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Philadelphia/Northeast

Northeast Philadelphia is a more residential area of the city, although it is home to burgeoning Russian, Brazilian, and Indian communities and restaurants. Northeast Philly is home to Philadelphia Mills Mall (formerly Franklin Mills Mall), claimed to be the most visited attraction in Pennsylvania.

Understand
The Northeast is notable for bargain shopping. Northeast Philadelphia is home to Philadelphia Mills Mall, with many popular brands having large outlet stores there. The Far Northeast is the farthest north you can get in Philadelphia without leaving the city. This section is mostly residential and somewhat suburban in character, with some light industrial parks. The lower portion of the Northeast tends to have a more dense, urban feel. Pennypack Park runs through the Northeast and the Far Northeast.

Port Richmond is largely populated by people of Polish and Irish descent. Known for various Polish businesses as well as restaurants, this section of the city is known for its authentic Polish cuisine. Many different grade schools, public and parochial, are in Port Richmond. This area of the city is very convenient to Center City, Old City, South Philly, the Northeast, as well as New Jersey via the Betsy Ross Bridge. Access to the El as well as the trolley and bus routes also make this area a great place to live and commute to different areas of the city. Affordable housing is also a perk of the Port Richmond area. This neighborhood is made up of mostly row homes and various types of apartments. Many businesses thrive along Aramingo Avenue, which is a heavy populated avenue in this neighborhood.

Wissinoming and nearby Tacony are home to several churches and grade schools. Access to New Jersey is provided via the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. Wissinoming is situated to the east of Frankford, which is home to the Frankford Transportation Center (known colloquially as "Bridge and Pratt" since the terminal is at the intersection of Pratt and Bridge Streets). The Market Frankford Line (or El)'s eastern terminus is the Frankford Transportation Center. There are eighteen bus routes that stop here, leading to different sections of Philadelphia and beyond.

Lawndale is a diverse, residential neighborhood located between Cottman Avenue and Rising Sun Avenue/Roosevelt Boulevard.

By train
Heading eastbound on the Market-Frankford Line, Church Station through the Frankford Transportation Center are all located in the Northeast (or a more liberal definition of the Northeast may claim as far west as Girard station to be in the Northeast). SEPTA's Trenton Line, West Trenton Line, and Fox Chase Line trains have stops in the Northeast as well.

By car
Easily accessible via I-95 (exits 27 though 35), Route 1/Roosevelt Boulevard, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (exit 351). This is also a good part of the city to have a car, since distances are greater, and on-street parking in greater supply.

By bus
An abundance of SEPTA buses serve the Northeast.

By boat
There are a few boat ramps along the Delaware River. The gates are often closed at 10:30PM by police; check online for times.

See

 * Otherworld is a surreal art installation in a disused big-box store at 2500 Grant Avenue in the Far Northeast. Not great if you have sensory overload issues.

Do

 * AMC 14 Movie Theater Conveniently located inside Philadelphia Mills Mall

Buy
Frankford Ave and Torresdale Ave are the two main shopping streets in lower Northeast Philly. Northeast Philadelphia is also home to one of the Philadelphia's regions largest outlet malls, Philadelphia Mills. There also two other malls in Bucks County (outside the City of Philadelphia) about ten to twenty minutes away—the Neshaminy Mall and Oxford Valley Mall.

 * Located along Cottman Avenue, west of Roosevelt Boulevard.
 * Located along Cottman Avenue, west of Roosevelt Boulevard.
 * Located along Cottman Avenue, west of Roosevelt Boulevard.

Eat
Now Philadelphia was not named one on the fattest cities in the country for no reason! In Philadelphia, there is always a place to eat and go to have a good time! The Northeast has lots to choose from! From Dave and Buster's, Nifty Fifty's, Texas Roadhouse, and Chickie's and Pete's, you will never leave the Northeast hungry. Do not forget to grab a Philadelphia soft pretzel, Rita's water ice, and cheese steak, as well as stopping by a Wawa and grabbing a Tastykake.

Drink
The normal bar in Northeast Philadelphia are corner pubs, holding about 100 people. The area around Cottman and Frankford Ave. has a large selection of bars to choose from, with reasonable beer specials (just ask the bartender). Few have a cover charge of $3 to $5 if a band is playing; don't be embarrassed to turn it down and go to a different place.

