Philadelphia
Discover Philadelphia
Philadelphia, routinely referred to as Philly, is the birthplace of American democracy. In Independence Hall and in taverns and other locations around the city, the nation's founders planned and launched the American Revolution, which gave birth to the nation. Visitors interested in U.S. history will also discover that it is a city of firsts: the first library (1731), first hospital (1751), first medical school (1765), first national capital (1774), first stock exchange (1790), first zoo (1874), and first business school (1881). For most visitors, the focal point will be Center City and Old City, which comprise the downtown section of Philadelphia. It is bounded by Vine St. to the north, the Delaware River to the east, South St. to the south, and the Schuylkill River to the west. The 2010 Center City residential population of 57,000 makes it the third most populated central business district in America, behind New York City and Chicago. Other popular districts to visit are West Philly and South Philly.
What to Experience in Philadelphia
Taste of Philadelphia...
No trip to Philadelphia is complete without trying the cheesesteak, Philly's most famous homegrown food, a sandwich made of a fresh roll filled with grilled shaved beef and cheese (as well as onions, mushrooms, and other optional sides). The spiritual homes of the cheesesteak are Pat's King of Steaks, where the cheesesteak was invented, and Geno's Steaks, where they claim to have improved on Pat's version. They are across from each other in South Philly at the intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue. There are many ways to order a cheesesteak. Some cheesesteaks are made with chopped steak (Pat's and Geno's), while others are made with sliced top-round (Steve's). While Cheez-Wiz is a local favorite, many people also enjoy American or Provolone cheese on their cheesesteaks. The way the cheese is served makes a huge difference. Some cheesesteak joints simply place the cheese on top to melt (Pat's and Geno's), while others, such as Steve's, ladle hot melted cheese on top, adding to the delicious grease from the meat. Any local will tell you as well that the most important part of the cheesesteak (or hoagie, for that matter) is the roll, which is why many have found it difficult to replicate the cheesesteak outside of the Philadelphia region. Many displaced Philadelphians who have started their own restaurants elsewhere have encountered trouble making authentic cheesesteaks, and import their rolls from the Philly area.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Philadelphia into what it is today.
Known for its role in the American Revolutionary War, Philadelphia saw the convening of the Continental Congress as well as the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Shortly after the nation's inception took place in Philadelphia, Center City was named the nation's capital, a role it filled from 1790 until 1800, when Washington, D.C. took over. Prior to 1854, the city of Philadelphia only consisted roughly of what we now call Center City, extending east to west between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and north to south between Vine and South Streets. Everything else was Philadelphia County and contained thirteen townships, six boroughs, and nine districts. The Act of Consolidation in 1854 consolidated all these areas within the city of Philadelphia, creating the boundaries you see today. Benjamin Franklin, probably Philadelphia's most famous resident, was responsible for the city's alternative title, the "new Athens." While Franklin's most famous experiment dealt with the conducting of electricity, he was also responsible for the country's first insurance company, the city's first public library and the first fire department; Franklin also played a great role in establishing the city's postal system and inventing new conveniences such as bifocal lenses and the Franklin Stove....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia prides itself on its wide variety of live performances, particularly for music. Venues can be found throughout Center City East and West, Old City, South Philly and the Northern Liberties/Fishtown districts of North Philly. R5 Productions promotes smaller bands and affordable shows at several local venues. The Fringe Festival, held every September, is a 4-week-long, city-wide celebration of innovation and creativity in contemporary performance. Each September, the Festival explodes into every nook and cranny of Philadelphia with more than 1,000 artistically daring performances. Several of the college campuses in the area have theater programs and student-run theaters that often run shows. One such is the Masque of La Salle, which often hosts performances at its Dan Rodden Theatre. Philadelphia takes its sports seriously and makes a legitimate claim to being the sports capital of the nation. As one of the largest metro areas in the U.S.
