Philadelphia – Explore the Vibrant Historical City
Philadelphia is the main city in the state of Pennsylvania. It's one of the most historical cities in the United States and served as the U.S. capital before Washington D.C. was established. On July 4, 1776, America's independence was declared in Philadelphia. Today, Philadelphia is a large and vibrant city with plenty to see and do. The Old City is the heart of American independence. To the west, the city's downtown is filled with skyscrapers. There's also Philadelphia's vast cultural strip along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Logan Square, home to some of the East Coast's most important museums.
How many days do you need for a trip to Philadelphia?
For a trip to Philadelphia, you'll need at least two full days if you want to see everything. You can plan a one-day tour that starts from the Old City, goes through Market Street, and ends at the Art Museum where Rocky Balboa's steps are located.
12 must-see things to do in Philadelphia
- Pretend to ring the Liberty Bell
- Visit the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed at Independence Hall
- Wave your arms like Rocky Balboa at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps
- See masterpieces by the greatest artists at the museum itself
- The breathtaking Bell Tower of City Hall
- Enjoy a Philly Cheesesteak at Reading Terminal Market
- Discover nature at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Learn about science at The Franklin Institute
- Let kids engage and touch at the Please Touch Museum
- The extensive Renoir collection at the Barnes Foundation
- Step back into 18th-century Philadelphia on Elfreth's Alley
- A thrilling game of the 76ers or the Phillies in South Philly
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What is Philadelphia?
- Philadelphia is one of the most important cities in the historic journey to U.S. independence.
- The city was one of the largest in the 13 founding colonies, and along with Boston and New York, it's considered a cradle of American patriotism.
- Philadelphia's identity as a part of patriotism is highlighted in a city tour, including the entire urban area of Philadelphia's Old City, dedicated to the American identity.
- On July 4, 1776, representatives of all 13 founding colonies gathered in the city and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, marking the separation from the British crown.
Philadelphia was founded in 1862 by Quaker settlers led by William Penn (after whom the state of Pennsylvania is named). Penn named the city Philadelphia as a compound of the Greek words for brotherly love, hence the city's nickname, The City of Brotherly Love.
- Philadelphia today is home to about one and a half million residents, and its metropolitan area includes more than six million people.
- This is the largest and most important city in the state of Pennsylvania.
- It lies on the western bank of the wide Delaware River, in the extensive area known as the Delaware Valley.
- The river serves as the boundary between the state of Pennsylvania and the eastern state of New Jersey, where the city of Camden is located.
- The border with the state of Delaware is found south of the city center, with Wilmington, a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, already located in the neighboring state.
- Philadelphia is strategically located in the NYC megalopolis, just a 1.5-hour drive from Manhattan and 2.5 hours from Washington D.C.
Philadelphia Map
How to Get to Philadelphia?
How to fly to Philadelphia?
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) – The city's major airport is located south of the historic downtown. It's well-connected to downtown via the I-95 highway that reaches right into the city center, in just a 10-minute drive. Philadelphia Airport is a key hub for American Airlines and is well-connected with all major U.S. airports and central European airports.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – The second largest airport serving the New York area is located in New Jersey, between the cities of Newark to the north and Elizabeth to the south. The airport has three terminals connected by an efficient airtrain system. This airport is a hub for American Airlines, JetBlue, and American Express, making it accessible to every corner of the USA. There are many flights to and from Europe and Israel, including El Al flights. The travel time from Newark to Philadelphia is only about an hour and fifteen minutes.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – Named after John F. Kennedy, this is the largest airport in New York City itself. It is located in the southern part of the Queens borough on the shore of Jamaica Bay and is conveniently connected to Manhattan. This massive airport serves as a hub for the American airlines Delta, American Airlines, and JetBlue, offering connections to every corner of the USA. The drive from Kennedy to Philadelphia takes about an hour and forty-five minutes, depending on traffic.
How to reach Philadelphia by car?
- Philadelphia's metropolitan area is part of the New York megapolis, and the city is very conveniently connected with Manhattan
- The I-95, the highway running along the entire Eastern seaboard from Miami, passes right through the historical center of Philadelphia
- The travel time on the I-95 from Manhattan to Philadelphia is just an hour and a half, making it possible to enjoy day trips to the historic city from New York.
