Philadelphia travel guide
Philadelphia Tourism | Philadelphia Guide
You're Going to Love Philadelphia
With a population of 1,53 million, Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Philadelphia deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Philadelphia
Center City is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Philadelphia. These include popular favourites such as Gyu-Kaku - Philadelphia, PA (1901 Callowhill Street), Shiso Noodle and Sushi Bar (604 South St) and Talula's Daily - Secret Supper Club (208 West Washington Square). If you’re looking for affordable options, Alma De Cuba (1623 Walnut Street) and Maggiano's - Philadelphia (1201 Filbert Street) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Adrian (3601 South Broad Street) and South Philly Italian Kitchen (311 W Mount Pleasant Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Philadelphia.
When to visit Philadelphia
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Philadelphia in July, when the average temperature is 26 °C, and the highest can go up to 31 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -4 °C, with an average temperature of 1 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 112 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Philadelphia, with an average rainfall of 69 mm.
How to Get to Philadelphia
Plane
When flying to Philadelphia, you’ll arrive at Philadelphia Airport (PHL), which is located 11 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Philadelphia from Australia departs from Melbourne and takes around 36h 18m.
Train
Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Philadelphia, followed by Acela. The train journey from Philadelphia to Newark takes 0h 33m and costs around $8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Baltimore, expect to pay about $8 for a 1h 08m trip. Located 2.4 km from the city centre, Philadelphia 30th Street Station is the busiest station in Philadelphia. Another popular train station is Philadelphia North, located 5 km from the centre.
Car
Another option to get to Philadelphia is to pick up a car hire from New York, which is about 133 km from Philadelphia. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Avis, among others, in New York.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Philadelphia, including Megabus, Bus and OurBus. From New York, the bus ride to Philadelphia takes 177 km and will cost you around $15. From Washington, D.C., the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 282 km. The most popular bus station is Philadelphia Independence Hall Visitors Ctr - 601 Market St, located 0.5 km from the city centre of Philadelphia. Philadelphia Jfk & Broad is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Philadelphia
Where to stay in Philadelphia
From 5-star hotels such as the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center to great affordable options like the Morris House Hotel, Philadelphia offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $305 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $524 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown/Center City and Apple Hostels of Philadelphia. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Philadelphia, with prices from $109 to $1,202 per night. Center City is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Philadelphia are about 12% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Center City - Lokal Hotel Old City, The Franklin on Rittenhouse, A Boutique Hotel and La Reserve Bed And Breakfast have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Center City will cost you about $160 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Philadelphia
Most booked hotels in Philadelphia
Hiring a car in Philadelphia
Hiring a car in Philadelphia costs $101 per day, on average, or $201 if you want to hire it for 2 days. Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Philadelphia is the Dollar branch at 1 Arrivals Road, which is 11 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.56 per litre in Philadelphia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.67 and $24.89. The most frequently booked car type in Philadelphia is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is, on average, 53% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.
Best car hire deals in Philadelphia
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$66/day
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$68/day