Crime
While much of Northeast Philadelphia is relatively safe, the areas of Fairhill, Glenwood, Hunting Park, Harrowgate, Stanton, North Central, West Kensington, Hartranft, and Kensington comprise a section that earned the nickname "The Badlands" that has been repeatedly identified as one of the nation's largest open-air drug use and drug-related crime areas in the nation. The region's crime is so notorious that it has been the subject of numerous documentaries and even a novel called Third and Indiana.

title: Philadelphia/Northeast


text:
Philadelphia/Northwest

Philadelphia's Northwest district is a huge area north of Lehigh Ave and west of Front St. This isn't the most visited part of town, but nonetheless there are plenty of interesting neighborhoods to explore.

Understand
Northwest Philadelphia can be divided into two sections - west and east, which could be called the "Ridge Avenue Corridor" (Roxborough, Manayunk, Wissahickon, and East Falls) and the "Germantown Avenue Corridor" (Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill). These two sections are separated physically by the Wissahickon Creek, with only a few bridges passing in between. East Falls, though along the Ridge Ave. Corridor, is only connected to Manayunk by Ridge Ave and Henry Ave, and is much more connected to Germantown.

The Wissahickon Creek runs to the east of the two avenues, and is flanked by the Wissahickon section of Fairmount Park. The park offers many paths and beautiful vistas, and is a popular, though not crowded, spot for runners or people who enjoy light hiking.

Roxborough: It is not certain where Roxborough received its name from, but it is likely that the original settlement was named after Roxburghshire, Scotland which is the original home of an early settler Andrew Robeson. Roxborough has two main Avenues running almost parallel through it which connects the neighborhood to the rest of the city. Roxborough connects to Manayunk through Ridge Ave and to East Falls by Henry Ave. Most of Roxborough’s business is placed along Ridge Ave consisting of many hoagie shops and restaurants as well as regular shops and coffee shops. Roxborough is connected to the city through a number of different modes of SEPTA transportation including the train and bus. It is also easily accessed by driving. The neighborhood lies on the edge of the city’s limits and is often mistaken as a suburb of Philadelphia. It has one of the lowest crime rates within the city and because of the low crime rates along with the “suburban feel,” easy access public transportation and community parks, Roxborough is a attractive place to live. One of the main parks is called Valley Green. It consists of one main path that runs along side of the Wissahickon Creek and stretches for about 15 miles (25 km). Connected to this main path are numerous of smaller trails reaching all ends of the park. Valley Green attracts many runners, walkers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. Located along the path there is a restaurant called the Valley Green Inn. The surrounding area of the restaurant, one can find a number of ducks to feed, which has become a popular activity.

Manayunk is known as the "city on a hill," home to many unique stores and shops as well as a thriving student and artist community. The neighborhood is built on a hill up to Ridge Ave. Some very interesting, beautiful, and historic architecture lines the winding Green Lane up the hill, as well as many other roads in the neighborhood. These beautiful rowhomes, townhomes, and single-family homes are home to everyone from working class laborers to middle class professionals, young adults, college students, and young families. The same is true of the surrounding Roxborough neighborhood, which acts as the "suburbs" of Manayunk, though it, too, falls within the city limits. Manayunk's demographics and architecture are largely extended into Roxborough, although instead of the nightlife hotspot of Main St., Roxborough's main thoroughfare is Ridge Ave, which is lined with shops, markets, and restaurants as well as convenience stores. Manayunk also hosts an annual Arts Fest and the main climb for the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship in summer months. Main Street runs through the heart of this unique shopping and dining destination with over 70 chic boutiques and galleries and 30 restaurants and eateries. It is also a popular nightlife destination for young adults. Flat Rock was the original name given to this section of the Schuylkill River, where rapids churned through the rocks in the section of the river, above the Wissahickon Creek. In 1824, a community meeting of the newly formed town changed the name to Manayunk, derived from the Lenape Amerindian word manaiung (place to drink). It was named a National Historic District in 1983.

East Falls is named for its eastern location to the falls across from the Wissahickon Transfer Center. It is home to Philadelphia University, Drexel University College of Medicine, and Women's Medical College (the first women's medical school in the world), which is being renovated into a mixed-used development by a team that includes Philadelphia's own Wulff Architects. The end of Kelly Drive culminates at East Falls; take the bridge over the Schuylkill River to MLK Drive to continue your 8-mile (13-km) bike ride back down to the Art Museum. Ridge Ave. intersects Midvale Ave, in the heart of East Falls, where you can expect to find a mixture of markets, pizzerias, sports bars, and unique restaurants. Beautiful and interesting architecture abound on the rowhomes and townhomes of Queen Lane, Indian Queen Lane, Penn St., and the surrounding blocks. Travel up Midvale Ave. to see old world style rowhomes populated by middle and upper class professionals. Take Vaux St towards Philadelphia University to find mansions and other old world and tutor style large homes that mix urban and suburban layouts on winding roads. This neighborhood is also populated by wealthy Philadelphians, including Ed Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2011, and former US Senator Arlen Specter.