- The I-95 continues south towards Baltimore and Washington D.C., with the federal capital about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from central Philadelphia.
- The I-76 highway connects Philadelphia with Harrisburg, the state capital, as well as with Hershey, Gettysburg, and Lancaster County (Pennsylvania Dutch Country), approximately an hour and a half drive westward.
For a day trip from New York to Philadelphia and Amish Country, click here…
The Philadelphia Metro
Philadelphia's metro is a network of four lines – yellow, blue, green, and red, offering easy transportation within the city center via public transit.
- Since the trip within Philadelphia will not cover a vast area, you can use the metro to move between clusters of attractions in Old City (where the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are located) to City Hall, and from there to the magnificent museums at Logan Square
- The city's main axis is Market Street, which also features a light rail line along it
- This axis connects all the interesting areas worth exploring in the city
When to Visit Philadelphia?
- The perfect season to travel to Philadelphia is late spring. Towards the end of spring and start of summer, you get an almost perfect blend of weather conditions. It's generally pleasant, not rainy, and the daylight hours are really long.
- During summer, the weather is comfortable, but it can sometimes get quite hot. In the summer, the city is at its best, which makes it very lively.
- In the winter season, the city is often cold to freezing. On one hand, it's charming, but on the other hand, snow and frost make traveling quite challenging.
- Autumn is also not a bad time at all to visit, although it can sometimes be rainy to stormy.
Click here for a guided food tour in the heart of Philadelphia's legendary food scene…
Click here for a particularly sweet guided tour following Philadelphia's donuts…
How to plan a travel itinerary in Philadelphia?
- The location of Philadelphia allows it to be integrated into many routes throughout the northern part of the Atlantic coast.
- The city is a one and a half hour drive from New York City, making it a great destination for a day (or two) trip from Manhattan.
- You can take a route south from Manhattan towards Philadelphia and then continue to Pennsylvania Dutch Country and further south to Washington D.C.
- The city's tour route is very straightforward, based on a linear line that stretches more or less, along Market Street towards Fairmount Park through Ben Franklin Parkway.
- The tour starts in Old City, where the famous Liberty Bell is located, continues to the skyscraper of City Hall in the heart of Downtown, and proceeds to the excellent museums near Logan Circle.
- You can also hop over to University City, to the campus of Penn State and Drexel University.
Click here to plan a trip route in Philadelphia and for professional consultation…
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Click here to purchase online tickets for the Penn State Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology…
Everything to see and do in Philadelphia
Philadelphia – Downtown and Ben Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia's downtown is a different experience from the Old Town to the east. This is a downtown of a classic American city with high skyscrapers, bustling and busy streets, and an intense atmosphere. To the west stretches Benjamin Franklin Parkway's high-quality museum row, home to some of the best museums in the USA. West of downtown is Penn State's University District, where you can feel the American campus vibe at its best.
Click here for a guided tour of Philadelphia's downtown…
Travel itinerary in Philadelphia's Downtown and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- The City Hall area of Philadelphia is located in the heart of the city's downtown. Since there are entire parts that aren't really worth visiting, it's best to focus your tour on Market Street and City Hall alone and, of course, sample the quality Philly cheesesteak at Reading Terminal Market.
- Market Street leads east towards Old City, the historical center of Philadelphia and the place where US independence was declared.
- From City Hall begins Philadelphia's cultural avenue – the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, along which are some of the most important cultural treasures in the eastern US.
Along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is also Logan Square. This wide square is home to several important institutions, including the Franklin Institute's Science Museum and Drexel University's wonderful Natural History Museum. The Barnes Foundation's private collection is also located there. This fantastic museum is just the prelude to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, further down the road, which is one of the largest and most important art museums in the US.
- Behind the large museum, whose steps became iconic with the movie Rocky, you'll find Fairmount Park, which is home to many attractions.
- The city's wonderful zoo and the ‘Please Touch' Museum, one of the most innovative children's museums in the United States, are located in the great park.
- South of the park is University City, where Penn State Campus is located.
- At Penn State Campus, you can experience the American academic world, including a visit to the university museum with its important archaeological and ethnological collection.
Philadelphia – The Old City
Philadelphia's Old City is the historic center where the capital of the USA operated in the late 18th century. It was in Philadelphia's Old City that the United States declared its independence, making this area a hotspot for American patriots. The Old City boasts a wealth of attractions linked to American history, with the famous Liberty Bell taking the spotlight.
What is Philadelphia's Old City?
- The historic downtown of Philadelphia was once the site of the first capital of the USA
- In the Old City area, the USA declared its independence. The governing center of the young nation was located at the mall, which is now the historic Independence Park
- Philadelphia's Old City is today largely a historical and museum district, packed with fascinating sites surrounding the historic Independence Park, including the iconic Liberty Bell
- To the east, there are more houses remaining from the end of the 17th century, and in the streets (mainly along the central Market Street), you can feel the city of the past.
- The highlight of the old city is Elfreth's Alley, which has become one of the most beautiful places to visit in the rather drab city.
- Along the river runs the I-95 highway, which connects with the massive Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Click here for all the information on the sites of the historic center, Old City of Philadelphia…
Accommodations and Hotels in Philadelphia – All the Info and Tips
How to Find a Place to Stay in Philadelphia?
- In the historic center and downtown of Philadelphia, there is a large number of accommodations with a wide variety of levels and options.
- A large portion of the downtown hotels are located near the Market Street corridor and City Hall. There you'll find hotels of large international chains like the Marriott and Westin brands.
- As you get closer to City Hall, the hotel standard rises and this is where you'll find luxury hotels like the Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, and more.
- Throughout downtown Philadelphia, there is a plethora of three and four-star hotels, most of which are well-known brands.
- Another cluster of good hotels is near Philadelphia's Old City. These hotels resemble motels and are close to the I-95 route.
- The hotel standard in the heart of Philadelphia ranges from generally good to very good.
- If you're coming by car, it's important to arrange parking in advance!
Another option for families is of course staying in comfortable motels located near main routes, some of which are very close to the city center.
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3 Best Areas to Stay in Downtown Philadelphia?
- Market Street and City Hall – Restaurants and entertainment in the heart of downtown.
- Logan Square – Great hotels near the city's major museums
- Old City – Lots of attractions right nearby
Map – Where to stay in downtown Philadelphia?
Motels around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area
- The American lodging system differs fundamentally from what we know in Europe. While it's definitely worth staying in downtown Philadelphia, you can also find excellent motels on the outskirts of the city
- For those coming to Philadelphia by car, motels are a great solution mainly because of the convenient parking
- In the Philadelphia metropolitan area, there are several main clusters of motels where you can find all the popular brands like Motel 6, Super 8, or the major chains like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG.
- The motels have a nearly uniform standard of large and comfortable rooms, two big beds, and a fairly basic breakfast
- In Philadelphia specifically, it's recommended to stay in motels a bit farther from the city center (an extra fifteen-minute drive) since the closer you get to downtown with a car, the motel standards drop, and some are really best avoided.
Click here for a tasting tour at Reading Terminal Market…
The main clusters of motels in Philadelphia:
- In the neighborhoods of North Philly, along the route of the 276 perimeter highway, there's a line of great motels and hotels with a pleasant rustic charm.
- Near the city of Trenton, north of Philadelphia on Route 95, you'll find excellent motels within reasonable driving distance of downtown Philadelphia.
- Near the city's international airport – along Route 95 close to the airport, there are some really terrible motels!!! It's better to find accommodations further south towards Wilmington, Delaware.
Click here to find accommodation in Philadelphia hotels…
Essential info and tips for finding the perfect stay in Philadelphia
Before booking a hotel in Philadelphia, it's highly recommended to take some time to read what previous guests have to say. There are dozens of booking sites online, and all of them offer the option to input reviews about the hotel. Whether booking through Booking.com or Expedia, or even via a local agency, carve out some time to learn about the quality of the hotel you're headed to.
It's a must to read reviews on hotels through Booking.com (reliable because only those who've stayed can write a review) or TripAdvisor (less reliable – open to anyone who wants to write).
