Bars spilling onto the pavement, museums dedicated to memory and resistance, and drag shows that carry on into the early hours. It was with this combination of culture, celebration and belonging that São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro earned a place among the world’s most special LGBTQIAPN+ venues, according to a selection published by Time Out in celebration of Pride Month. Curated by editors and contributors from the British publication, the list includes four Brazilian spaces alongside international landmarks in London, Tokyo, Paris and other cities.

In São Paulo, the highlights are Bandeira Bandeira, in Barra Funda, and the Museu da Diversidade Sexual. At the bar, guests often fill the indoor space, but it is outside, on the pavement that the night takes on its most spontaneous rhythm. The museum, the first in Latin America dedicated to memory and studies on sexual diversity, brings together exhibitions, workshops and a book club, turning each visit into a space for meeting, listening and dialogue.

In Rio de Janeiro, the selection highlights two experiences that reflect different ways of experiencing the city’s queer scene: Pink Flamingo and Novooeste Bar. In Copacabana, Pink Flamingo lights up the night with performances by Brazilian and international drag queens, as well as an especially vibrant program on Treta party nights. In Santa Teresa, Novooeste, led by women, combines live music, art events and gastronomy in one of the city’s most creative and bohemian neighbourhoods.

Time Out’s selection broadens the view of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro beyond their traditional postcards. In every occupied pavement, every drag night, every space for gathering and creation, a genuine, plural Brazil emerges, ready to be experienced all year round. From creative metropolises to coastal cities, international tourists will find art, music, beaches, nightlife, gastronomy, heritage, nature, memorable experiences and the Brazilian way of welcoming people.

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Brazil also stands out on the global stage of inclusive hospitality. A survey by Booking.com placed São Paulo, Florianópolis and Rio de Janeiro among the ten highest-rated cities in the world by LGBTQIAPN+ travellers, reinforcing Brazil’s leading role as a destination of diversity, culture and authentic experiences.

São Paulo
Brazil’s largest metropolis and one of the country’s main international gateways, São Paulo offers an open, creative and constantly evolving urban scene. Home to the world’s largest LGBT+ Pride Parade, held annually on Avenida Paulista and recognised by Guinness World Records, the city transforms one of its most famous avenues into a stage for visibility, belonging and collective celebration. In 2026, the event’s 30th edition brought together around 3 million people in a program marked by sound trucks, cultural expressions and the occupation of public space.

To experience the city up close, travellers can follow routes that connect the contemporary art of MASP and independent galleries, the flavours and street art of Pinheiros, the pulse of Avenida Paulista, the lively nights of Vila Madalena and landmarks such as Ibirapuera Park, the Municipal Market and the Liberdade neighbourhood. Among museums, restaurants, bars, parties, cultural centres, street art and creative districts, São Paulo reveals itself in layers, always open to new forms of connection.

Rio de Janeiro
Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its cultural landscape, Rio de Janeiro turns travel into encounter. Iconic beaches such as Copacabana, Ipanema, Arpoador and Leblon come together with samba circles in Lapa, restaurants in Santa Teresa, museums in the port area and experiences connected to Little Africa, a territory of memory, Afro-Brazilian culture and resistance.

Between the waterfront, the hills, samba and museums, the Marvellous City offers an experience deeply connected to togetherness. From sunrise at Parque Bondinho to the behind-the-scenes world of Carnival, from the Museum of Tomorrow to the Selarón Steps, Rio reflects a bright, plural Brazil driven by the encounter between landscape, culture and affection.

HOW TO GET THERE
Brazil receives international flights from different countries, with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro among the country’s main points of arrival. From these hubs, travellers can continue on domestic routes and overland journeys to discover different Brazilian destinations.