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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Swarthmore
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Swarthmore; walk the college campus, visit Scott Arboretum, and grab a quick bite.
Swarthmore is a compact Pennsylvania borough centered on Swarthmore College. Its main attractions – the college campus, the free Scott Arboretum, and a handful of eateries – are within walking distance, so a single day (or a few hours if you’re on a tight schedule) is sufficient.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, occasional snow)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–$50 excl. bed · Mid $50–$80 excl. bed · High $80+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Hobb’s | $3–$5 |
| Pizza slice at Swarthmore Pizza | $4–$7 |
| Bamboo Bistro dinner | $12–$20 |
| SEPTA bus fare | $2.50 |
| SEPTA rail fare | $5–$7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PHL · Philadelphia International Airport
- Minutes by taxi or SEPTA Airport Line
Typical fares
- SEPTA Media‑Elwyn line, Swarthmore ↔ Philadelphia
- about $5–$7, 30 min (check)
- SEPTA Route 109 bus
- about $2.50, 10 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The borough is walkable; bicycles are common. SEPTA Route 109 bus runs along Chester Road, and the Media/Elwyn Regional Rail stops at Swarthmore Station. CarShare spots are at the station.
See and do
Known for
- Swarthmore College
- Scott Arboretum
- local pizza and Mediterranean food
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | SEPTA Regional Rail Media/Elwyn Line, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Media (town) | Walk or bike across the Brinton Memorial Bridge, 5 min | ≈10 min |
Sleep
- The Inn at Swarthmore
- Bed‑and‑breakfast in the village; good for a night if you want to stay locally.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse meExcuse me |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?Can I pay by card? |
| I need a taxi | I need a taxiI need a taxi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Parking can be limited near the college during class hours.
- Some restaurants have limited hours; call ahead.
Swarthmore is a low‑crime residential area; typical precautions apply, especially at night on quiet streets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Swarthmore yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Swarthmore College
- Scott Arboretum
- local pizza and Mediterranean food
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Swarthmore: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Swarthmore, revision 5041321 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5041321
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Swarthmore
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US citizens have consular services in Philadelphia; other nationals use the US Embassy in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/swarthmore). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.