Lonely Planet Experiences Private LGBTQ+ History, Neighborhood and Pub Tour of Greenwich Village
New York, USA
Office phone number: +1 (347) 878-8444
Lonely Planet Experiences Private LGBTQ+ History, Neighborhood and Pub Tour of Greenwich Village
New York, USA
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
-
Tour snapshot
Explore the famous LGBTQ+ history of Greenwich Village with a local NYC guide by your side. See Stonewall Inn, the place where the gay rights movement kicked off in 1969, enjoy a drink in the city’s oldest known gay bar and grab an ice-cream covered in rainbow sprinkles at the city’s sauciest ice-cream parlor!
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
-
Highlights
- Drink at the oldest gay bar in NYC and sing with the locals at a café where many Broadway stars go to croon at the piano
- Visit the location where ‘the shot glass that was heard around the world’ was thrown: Stonewall Inn, the gay bar that launched the civil rights movement for LGBTQ+ people back in 1969
- Celebrate gay history at Big Gay Ice Cream; a fancy cone is included in your tour!
- Tour the iconic West Village where celebrities, writers, provocateurs and social justice warriors used to call home (and see where they used to live and work)
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destination guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- Your tour represents, employs, and encourages visibility of minorities by creating cross-cultural connectivity. All the guides who give this tour identify as LGBTQ+.
- Your guide will discuss safe sex practices and educate about disease protection.
- Your tour also visits a national monument and park, which celebrates the importance of the National Park Services.
-
Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Washington Square Arch in Washington Square, NYC
View on Google Maps
- Starting time: 4.00 PM
- Ending point:
Marie’s Crisis Café, 59 Grove Street
Language: English
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide, one drink at an iconic gay bar (beer, wine or cocktail), Ice-cream cone
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide
Your private LGBTQ+ NYC adventure begins in Washington Square. After we get the formal introductions out of the way we’ll head to our first stop of the day - Gay Street where you’ll learn the history of this former stable alley (hint: the street name has nothing to do with the gay rights’ movement) and see where various gay liberators lived in the area north of Washington Square Park.
NYC’s oldest gay bar, Julius’, is next on our LGBTQ+ agenda, pull up a stool and soak in the atmosphere and drink in the ‘love is love is love…’
Then we’ll take a sobering look at the NYC Aids Memorial to honor our sisters, brothers and others who we miss and will never forget.
Next up is Christopher Street – arguably the most important thoroughfare in the West Village, where we’ll pass by iconic shops (the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, Stonewall Inn) and the Stonewall National Monument, the country’s first (and, so far, only) National Monument to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and their achievements.
You scream, I scream… it’s time for Big Gay Ice Cream! Our next stop involves a custom cone ice-cream from NYC’s iconic sweet shop founded by two gay entrepreneurs with a sweet tooth!
Your private walking tour then goes past some of the major institutions (Cherry Street Theater! Chumley’s!) that have defined the West Village over the past half-century.
Our LGBTQ+ adventure ends at our favorite piano bar, where you never know who you might spot belting out a Broadway Lullaby. Join in, sing out, celebrate! It’s Gay New York!
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
-
Additional information
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide, one drink at an iconic gay bar (beer, wine or cocktail), Ice-cream cone
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide
Dress standard: Dress for all weather, including sturdy shoes. We welcome all levels of flamboyancy (or not): beads, feathers, corsets… come as you are!
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. In an effort to eliminate waste, we recommend that you upload your voucher on a mobile device. We do not need a physical copy of your voucher. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Travellers under 21 years of age are not permitted to join this tour.
-
Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@newyorkcityurbanadventures.com
-
Local contact
Office phone number: +1 (347) 878-8444
Email address: info@newyorkcityurbanadventures.com
BACK TO TOP