Climate
Philadelphia sits at the northernmost boundary of the humid subtropical climate zone; it has many features of a humid continental climate, and the climate has four seasons. Winters are cold and often snowy, but are rarely unbearable like in Boston or Chicago; temperatures usually hover around 32°F (0°C) during the colder months. Average annual snowfall is 24 inches (59 cm) which is spread out mainly from December to March, but the area is sometimes hit by devastating blizzards that can dump up to half that total or even more on the city in one day, such as in 1996 when a single storm dumped 30.7 inches (78 cm) of snow on the city in just a couple days. Daylight hours run from 7:15AM to 4:45PM. On the other hand, summers in Philadelphia are notoriously hot and humid, and conditions can get quite unpleasant when the air temperature is near 90°F (32°C) and humidity is high.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsPhiladelphia International Airport is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley. Alternatively, you can fly to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or Baltimore-Washington International Airport] (BWI), each of which is connected by Amtrak to 30th Street Station (1 hr from EWR; 80 min from BWI). Other New York and Washington-area airports are less convenient. It is possible to get to Philadelphia from NYC via commuter rail rather than by Amtrak. Using this method, one would take New Jersey Transit from New York Penn Station to Trenton and then transfer to the SEPTA Regional Rail Trenton Line. While this is about a third the price of Amtrak service from NYC, it is more than an hour slower; on the other hand, this is comparable to both the speed and price of an average bus trip from New York, with much more frequent journeys and a more comfortable trip....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
There are plenty of public transportation options to get around the downtown core of Philadelphia. Buses, trains, and trolleys gather at 30th St. Station and the 69th St. Transportation Center. Most services are operated by SEPTA, see Fares below for their ticket system. Absolutely no smoking is allowed in any SEPTA Transit Station. SEPTA Staff, transit police officers, and even fellow riders will ask you to extinguish/dispose of tobacco before entering. Violators may be subject to fines, arrest, or even community service. Walking or biking are also viable options for getting around. Philadelphia is one of America's most walkable cities. This has been taken advantage of and the city is marked extremely well by "Walk! Philadelphia" signs that are placed on each block, sometimes only several feet apart, that guide visitors toward shopping, dining, gallery perusing, cultural enjoyment, local must-sees and public transportation should it need to be taken.
Where to Stay
Philadelphia is home to two hostels within the city limits, both are affiliated with Hostelling International USA: Apple Hostels in the Old City is less than 3 blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall; and HI — Chamounix Mansion Hostel in West Philly, which sits on a scenic bluff above the Schuylkill River and is 45 minutes to downtown Philadelphia's cultural and historic attractions. There is a wide variety of hotels located in Philadelphia. Prices usually range from $100 to $200 a night, excluding weeks with major trade conventions. Center City is home to a wide variety of moderate and high end hotel chains that can be found in five main areas: Philadelphia is thoroughly covered by all of the major American cellular telephone companies. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile phones will all receive full service in most parts of the city. As always, service indoors varies according to signal strength, phone brand, and the composition of the building itself.
Money & Budget
Philadelphia's Old City has always been a center of commerce, and as Philadelphia grew to be a bigger city many shops and department stores were found on Market Street between Old City and City Hall. Two such landmark department stores on Market Street were Gimbels and Strawbridge & Clothiers, which faced increasing difficulty in competing against suburban department chains in the 20th century. In the 1970s, the Gallery at Market East, an urban mall with Gimbels and Strawbridge & Clothiers as major anchors, opened to stem the tide of retailers fleeing the urban core to the regional shopping malls. Despite success in the first decade or so of operation, the Gallery remained unable to compete; Gimbels closed in 1986, while Strawbridge's closed in 2006.
Language & Talk
For those who are unfamiliar with either the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast or even just Philadelphia regions, local lingo and enunciation can seem daunting. Older white working-class locals mostly speak with a distinctive accent, as does Philadelphia's African-American community; Philly's Black community is responsible for many modern-day slang words and expressions that have become ubiquitous in American culture. As with most major US cities, transplants, academics, other ethnic minorities (especially Asians), and millennials now tend to speak with a more general American accent. Nevertheless, most young people from the Philadelphia area have made laudable efforts in keeping elements of the accent alive, most notably with regards to vowels and vocabulary.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Philadelphia has a major crime problem. As early as the late 1980s it was bestowed the notorious moniker of 'Killadelphia'. Even to this day the city suffers from some of the worst crime rates in the USA. However, as a rule of thumb, the places visitors are likely to spend time in are safe and well policed, so be informed about places that are popular with tourists. Center City and surrounding neighborhoods have very low crime rates (some of the lowest in the country). Wealthier neighborhoods like Rittenhouse Square, Old City, and Society Hill, are safe, as are Northeast Philadelphia (for the most part), Northwest Philadelphia, the Art Museum Area, Chinatown, the Parkway, and Bella Vista. Some petty crimes (mostly pickpocketing) happen but much less often than the media suggest. South Philadelphia is generally safe, though certain parts should be avoided at night (especially those near I-95). On the flip side, other parts of the city struggle with rampant crime.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Philadelphia
Early morning in the city of brotherly love
Shot along the Schuylkill River, with the Philadelphia Art Museum and the center city skyline as the backdrop.
Love Park, Philadelphia
A good time to be outside.
We took a day trip to Philadelphia to explore and create. We ended up in Rittenhouse Square, my favorite area of Philly. I took this picture right before we went to get smoothies. It captures the feeling you get in the Rittenhouse area; the hustle and bustle of city life, great tones, incredible buildings, but a small hometown vibe. When I see this picture it puts me back in that happy place.
Sunset in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Museum of Art with Philadelphia Center City skyline in the distance
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Sunrise over the skyline of central Philadelphia.
city skyline during day time
Early morning in the city of brotherly love
Shot along the Schuylkill River, with the Philadelphia Art Museum and the center city skyline as the backdrop.
Love Park, Philadelphia