Grindr has released new data about the travel habits of some of its users. According to the app, the top cities where users are most often registered as “travelling” are Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York City, Bangkok, São Paulo and Berlin.
Paris continues to hold strong appeal for LGBTQ+ travellers, while destinations such as Rio, Bangkok and Berlin reflect the global spread of queer nightlife, culture and connection.
Where users are messaging most
Grindr’s data also reveals where users are sending the most messages.
Taipei topped the list, followed by Milan and Athens.
The app also highlighted use of its “Right Now” feature, which was introduced last year and allows users to indicate that they are looking for immediate plans.
Use of “Right Now” is highest in Taiwan, the Philippines, Lima, Buenos Aires and Medellín.
Grindr also found that some countries have especially high volumes of messaging between users in different countries.
Luxembourg came out on top, followed by Japan and Switzerland.
Given Luxembourg’s relatively small size and population of around 700,000, it is perhaps unsurprising that queer users there often look beyond national borders for connection.
“Finding your people in a new city”
Grindr says Host or Travel was created to reflect the way many gay travellers use the app while abroad.
“Host or Travel was created from the understanding that for gay travelers, finding your people in a new city isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s crucial,” said Tristan Pineiro, CMO of Grindr.
“The gay community finds strength in numbers, and we built this series to celebrate that. Our users aren’t just looking for dates, they’re using Grindr to curate their own global adventures, find safe spaces, and experience the world through the eyes of locals who get it. That’s the gayborhood in action.”
Season three of Host or Travel will spotlight Austin, Sydney, Puerto Vallarta, Paris, Manila, Lisbon and Miami.
How dating apps shape travel
Whether people love or loathe them, apps like Grindr have changed how many gay, bi and queer men experience travel.
Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Surrey in England published a study on the topic in the Annals of Tourism Research.
The study found that gay couples may be more likely to seek a third person while on holiday because there is less risk of emotional entanglement or ongoing ties than with someone back home.
Some “monogamish” couples, who are monogamous in daily life but more open to experimenting while abroad, treat sex with a third as a holiday “treat”.
The researchers also found that sex while travelling can be more spontaneous than it is at home, with less time for extended app conversations.
However, Grindr use while travelling is not only about sex. The study also pointed to “authentic intimacies” and connections that can lead to lasting friendships, friends-with-benefits arrangements or a better understanding of a city through local queer people.
For many LGBTQ+ travellers, the appeal is simple: arriving somewhere new and quickly finding people, spaces and experiences that make the destination feel less unfamiliar.
Book your next gay getaway with United today!
