as the top ‘gaybourhood’ among the app’s 145 million registered users across 192 countries.

While the exact figures are confidential, Grindr tells it used in-app data to look at the number of trips logged, tallying the total number of visits or journeys recorded in each city.

Researchers then combined this with the percentage of devices which logged trips, with Paris coming first on the list.

Tristan Pineiro, chief marketing officer at Grindr, comments: ‘The gay community finds strength in numbers.

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‘Our users aren’t just looking for dates, they’re using Grindr to curate their own global adventures, find safe spaces, and experience the world through the eyes of locals who get it. That’s the gaybourhood in action.’

What makes Paris a global gay hub?

Much like the iconic Gay Village in Manchester, or the Chueca neighbourhood of Madrid, Le Marais in Paris is one of the most legendary queer spaces in Europe.

With a history far more interesting than that of Napoleon, it became a hub for the LGBTQIA+ community in the 1980s.

‘Le Marais isn’t a party zone — it’s a lifestyle,’ travel guide GayCities explains. ‘Queer culture here isn’t always loud, but it’s embedded in the fabric of the neighborhood.’

The incredible gay bookshop Les Mots A La Bouche on Rue Sainte-Croix is a must-see. And don’t forget to check out the Musee Picasso on Rue de Thorigny to get your fill of Parisian culture.

For an afternoon cocktail, take a perch at Les Marronniers, described by GayCities as the ‘gayest terrace in town.’ Here you’ll be able to watch the trade pass by while taking in the architecture.

Then, once the sun sets, you’ll want to meander on over to your first bar of the night, Le Cox, located on Rue des Archives.

Next door is Freedj, with a happy hour that doesn’t stop till 10pm — and a clientele that’ll make you wish you’d extended your visa.

If you’re feeling a tad adventurous, locals also recommend Secteur X, a popular gay cruise bar and fetish club.

LGBTQIA+ hotels to stay at in Paris

If you’re looking for queer-friendly places to stay in Paris, one particular favourite is Hotel Gay Lussac.

Described as a classic townhouse hotel, serving both LGBTQIA+ and heterosexual customers, this a great option both in terms of location and nearby amenities.

For two people, a two-night stay in June will set you back £232.

To get even closer to the action, why not check in at Hotel Le Mareuil, just a 14-minute walk from the centre of Le Marais? An elegant, boutique spot, this place is pricier, coming in at around £380 for two nights.

Where is the flirt capital of the world?

According to Grindr’s insights, Taipei is the world’s flirtiest city — with users there sending more messages per day than anywhere else globally.

Taiwan is considered one of the most gay-friendly countries in Asia, notably being the first country in the continent to legalise same-sex marriage in May, 2019.

In fact, its home to the largest pride parade in East Asia, attracting over 200,000 participants each year.