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Most populous city in Pennsylvania, US
Photo: Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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).
Philadelphia's beautiful City Hall, the Convention Center, Chinatown, Washington Square West, the gay-friendly Gayborhood, and the Broad Street Arts Corridor.
West of Broad Street and City Hall, includes the art museum district, Rittenhouse Square, shopping resembling an outdoor mall with dining on Chestnut and Walnut Streets, and a good portion of the central business district with Philadelphia's tallest skyscrapers.
Philadelphia's oldest historic quarter, where the roots of American Independence began. It's between 6th Street and the Delaware River, and features Independence Mall and historical landmarks like the Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall, and Independence Hall. Also of significance are the art, design and fashion businesses and galleries, making Old City a vibrant and culturally diverse neighborhood with an 'old world' European aesthetic. Evening hours bring added excitement with great restaurants, bars and clubs.
South Street, the Italian Market, the Sports Complex, endless cheap dive bars, and Philly cheesesteaks.
Working class neighborhoods, some of which are struggling with crime problems, but also the home of Temple University and Northern Liberties.
West of the Schuylkill River, includes University City comprising of University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and its surrounding neighborhoods.
The off-the-beaten-path northwestern reaches of the city, most notable for its middle-to-upper class residential neighborhoods of Manayunk, Chestnut Hill, East Falls and Mt. Airy.
The far northeastern part of town, a residential yet multicultural area.
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The city's hometown baseball team. Founded in 1883, they are the oldest one name, one city franchise in all of professional sports. Since 2004 the team has played at Citizens Bank Park, a $350-million baseball-only facility in South Philadelphia that is among the best in the big leagues. The park is easily accessible on the subway and tickets start at $18. The food at the park was named as Best Ballpark Food in a survey of Food Network viewers in 2007.
Philadelphia's divisive NFL team, and without a shadow of a doubt the most beloved by locals. Having won two Super Bowls (LII and LIX) and consistently fielded competitive teams for the past three decades, the Eagles are one of the most storied NFL franchises. They have played at Lincoln Financial Field, next door to Citizens Bank Park, since 2003. Known for their rabid and passionate fans, Eagles games routinely sell out, often before the season even starts. To catch a game, your best bet is to book tickets as early as possible, and avoid games against NFC East teams (though they are the most entertaining, they are the most popular).
The city's NBA team, playing at Wells Fargo Center, in the immediate vicinity of the two major stadiums.
Hockey fans can also enjoy the city's NHL team, which shares Wells Fargo Center with the Sixers.
Members of Major League Soccer since 2010, the Union differ from Philly's other teams in the four biggest sports in North America in that they don't play in South Philly. Home games are played at Subaru Park, their soccer-specific stadium on the waterfront in the nearby suburb of Chester. The Union's reserve side, Philadelphia Union II, plays in the third-level MLS Next Pro at Subaru Park as well. The stadium also hosts NJ/NY Gotham FC, a team in the National Women's Soccer League based in NYC's New Jersey suburbs, for one home game each season. .
The sports teams of Temple University are in the American Athletic Conference. The football team, the city's only top-level NCAA Division I FBS program, shares Lincoln Financial Field with the Eagles. Temple men's basketball is a regular contender for conference honors. The school's best-known venue is the on-campus Liacouras Center, home to basketball.
Villanova University (often called "Nova"), a Catholic school in the Main Line suburb of Villanova, has the city's highest-profile college basketball program, a member of the rugged Big East Conference with national titles in 2016 and 2018. Since the Big East does not sponsor football, Nova plays that sport in the second-level Division I FCS as a member of CAA Football, a separate football league operated by the Colonial Athletic Association. Most of Villanova's venues are on campus, most notably Finneran Pavilion (basketball) and Villanova Stadium (football). However, high-profile basketball games are often played at the Wells Fargo Center.
Saint Joseph's University, like Villanova a Catholic institution, plays in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). Basketball is the hot-button sport on campus—"Saint Joe's" has no football team. Basketball games are played on campus at Hagan Arena. While a part of the Big 5, it has an especially strong rivalry with Villanova, with their matchup locally called the "Holy War".
The Ivy League's Philadelphia outpost, the University of Pennsylvania, also enjoys a rich athletic tradition, especially in men's basketball. Historically, Penn and Princeton have dominated the league in that sport, though other schools have emerged as contenders. Penn boasts two of the most historic venues in American sports—the Palestra (basketball) and Franklin Field (football and track). The latter is also home to the historic Penn Relays track meet.
La Salle University is another Catholic institution in the A-10. Like Saint Joe's, it also has no football team. Basketball games are played on-campus at Tom Gola Arena.