Mt. Airy is a residential neighborhood that could be described as eclectic, with its main streets crossing at the site of a natural food co-op. Young families tend to live here on many tree-lined streets. Mt. Airy is subdived into two areas, West Mt. Airy and East Mt. Airy, with Germantown Ave ("the Avenue") forming the border between the two. The Avenue (along with the rest of the neighborhood) is undergoing a renaissance, anchored by the popular North By Northwest restaurant/music venue. Characteristics of the neighborhood include some amazing architecture of all different styles and better-than-average public transit access. There are also some historical sites related to the Revolutionary War's Battle of Germantown. It is a very liberal area, politically speaking, with a very diverse population.

Chestnut Hill is the next neighborhood west from Mt. Airy along Germantown Ave, Chestnut Hill is largely a leafy, quaint, residential neighborhood that has, historically, been associated with wealth. It boasts beautiful rowhomes as well as large homes on large properties and a few mansions. The architecture is beautiful, including some famous buildings. Germantown Ave. has the feeling of a quaint small town main road reminiscent of a New England, or even old England, town. It has a bustling main st complete with restaurants, a hotel, a farmer's market, bakeries, and plenty of stores and boutiques. It feels like a charming small town on the edge of the city.

By car
East Falls sits at the intersection of major highways running through the Philadelphia area:
 * US Route 1 (SW to Baltimore/Washington, NE to New York/Boston),
 * I-76 (south and east to Center City, South Philadelphia, and New Jersey, north and west to King of Prussia and on to Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Ohio), and
 * Ridge Ave, Kelly Drive, and MLK/West River Drive to Center City.

From interstate 76, the exits for the area include Belmont Ave/Green Lane (Roxborough/Manayunk), Kelly Drive/Ridge Ave/Lincoln Drive (The main interchange in East Falls) and US 1 N - Roosevelt Blvd, which runs through Germantown on its way to Northeast Philadelphia. US 1 exits in East Falls/ Germantown include Henry Ave, Wissahickon Ave, Wayne Ave, and Germantown Ave.

East Falls, Manayunk, Wissahickon, and Roxborough sit along the Schuylkill River. Ridge Ave. runs parallel to the river after it gets to East Falls, along the crest of the hill between the river and Wissahickon Creek. I-76 runs on the suburban side of the river, parallel to it, until it crosses Route 1 into the city limits and on into Center City.

To access the East Falls US 1/I-76/Kelly Drive/Ridge Ave/Lincoln Drive interchange:

From points west by southwest (West Philadelphia, lower Montgomery County, and Chester County), take US 1 N (known as Baltimore Pike, State Road, Township Line Rd, and City Ave) to East Falls where you can get onto Ridge Ave or Germantown Ave. From those areas Route 1 can be accessed by US Rte 30 (Lancaster Ave) in Wynnewood/West Phila, Lansdowne Ave/Darby Rd and PA Rte 3 (West Chester Pike) in Havertown/Drexel Hill, PA Rte 320 (Sproul Rd) and I-476 in Marple, PA Rte 252 (Providence Rd) in Media, US Rtes 352 and 452 west of Media, and US Rtes 322 and 202 in Chaddsford.

From points northeast (Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, and Trenton, NJ, etc.) take Rte 1 S (known as Roosevelt Blvd and Lincoln Highway). It can be accessed via PA 611 (Broad St) in North Philadelphia, PA 232 (Oxford Ave), PA 73 (Cottman Ave), and PA 63 (Woodhaven Rd) in Northeast Phila, PA 413 and I-95 in Bucks County.

From Points west by northwest (West Chester, King of Prussia, Exton, Berks County), take I-76 east. It can be accessed via US 202 if you're coming from the West Chester area, and by US 422 if you're coming from the upper Schuylkill River Valley (Pottstown, Reading, etc.) I-76 has an exit at Green Lane at the northwestern edge of Manayunk as well as at the principle interchange in East Falls.

From points south (Center City, Southwest Philadelphia, University City in West Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and South Jersey), take I-76 westbound.

Ridge Ave and Germantown Ave become Ridge Pike and Germantown Pike after they pass outside the city limits and extend north into Montgomery County, so they can be used to access the area too.

