Laura Tucker

A dazzling den of vice and decadence at the base of the Mojave Desert, penned in by mountain ranges on all sides, is Nevada’s capital Las Vegas. While blinking neon signs advertise big-budget shows and dice-jingling high rollers take five at swanky restaurants, Las Vegas’ desert setting, on the doorstep of The Grand Canyon, allows visitors to balance debauchery with appreciation of its unrivalled natural wonders. Uncaged and sprawling, Las Vegas’ vibrant districts warrant days of exploration, by helicopter, from the rooftop infinity pool or on foot at strip level.

Often passed over for neighboring Osaka and Kyoto, this Japanese port city is well worth a stop not just for its prized beef, but also for an art and music scene fed by foreign flavors. Here's how to make the most of it in just one day...

We’re no stranger to the Met or a MOMA or two, but when looking for a place solely dedicated to representing LGBTQ art and history, it’s easy to come up short, particularly if you’re travelling in a new city. So, from Stonewall archives to modern gay art exhibitions, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 LGBTQ museums in the world offering up gay culture and insight into all things queer, wherever you are in the world.

An enviable year-round sun trap complete with a magnificent skyline, bold architecture and tanned bodies of deep caramel, it’s not hard to guess why Madrid is the ultimate place for rooftop lounging. As the capital of a country famed for its leisurely dining culture and tapas treats, Madrid offers up a tasting platter of Spanish siesta, with its rooftops providing the perfect breeze without the street-level bustle. So, put on some sunscreen, take the elevator up to the top floor and kick back...

A palm-strewn mirage on the southwest coast of California, Los Angeles is a city where dreams and a whole bunch of blockbusting pictures are made. Whether you wish to mingle with the rich and the famous on cocktail bar rooftops in Beverly Hills, hike dusty canyon trails to view the gridded city from afar, or experience the cutting-edge theatre scene of Downtown, Los Angeles provides it all, with perennially blue skies and endless beaches thrown in for good measure.

Unmatched nationwide for its economic clout as much as its lively, creative culture, Johannesburg is sure to smash any visitor’s preconceptions with its intoxicating array of pan-African dining experiences and a sleek modern skyline housing boutique malls and chic cafes. In spite of lagging LGBT acceptance and safety concerns across the nation, South Africa’s anti-discrimination laws are decidedly progressive. In metropolitan Joburg especially, tolerance and progressive attitudes for diversit...

Scotland’s cultural capital comes carved through with cobbled streets overlooked by hilltop medieval castles all within a rugged yet pristine woodland landscape. Edinburgh is her name, nicknamed Athens of the North thanks to her beautifully preserved medieval old town sat beside the elegant, neoclassical builds of the Georgian New Town. Clamber up Calton Hill to Arthur’s seat for sweeping views of the city and a playful, down-to-earth vibe that carries down to street level...

A Malaysian Borneo adventure may seem like a daunting option, packed as it is with dense rainforests, strange critters and ex-head-hunting tribespeople (they don't do that anymore, I promise). If you're prepared to forego the usual poolside Pina Coladas however, in favour of a more rural getaway, you await something truly special. Find biodiversity beyond anything you've ever experienced, lush untouched beaches in coves only accessible by trek, as well as a cultural history defined by tribal life, pirates and British colonialism...

Known as the cradle of Thai civilisation and first capital of Siam, Sukhothai is said to have been the birthplace of Thai art, language and architecture. Literally translated as 'The Dawn of Happiness', Sukhothai briefly enjoyed prosperity in the 13th century before being annexed by the Ayyuthaya Kingdom. Owing to extensive renovations, visitors to Sukhothai are able to step into the past and experience the re-erected grandiosity of the original kingdom.

The heady collision point of continents and cultures, Istanbul is where Europe meets the Middle East, bringing diverse people, religions and philosophies together in a frenetic fusion of mysticism and modernity. Istanbul’s skyline melds minarets with sleek high-rises, Byzantine mosaic-laden churches with imposing Ottoman-era mosques, all sewn together with raucous, rakı-toasting Turkish taverns.

Rather more laid-back than Tokyo’s samurai citizens and boasting a cosmopolitan vibe not found in Kyoto is the criminally underrated merchant city of Osaka. Awaiting under an endless skyline pulsing with neon and blown through with cherry blossom, you’ll discover ancient temples, towering futuristic constructs and more street food than you can shake a Yakitori skewer at. The warm, quirky personalities in Osaka will have you spellbound, particularly behind the Kabuki Theatre in Namba and within the niche nightlife offerings of Doyama...

Taiwan, with its lush forest-covered mountains and steam-room level humidity starting somewhere around mid-May, a visit to a hidden cooling waterfall is the ultimate – and cheap – summer day trip! While staying in AC-filled shopping malls is the easy way out, a short sweaty trek followed by a dunk in an azure freshwater pool is guaranteed to make you feel alive!

A teeny weeny nation of down-to-earth people, dominated by lush mountains and a year-round humidity that soaks into your soul and dizzies your perspective, Taiwan is one of Asia’s most endearing and underrated travel destinations. The cosmopolitan capital of Taipei is the best jumping off point; a chaotic yet slow-moving city, modern yet deeply authentic with proximity to awesome hiking trails, natural hot springs and off-track waterfalls. The orderly roads of Taipei stream with scooters, upon which you’ll see whole families, pets and various health and safety hazards hitching a ride...

The economic, social and cultural centre of Switzerland led by a rock star lesbian mayor, Zürich has a lot going for it, including unparalleled natural surroundings and the highest quality of life found anywhere in the world. A city championing gay rights since the 40s, Zürich has a well-established LGBTQ+ nightlife, from laid back, mixed-queer shindigs to sweaty all-night danceathons.

A tranquil nation constantly on the brink of disaster, Japan is a country that breathes duality and its spiralling capital is no different. Both chaotic and calm; dizzying and grounding, in Tokyo there is space for quiet reflection and wild antics in equal share. Carefully balanced in nature and in asphalt, you’re never far from either a branch of Muji or of cherry blossom. Lush forests surrounding the city’s shrines run parallel to fashion-forward shopping streets and, behind futuristic skyscrapers packed with weary workers, Mount Fuji glimmers on the horizon.