Welcome to Philadelphia, the birthplace of American freedom, and home to gay pride events, including OutFest, the largest National Coming Out Day festival in the world, history and significant sites. A modern Renaissance city, Philadelphia has recently been named the number one city in America for culture by Travel + Leisure.
Half-Day Itinerary:
Tour the city on a bus, trolley, or carriage, then take your own walking tour of Old City, a neighborhood known for its vibrant street life full of art galleries, vintage clothing shops, and furniture stores.
Don’t miss the Gay Rights Demonstrations Historical Marker at 6th and Chestnut streets, commemorating the pioneering gay activists of the late 1960s.
Visit Center City Philadelphia’s authentic, 12018 year-old farmers market, Reading Terminal, which has something for everyone with more than 80 vendors, including the recently named “Best Sandwich in America,” DiNic’s famous roast pork.
Make it a Full Day:
Stroll along the “Champs d’Elysee of Philadelphia,” the Ben Franklin Parkway, visiting the Barbara Gittings Gay & Lesbian Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia, and be sure to stop just down the street at the Rodin Museum and the brand new Barnes Foundation. Along the way, you’ll see incredible public art and flags from around the world that celebrate Philadelphia’s multinational heritage..
Go to the “Gayboorhood” for a fabulous dinner, and afterwards check out Valanni for delicious cocktails or Tavern on Camac Street, which has a piano bar on the first floor and a dance floor on the second for some great dance music.
Make It a Weekend: Day 2
Schedule a morning visit to New Hope, a bustling historical village one hour north of Philadelphia, full of galleries, antiques, theaters, shops, and several gay-owned and operated B&Bs, bars and restaurants for a relaxing get-away.
While in New Hope, pick up a sandwich and picnic on the banks of the Delaware River, and take in the stunning scenery, or stop by The Raven, a first-class restaurant and gay bar and a New Hope institution.
Head back to Philadelphia and spend time exploring the “Gayborhood,” including the Pride and Progress Mural and the William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center at 1315 Spruce – one of the few murals dedicated to the LGBT community in the country. And don’t forget to pick up a book at Giovanni’s Room, the oldest LGBT bookstore in the nation.
Enjoy dinner at El Vez, Continental, Parc, Buddakan, or one of famous restaurateur Stephen Starr's other renowned locations, then check out Philadelphia’s premier gay theater organization, Mauckingbird Theatre Company. After the show, dance the night away at Woody’s, Sisters, or VoyeurPure Nightclub.
Come for the culture, stay for the celebrations. Join us in the summer for Pride Day and Q Fest, Philadelphia’s LGBT Film Festival. And don’t miss OutFest in October, the world’s largest National Coming Out Day event!