Sydney, Australia

The queer culture in Australia’s largest city is nothing if not diverse. There’s plenty of exhibitionism on display at gay-friendly beaches such as Bondi, Lady Jane (also called Lady Bay), and Obelisk (which is nude). Oxford Street is the city’s historic gay and lesbian center, although in recent years, the scene has evolved away from it, with pockets of fabulousness appearing in Surrey Hills, Newtown, Erskineville, and Paddington, among others. Stop at the famous Bearded Tit for a drink or the Stonewall Hotel for a drag show. If you happen to be in Sydney during the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, join in with the tens of thousands of attendees, who are in town for one of the biggest parties of the year, spread out among various clubs.