Drexel University, a private secular institution, is something of an "odd man out" in the Philly sports landscape. Despite being literally next door to Penn, it wasn't part of the Big 5 until 2023–24. Nonetheless, the Dragons enjoy a strong basketball rivalry with Penn, known as the Battle of 33rd Street—the teams' arenas are a mere three blocks apart along said street. The Dragons are members of the all-sports CAA, and like Villanova and Saint Joe's have no football team. Basketball games are played on campus at the Daskalaskis Athletic Center, often called "The DAC".
Seasonal kayak and swan-boat rentals at the Penn's Landing marina on the Delaware River
Guided kayak trips on the Schuylkill River, past Boathouse Row and the Center City skyline.
Sailboat charter on the Delaware River, sailing from the Penn's Landing area aboard SV First Light, a 32-foot O'Day 322 that carries up to six passengers with a licensed captain. It is the only sailboat charter operating on the Philadelphia waterfront; the other river operators run powered vessels. Trips head north past the Ben Franklin Bridge toward Cherry Street Pier, Race Street Pier, and Graffiti Pier, and south past Petty Island, an undeveloped island in the middle of the river. When wind and tide allow, the engine comes off and the boat sails. The ninety-minute sunset and day sails cover the central waterfront; a three-hour historic tour runs south to Fort Mifflin and back along the New Jersey bank past Red Bank battlefield and the Battleship New Jersey, covering the river's history, including the Black maritime history of the Delaware.
Offers private trips for two to six aboard an enclosed cabin cruiser, the most weather-protected of the small Delaware River operators, which makes it usable in the shoulder seasons when open boats are cold. Cruises leave from the Penn's Landing area and run in river, sunset, and brunch formats, with catered food available on board. The whole boat is chartered as a unit rather than sold by the seat.
Sea Philly runs private cruises for up to six on the Delaware River aboard a restored 1961 Chris-Craft. Trips leave from the Penn's Landing area and run about ninety minutes for a day or sunset cruise, with longer excursions on request. The boat is BYOB
Philadelphia Cruise Co. runs private pontoon boat charters on the Delaware River, BYOB, up to six guests. Day and sunset cruises with skyline views, plus charters for proposals, photoshoots, and intimate weddings. Luxury pontoon, laid-back pace.
The Ben Franklin Yacht is a three-level powered vessel built for larger groups, cruising the Delaware waterfront on public happy-hour, brunch, and dinner runs as well as private charters. Each deck has room to move, and cruises come with a bar, food, and a dance floor while the boat passes the skyline, the river bridges, and the Battleship New Jersey across the water in Camden. This is the party-boat end of the range rather than a quiet trip on the water.
The Spirit of Philadelphia is the largest of the Delaware River charter boats, a multi-deck dining ship sailing year-round from Penn's Landing. It carries hundreds of guests across lunch, dinner, brunch, and moonlight cruises, with buffet dining, a DJ, and dancing, and it is the vessel most set up for weddings, proms, and corporate events. Cruises stay on the central waterfront with skyline views from the open top deck.
A seasonal passenger ferry across the Delaware River between Penn's Landing and the Camden waterfront, running in the warmer months. The crossing takes about twelve minutes and lands beside the Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey, and it is the cheapest way to get out on the river, doubling as short transport and a low-cost way to see the skyline from the water.
Produces a variety of beers, though notably Philadelphia Pale Ale, ESA (especially if you find this in cask format), and the ales of the revolution. Historically certified beers from recipes tied to Ben Franklin, Jefferson, and a porter named after Gen. Washington. Accessible via the Spring Garden Station on the Market Frankford el.
By train
Tickets on Amtrak with 30th Street Station as the origin or destination are also valid on SEPTA regional rail to/from Suburban and Jefferson (Market East) stations in Philadelphia Center City.
By car
Philadelphia is connected to neighboring cities by freeways:
By bus
S.C.
By boat
The RiverLink and Freedom Ferry services provide travel from Philadelphia to neighboring Camden, New Jersey, between April and September.
By foot
Philadelphia is one of America's most walkable cities. This has been taken advantage of and the city is marked extremely well by "Walk!
By bicycle
Depending on where you are from, you may find Philadelphia's bicycle infrastructure to be much better, or much worse, than what you are used to.
By bus
SEPTA Bus runs an extensive bus network in Philadelphia. Buses are a convenient (if slow) method of getting almost anywhere within the city.
By train
The 69th St. Transportation Center and 30th St. Station are the main hubs of major commuter (regional) rail, subway rail and trolley lines.
Fares
All services operated by SEPTA use a common fare system. Fares may be paid with the SEPTA Key farecard, contactless credit/debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash, or the SEPTA mobile app.
By taxi
Taxis are regulated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority and display a medallion license on their hood. All taxis are metered.6 km). There is also a variable fuel surcharge.05.
By ride-hailing services
Ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft can be used to get around Philadelphia.
By car
Philadelphia is also home to Enterprise Car Share and Zipcar, where, after registering, you can book vehicles by the hour or day for significantly less than a rental car.
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