Gay Philadelphia · City Guide

Philadelphia is a bright and bustling centre of cosmopolitan living and the capital of Pennsylvania. A hub of culture, both old and new, the city is one of the most globally influential in the USA boasting landmarks such as the Liberty Bell and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

A mecca for LGBT+ individuals, Philadelphia has a large, diverse and passionate gay scene that boasts an impressive and varied range of gay bars and clubs. Philadelphia was also where the first major LGBT+ rights demonstration took place in 1965 and has been dedicated to supporting LGBT+ individual’s rights to equality, dignity and respect since.

Gay Rights in Philadelphia

Same-sex marriage was legalised in Pennsylvania in 2014, and now same-sex families enjoy the same benefits and rights as heterosexual families. Philadelphia is one of a few cities in the state to explicitly mention gender identity and sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws and therefore LGBT+ individuals are protected by law from wrongful and illegal treatment. Pennsylvania did have a hate crime law that recognised homophobia and transphobia as motivators for violent crime, however, this bill was struck down in 2008 and was never replaced.

Gay bars in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has one of the largest and most diverse gay scenes in the country. The city was the first in the world to include black and brown stripes on its official pride flags, reflecting it’s inclusive identity. There is a range of gay bars and clubs in the city that cater to all interests and tastes.

The main gay district in Philadelphia is Washington Square West, a bustling and charming hub of LGBT+ culture in the city and home to many gay bars and clubs. Tabu was the first gay sports bar in the city and now occupies a three-storey premises, showing sports throughout the day and into the night. The bar boasts a spacious rooftop deck offering stunning views across Philadelphia’s skyline.

Bars such as U Bar and Boxers offer a casual and relaxed drinking environment in the heart of the city’s gay district and are great places to warm up before heading to the bigger clubs such as Woody’s.

Gay hotels in Philadelphia

The best location to stay in Philadelphia depends on what you’ll be doing in the city. If sightseeing is at the top of your itinerary consider staying in the Old Town, the home of many of Philadelphia’s top landmarks as well as being a historic and well-connected part of the city. The most popular destination amongst gay travelers, however, is Washington Square West, the city’s gay district, with a selection of gay-friendly hotels and incredible LGBT+ nightlife.

Some of the best options for gay travelers looking to stay in and around Washington Square West are the Independent Hotel, Alexander Inn and The Warwick Hotel. These hotels will allow you to easily access the area’s gay venues and landmarks as well as travel around the wider city.

The majority of hotels in Philadelphia can be considered gay-friendly as staff are obliged to treat all guests with the same respect and dignity regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, as outlined in the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

Gay saunas in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to a small but popular selection of well-maintained gay saunas. One of the most popular venues is Club Philly, the city’s premier gay sauna, located close to the gay village and many of the area’s clubs and bars. Club Philly attracts crowds of both locals and tourists with its range of facilities including a gym, steam room, private cabins and VIP areas.

Many of the Saunas in the city combine traditional facilities with gyms or fitness centres, including the Sansom Street Gym - a sauna, cruise club and gym.

Getting to Philadelphia

Philadelphia is served by the Philadephia International Airport which is situated around 7 miles from the city’s Downtown. It’s a large and busy airport which is utilized by 31.7 million passengers annually, making it the 20th busy airport in the USA.

The fastest and most popular method for tourists to get to the Downtown area is by Regional Rail. This train line stops at all of the airport’s major terminals and transports passengers to the city in around 25 minutes. The train is only payable with cash but the fares tend to be reasonably priced.

Philadelphia International Airport also runs a shuttle service to the city’s most popular hotels, so be sure to check if your accommodation is served by this system before visiting.

Getting around Philadelphia

Bus

The most convenient way to travel around Philadelphia is via the Philly Phlash Downtown Loop, an efficient bus service that operates around the city centre. The bus is an excellent option for those who want to explore the top attractions and sights in the city. Tickets for the Philly Phlash are very affordable and multiple day or week-long tickets can be purchased.

Taxi

Taxies are plentiful in Philadelphia and can be found across the city. There are designated transport hubs at major locations throughout Philadelphia, and here you will easily be able to find a taxi. Two of the main transport hubs are Philadelphia International Airport and William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. Uber and Lyft are also popular alternatives when traveling the city, and ridesharing is commonplace here.

Bike

Philadelphia is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States with dedicated bike lanes on many of its streets. Indego is a city-wide bike-sharing scheme that allows you to pick up and drop off bikes at a number of hubs around the city. Bike hire is reasonably priced and once booked, the bikes can be used for 24 hours. There are around 1,500 bikes as part of the scheme meaning you shouldn’t have any trouble locating one.

Things to do in Philadelphia

There are endless possibilities when it comes to things to do in Philadelphia. However, the most notable attractions include:

• Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Explore the Reading Terminal Market
• Tour the Philadelphia City Hall
• Shop in the cosmopolitan Downtown area
• Stroll around Love Park

Read more: Things to do in Philadelphia.

FAQs

Visa

Those living outside the United States will require a temporary travel visa, and these can be applied for through the official US Embassy website or in your local US embassy.

When to visit Philadelphia

Philadelphia experiences all four seasons pretty extremely with boiling hot summers and often freezing winters. As such, the mildest and most pleasant weather normally occurs in spring or autumn.

Whilst summer may bring the best atmosphere to the streets of Philadelphia it is also when the city is at its busiest, and during this period the top tourist attractions will be very crowded.

However, travelers looking for the cheapest prices on flights and hotels should consider visiting between November and January, when everything is cheaper for winter.

Money

There are thousands of ATM machines across Philadelphia, and most, if not all, establishments will accept credit and debit cards. However, some ATM machines and card readers may add an additional fee for transactions attempted with overseas cards.

The generally accepted and expected rates of tipping in Pennsylvania are 15-20% for good service.