Click here for a nighttime tour of Philadelphia…
- Look for reviews in Hebrew – Most overseas accommodations usually won't bother faking reviews in Hebrew. If you see a review written in proper Hebrew (not a Google Translate job), you can assume it's genuine. Hebrew reviews often focus on things that matter to us as Israelis.
- How many reviews were written about the hotel? – If there aren't many reviews, it's suspicious. Focus on hotels that have hundreds of reviews.
- Filter out suspicious reviews – The review faking industry is vast. When reviewing a hotel, be skeptical of highly positive reviews (no hotel would write negative reviews about itself).
- Identify reliable reviews – The most reliable reviews are often balanced. If you see both pros and cons together in the same review, consider it trustworthy.
- Look for recurring patterns – If many reviews mention that the hotel is noisy from the outside, unfortunately, it probably is noisy. Conversely, if many reviews say the bed is super comfortable, then great, it really is comfy… Good night.
Guy's hot tip – Explore the street of the hotel using Google Street View
Since Philadelphia has areas that are not so great, it's recommended, even mandatory, to learn in advance about the hotel's quality and the neighborhood it's located in.
Google Earth software has opened up the opportunity for us travelers to see where we're headed in advance. Take a tour with this efficient tool and check the hotel's quality and its surroundings. Check if there are any openable windows or if the hotel's windows are dirty. Look at the building's exterior condition, is it renovated? Are there broken doors or windows, etc.?
Check out the hotel's surrounding area as well. Is the street it’s on too busy? Or on the flip side, is it deserted or neglected? Are there homeless people in the street? Abandoned businesses? Piles of junk? Etc. In Philadelphia, it's best not to take any chances. If the hotel or its surroundings don’t look appealing to you, consider finding another place in this state-of-the-art city.
Sports Teams in Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76
The NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, is one of the city's leading symbols. The team was founded in 1946 in Syracuse, Upstate New York, and moved to Philly in 1963 after the local franchise, the Philadelphia Warriors, moved to San Francisco (now the Golden State Warriors). During these years, Wilt Chamberlain, one of the game’s greats, played with the team, and they won two championships. They won another championship in 1983. The team plays at the Wells Fargo Center, located in the southern part of the city, near the I-95 route. It is the city's sports hub, home to its football and baseball stadiums.
Wells Fargo Center Stadium address: 3601 S Broad St., Philadelphia, NRG metro station at the end of the red line.
Click here to purchase tickets for the 76ers' games…
Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are Philadelphia's prestigious football team and one of the best teams in the NFL. The team was founded in 1933 and has won four Super Bowls, the latest being in 2017. Philadelphia is known for its ‘European' sports crowd, including boisterous fan groups with a character completely different from the American perspective of sports as entertainment. The Eagles themselves are a bit wild with a very lively crowd.
The Eagles play at Lincoln Financial Field, in the southern part of the city, near the Wells Fargo Center. Although the stadium holds 70,000 people, it's very difficult to get tickets to the team's games.
Address of Lincoln Financial Field: One Lincoln Financial Field Way, 19148, Philadelphia, NRG station at the end of the red line.
Click here for ticket inquiries and purchases for Eagles games on the team's website…
The Philadelphia Phillies
The city's baseball team is also well-known among European audiences, often involved in events considered extreme by American sports standards (in European terms – a calm derby in Madrid or London). The team was founded in 1883 and has only won the World Series twice. The team's home stadium is Citizens Bank Park, which seats 43,000 spectators. The stadium is located in the sports complex in the south of the city, near the Lincoln Financial Field.
Address of Citizens Bank Park: Citizens Bank Way, 1, Philadelphia, NRG metro station at the end of the red line.
Click here to check and purchase tickets for the Phillies' games on the MLB website…
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are the city's professional hockey team. The Flyers play at the Wells Fargo Center, alongside the city's basketball team. The team was founded in 1967 and joined the NHL. They won the Stanley Cup twice in the 70s. Like other city teams, Flyers fans are considered particularly wild (again… in American terms).
Wells Fargo Center Stadium address: 3601 S Broad St., Philadelphia, NRG metro station at the end of the red line.
Click here to check and purchase tickets for the Capitals' games on the NHL website…
