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Major city · United States

Philadelphia

Give Philadelphia 2–3 nights: Old City and the museum mile on foot in a day, one half-day for a neighbourhood, and it slots between New York and Washington by train.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Jan–Feb (cold snaps and snow)
Airports
PHL · EWR · BWI
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Philadelphia is the birthplace of American democracy and the country's first capital, and most of what you came for sits in a walkable strip between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Two nights covers Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Museum of Art steps and one food market; three nights adds a neighbourhood and a day trip. It is a train stop, not a flight destination, for most visitors: 1 h 25 min from New York, 1 h 40 min from Washington on Amtrak.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Philadelphia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeUS$3–6
  • Street or quick mealRoast pork sandwich at Reading Terminal MarketUS$12–16
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a shopUS$7–9US$2–4
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km rideshareSurge pricing after events.US$14–22
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrySome museums are pay-what-you-wish at set hours; check.US$20–30
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Independence Hall and the Liberty BellPhiladelphia Museum of Art and the Rocky StepsReading Terminal MarketCheesesteaks and roast pork sandwichesAmtrak's 30th Street Station
Airports
PHL Philadelphia International Airport (SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line to Center City, about 25 min; see the airport transfer page for the current fare.) · EWR Newark Liberty International (Amtrak to 30th Street Station, about 1 h; useful if the fare or routing is better.) · BWI Baltimore-Washington International (Amtrak to 30th Street Station, about 1 h 20 min.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Philadelphia: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

5°C

−3°C

10 rd

Feb

7°C

−3°C

9 rd

Mar

12°C

1°C

11 rd

Apr

18°C

7°C

11 rd

May

24°C

12°C

11 rd

Jun

28°C

18°C

10 rd

Jul

31°C

21°C

11 rd

Aug

30°C

20°C

10 rd

Sep

26°C

16°C

9 rd

Oct

19°C

9°C

9 rd

Nov

13°C

4°C

9 rd

Dec

8°C

−1°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Center City and Old City are walkable end to end in about 30–40 min. SEPTA runs the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway lines plus buses and trolleys; a single ride is a flat fare and day passes exist (check current prices). Amtrak, SEPTA Regional Rail and NJ Transit meet at 30th Street Station. Driving is for day trips only: parking downtown is expensive and the streets are one-way.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Washington, D.C.go

Door to door: About 2 h 15 min

Amtrak Northeast Regional or Acela from 30th Street Station

Do it as a long day or, better, as the next stop on the line.

New Yorkgo

Door to door: About 2 h

Amtrak from 30th Street Station

Book ahead: walk-up fares on this corridor are high.

Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch country

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Amtrak Keystone from 30th Street Station

Market and farmland; a half-day is enough unless you drive.

Reading, Pennsylvania

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min by car

Car, or bus with a change

No direct train; only worth it with a car.

Kutztown

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

Car

Small-town Pennsylvania; pair it with Reading.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Center City (Rittenhouse and around City Hall)

Best all-round base: walkable to the museums, restaurants and the Broad Street line; most hotel beds.

Old City

Historic quarter by the river; you wake up next to Independence Hall, quieter at night, fewer rooms.

University City (West)

Cheaper beds near Penn and Drexel, 10–15 min to Center City on the Market-Frankford line.

Airport area

Only for a very early flight; nothing to walk to and a train ride from everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
US$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
US$150–250 excl. bed
High
US$280+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × US$220US$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170US$680
SEPTA Airport Line, both ways2 × US$15 · checkUS$30
SEPTA day pass, one day2 × US$13 · checkUS$26
Independence Hall timed ticket2 × US$1 · check; booking fee onlyUS$2
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$121
Trip total≈ US$332 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,329

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax and tipping are the two things that move the total most. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeUS$3–6
CheesesteakCash-only counters still exist.US$12–18
Roast pork sandwich at Reading Terminal MarketUS$12–16
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shopUS$7–9 / US$2–4
SEPTA single rideUS$2.50 (check)
5 km rideshareSurge pricing after events.US$14–22
Museum entrySome museums are pay-what-you-wish at set hours; check.US$20–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Center City and Old City are busy and generally safe by day and evening; the real risks are petty theft on transit, aggressive panhandling, and walking into North Philadelphia blocks at night. Use a rideshare after dark and keep your phone out of sight on the subway.
  • Sales tax is added at the till; the shelf price is not the price you pay.
  • Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 a drink, 15–20% in taxis.
  • Independence Hall entry is by timed ticket from the visitor centre, and security screening applies; no ticket, no entry.
  • Some North Philadelphia blocks have real crime problems; stay in the centre at night and use a rideshare after dark.
  • Summer heat and humidity push the heat index past 32°C; plan the walking blocks for the morning.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

Most countries keep embassies in Washington, D.C., with consulates in New York; check your own country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • PHL → Center City, SEPTA Airport Line: about US$7–8, about 25 min (check)
  • Taxi or rideshare PHL → Center City: US$35–50, 20–30 min
  • Amtrak Philadelphia → New York: US$40–150 depending on how far ahead you book, about 1 h 25 min (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the subway station? — Where is the subway station?
  • One cheesesteak, please — One cheesesteak, please
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?

English is the working language; no phrasebook needed.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Philadelphia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Jan–Feb (cold snaps and snow) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PHL: last Airport Line departures field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Old City and Independence Mall, City Hall and Reading Terminal, Rittenhouse and the museum mile, South Street and the Italian Market.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Museum of Art, Eastern State Penitentiary) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rain and heat fixtures so the indoor route and the morning-walk route can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources