LGBT Travelers—On the whole, Switzerland is tolerant and gay-friendly, especially in more urban and diverse areas. Zurich, Geneva, and Basel are the centers of gay life in Switzerland, although ski resorts such as Zermatt, Lenzerheide, and Arosa are also popular destinations (mostly in winter), even hosting gay ski weeks. Italian-speaking Ticino held its first Gay Pride event in 2018. The national organization for gays is Pink Cross, based in Bern (www.pinkcross.ch, in German, French, and Italian; tel. 031/372-33-00).
Zurich actively courts the gay and lesbian markets and hosts some LGBT events, but away from such sophisticated meccas, it should be noted that rural Switzerland remains conservative, and open displays of homosexuality may be frowned upon. Incidentally, the age of consent in Switzerland is 16 for both boys and girls.
In French-speaking Switzerland, Dialogai in Geneva (www.dialogai.org; tel. 022/906-40-40) offers information in French about gay and lesbian travel in this sector of the country.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
