The small island state of Malta has been at the top of Europe on LGBTQ+ rights for years. Between baroque lanes, limestone coves and a warm-hearted community, gay travellers feel very welcome here.
Legal situation: Same-sex marriage has existed since 2017, before that civil unions with full adoption rights since 2014. The constitution explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and conversion therapy has been banned since 2016. Malta has topped ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map for years.