New Orleans, Louisiana
The most unique LGBTQ+ destination in America. New Orleans's French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods host a year-round carnival of gay bars, drag shows, and Creole culture that defies comparison. Southern Decadence — held every Labor Day weekend — is one of the world's great LGBTQ+ celebrations, drawing 100,000+ to a city that never judges and never sleeps.
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Travel & Accommodations
Entertainment & Events
Oz New Orleans
The French Quarter's flagship gay dance club on Bourbon Street. Oz is three floors of non-stop LGBTQ+ nightlife — go-go ...
The Bourbon Pub & Parade
The anchor of the French Quarter's gay Bourbon Street strip — a 24/7 video bar and disco that has kept New Orleans's LGB...
Good Friends Bar
A French Quarter neighborhood bar that lives up to its name. Good Friends is the perfect low-key alternative to Bourbon ...
Rawhide Bar
A classic local gay bar in the heart of the French Quarter, known for its friendly atmosphere, regular drag shows, and a...
Things to Do
Curated attractions and experiences for your trip to New Orleans — from iconic landmarks to hidden gems.
🏭 Landmarks & Culture
French Quarter Walking Tour
The oldest neighborhood in the US — jazz history, Creole architecture, and the mix of French, Spanish, and African heritage that defines New Orleans.
Garden District
A neighborhood of Greek Revival mansions, oak-lined streets, and the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 — one of the most photographed neighborhoods in America.
French Quarter & Marigny 🎉
New Orleans has been a sanctuary for queer artists, performers, and outcasts for over a century. The French Quarter's gay bar strip on Bourbon Street — Oz, Good Friends, the Bourbon Pub & Parade — has anchored Southern LGBTQ+ life for decades. Southern Decadence (Labor Day weekend) is one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in America, drawing 100,000+ to the Quarter each year. The Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, just downriver from the Quarter, offers a quieter, more community-focused alternative with Frenchmen Street's legendary live music scene.
Why Visit New Orleans
- 🎉 Southern Decadence — one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in the US; also on our Events Hub
- 🎤 Live music everywhere — Frenchmen Street is the world's greatest live music block; nightly, free, always
- 🎶 Mardi Gras — the LGBTQ+ community has always been at the heart of Mardi Gras; the Krewe of Petronius since 1961
- 🍼 Food culture — the finest cuisine in America; Commander's Palace, Dooky Chase, Antoine's
- ⛴️ Cruise port — New Orleans is a major embarkation port for Caribbean sailings; pair the city with a gay cruise
Neighborhoods to Know
- 🍺 French Quarter — Bourbon St gay bars: Oz, Good Friends, Bourbon Pub; the tourist LGBTQ+ center
- 🎤 Faubourg Marigny — Frenchmen St live music; queer-owned bars; local LGBTQ+ community anchor
- 🌄 Bywater — artsy, affordable, deeply queer alternative neighborhood; galleries and community
- 🏛 Garden District — upscale, beautiful antebellum mansions; gay-friendly restaurants and hotels
New Orleans LGBTQ+ Calendar
Southern Decadence and Mardi Gras are the anchors. But New Orleans hosts LGBTQ+ events year-round — the city's culture of celebration makes every visit feel like a festival.
Southern Decadence
One of the largest LGBTQ+ events in the US — 100,000+ descend on the French Quarter for a five-day celebration of music, drag, community, and the unbridled joy of Southern queer life. The Grand Marshal Parade through the Quarter on Sunday is unmissable. Also listed on our Events Hub.
Mardi Gras
The LGBTQ+ community has been central to Mardi Gras since the 1800s. The Krewe of Petronius (founded 1961) and Krewe du Vieux are famous for subversive, queer-forward celebrations. Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras is one of the great spectacles of American culture — and the gay bars run nonstop. Also listed on our Events Hub.
New Orleans Pride
New Orleans Pride fills the French Quarter and Lee Circle each June — a parade, a festival, and a week of community events that celebrates the city's famously inclusive LGBTQ+ culture.
Frenchmen Street Live Music
Frenchmen Street in the Marigny is the world's best live music block — jazz, funk, brass band, and soul, nightly, often free. The street is a beloved gathering spot for the city's LGBTQ+ community and one of the great cultural experiences in America.
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Book Flights
Find the best fares to New Orleans — fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport MSY
✈️ Armstrong Airport is 12 miles from the French Quarter. RTA Bus Route 202 runs to Tulane/Gravier ($2), or rideshare is ~$25. No rail connection, so plan on bus or rideshare into the Quarter.
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🛌 Where to Stay
🎲 Things to Do
Popular in New Orleans:
- French Quarter Walking Tour
- Swamp Airboat Adventure
- Garden District Architecture Walk
- New Orleans Jazz & Food Tour
- Frenchmen Street Live Music Night
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Travel Gear
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Getting Around New Orleans
New Orleans' French Quarter and Marigny are best explored on foot — the Quarter is only a few blocks across. The historic St. Charles streetcar is one of America's great transit rides and accesses the Garden District.
Trip Insurance
Protect your trip investment. Compare LGBTQ+-friendly travel insurance options.