Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Vacations
Philadelphia
Your gay Philadelphia vacation
The City of Brotherly Love has come a long way from its unrefined cheese steak and Rocky Balboa image of yesteryear. It’s now one of the most sophisticated cities on the East Coast, but miraculously retains the air of a big, friendly neighborhood. It’s one of the most historically fascinating and gay-welcoming cities in North America.
Best in Stay
LGBT Best in Stay Philadelphia hotels
Le Meridien Philadelphia
The Conwell Inn
Hyatt at The Bellevue
Morris House Hotel
Palomar Philadelphia, a Kimpton Hotel
Gayborhood
Philadelphia Gayborhood hotels
Morris House Hotel
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
Hyatt at The Bellevue
Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Center City
Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown
Flights
| Departure | Arrival | Travel dates | Round-trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Philadelphia | Fri, Jan 4 - Tue, Jan 8 | $221 |
| Denver | Philadelphia | Thu, Jan 31 - Tue, Feb 5 | $280 |
| Los Angeles | Philadelphia | Sat, Jan 26 - Thu, Jan 31 | $272 |
| Seattle | Philadelphia | Tue, Feb 26 - Sat, Mar 2 | $244 |
| Orange County | Philadelphia | Tue, Jan 29 - Tue, Feb 5 | $286 |
| San Francisco | Philadelphia | Thu, Jan 24 - Wed, Feb 20 | $290 |
| Minneapolis | Philadelphia | Fri, Jan 4 - Tue, Jan 8 | $382 |
| Atlanta | Philadelphia | Wed, Jan 16 - Wed, Jan 30 | $324 |
| San Diego | Philadelphia | Mon, Jan 28 - Mon, Feb 4 | $238 |
| Phoenix | Philadelphia | Sat, Mar 2 - Thu, Mar 14 | $388 |
| Dallas | Philadelphia | Sat, Feb 23 - Wed, Mar 6 | $402 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Philadelphia | Wed, Jan 16 - Mon, Jan 21 | $184 |
Why book on Orbitz?
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Miss Richfield 1981 says it best in this video—not all travel sites are created equal. When you book on Orbitz, your travel dollars work harder. Here’s why:
- We’re the ONLY leading travel agency with a perfect Corporate Equality Index Score from the Human Rights Campaign, with two GLAAD Media awards to boot.
- We’re the ONLY leading travel site with filters for hotel reviews by other LGBT travelers.
- We feature the top gay-friendly accommodations, including Best in Stay hotels and gay resorts.
- We’re proud sponsors of many LGBT charities and events, year after year.
Philadelphia highlights
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American historic sites
History buffs will go hogwild over Philadelphia’s important attractions. You’ll find the Liberty Bell Pavilion, the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall, the country’s first post office, first bank, first hospital, and the first school for African-American students.
LGBT history lessons
On top of that, the city has a ton of LGBT firsts: Independence Hall saw gay and lesbian protesters years before Stonewall, and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation was the first to air gay travel ads on national television.
Philly’s attractions
The wide Benjamin Franklin Parkway is bookended by the stately, neoclassical Philadelphia Museum of Art and the ornate, French-inspired City Hall. The 8,900-acre Fairmount Park is filled with Georgian country mansions and 100 miles of trails, many unchanged since Revolutionary times. The largest Auguste Rodin collection outside of Paris -- including “The Thinker” -- is at the Rodin Museum.
LGBT Philadelphia
The happening and well-developed LGBT scene, including a hot lesbian scene, mainly revolves around the gayborhood of Center City. More specifically, the Washington Square West area marked by rainbow street signs between Pine and Chestnut streets and 11th and 13th streets. Another up-and-coming queer-friendly area is the appropriately named Queen Village south of Center City, with cool cafes and restaurants.
Philly’s events
The weeklong Equality Forum in late April/early May features a series of workshops, parties and other events focusing on gay rights and queer issues. Also in late April is the multiday Philadelphia Black Gay Pride celebration, and in June, tens of thousands show up for the general Pride festival. The circuit party Blue Ball rocks the city in January, and there’s a hefty LGBT film festival in July.
Insider tips for Philadelphia gay travel
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Take the subway from the airport
Taxis from the airport to the city can cost around $30, but the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) runs the Airport Rail Line R1.Take a walk
Especially if you’re staying in or near Center City, parking is tough. Philly is an incredibly walkable city anyway.Look for free entries for museums and attractions
Most of Philly’s tourist attractions have free entry times and days -- check with your hotel when you arrive. On the first Friday of every month in the Old City, there’s free admission to galleries along with free music and food.