From points north, you can take Bethlehem Pike, Limekiln Pike/Easton Rd, or PA 309 S to Easton Rd. This will take you to Germantown Ave which will give you access to Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, and Germantown, which in turn gives you access to East Falls.

Coming from the south or west, the best way to get to Chestnut Hill or Mt. Airy is to get to the East Falls interchange and take Lincoln Drive. But be careful driving on Lincoln Drive, especially in wet weather.

By bus
Rte. 61 - Manayunk to Center City Phila Rte. R - Wissahickon to Frankford Transportation Center Rte. K - Arrot Terminal to East Falls Rte. 1 - 54th & City Line Ave to Parx Casino

Septa buses 9, 27, and 32 all run to Manayunk from Center City. The bus rides usually lasts anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

By train
The Norristown line, formerly called the R6 line, stops at East Falls right above Ridge and Midvale, the Wissahickon Station in the Wissahickon neighborhood at the eastern edge of Manayunk along Ridge Ave, the Manayunk Station in the heart of Manayunk one block above Main St, and the Ivy Ridge Station along Umbria St. in Roxborough.

The Germantown Avenue corridor neighborhoods are served by the Chestnut Hill West and Chestnut Hill East lines (formerly R7 and R8). Going outward from Center City, the Chestnut Hill West line stops at Queen Lane (Upper East Falls; Lower Germantown); Chelten Avenue (Germantown commercial district); Tulpehocken (historic Germantown houses); Upsal, Carpenter Lane, and Allens Lane (all in West Mount Airy); St. Martin's, Highland, and Chestnut Hill West (all in Chestnut Hill). The Chestnut Hill East Line stops at Wayne Junction and Wister (lower Germantown); Germantown (commercial district); Washington Lane (Awbury Arboretem); Stenton, Sedgwick, and Mount Airy (all in East Mount Airy); and Wyndmoor, Gravers, and Chestnut Hill East (all in Chestnut Hill). Route maps and schedules can be found in the Center City train stations, and are also posted at most of the stations along the lines.

Events
Until 2017, the Philadelphia International Championship was held In early June, throughout the streets of Manayunk. Moving through Main Street and stretching up onto Manayunk Avenue, the bike race moves through various sections of the Manayunk/Roxborough area. The “wall” refers to a section of the race where the bikers are required to scale Lyceum Avenue, which has a steep 17 percent grade. The “wall” has become a main attraction for the race, as many riders find this the most challenging stretch of the race. The race was a Philadelphia tradition, drawing thousands of visitors and spectators each year
 * Bike Race - Throughout the summer months Manayunk holds various events on Main Street and surrounding areas.

The Festival draws thousands to the Manayunk area, with vendors and artists lining the street with small booths. Local restaurants set up stands where passerby’s can sample the local cuisine. Many of the main businesses stay and offer specials throughout the weekend long festival. While the Arts Festival and the Bike Race are both held in the month of June, the gathering of artists provides a quieter option for families. Since its start in 1989, the Manayunk Arts Festival continues to attract more and more visitors each year.
 * Arts Festival - The Manayunk Arts Festival is held in late June each year. Over two hundred artists come to Manayunk to showcase their work along Main Street.
 * Home and Garden Festival. Germantown Avenue, between Willow Grove Avenue and Rex Avenue, will be closed to traffic and transformed into an outdoor marketplace for garden-related merchandise and fun. There is even a special "canine parade."
 * Pastorious Park Concerts. For 10 Wednesdays in the summer the Chestnut Hill Community Association sponsors outdoor concerts in Pastorius Park, located just off Germantown Avenue. The concerts are free and feature various local and non-local bands. You can easily grab dinner at one of the numerous restaurants nearby and then see a free concert in the park at 7:30PM!
 * Fall for the Arts Festival - This festival is fantastic! It is a day of art, music, culinary delights and boutique shopping as Germantown Avenue, between Willow Grove and Rex Avenues is transformed into an outdoor arts and crafts marketplace. Over 150 talented artists from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region will come for this fabulous event. Various types of artwork will be on display including oils, watercolors, photography, sculpture, etc. Germantown Avenue will be closed to all cars while fine arts and crafts, live entertainment, exhibits and children activities, are taking place. Adults stroll the streets and purchase arts and handcrafts, and enjoy the various types of restaurants. Children can create their own works of art, or enjoy a mini amusement park. There is even a special parking fee of $5.00.

Recreation
Recreation in Manayunk is very diverse. Keeping busy is not hard because the area has so much to offer. Manayunk offers more than just shops and restaurants, it is surrounded by nature. The top recreations in Manayunk are biking up the "Manayunk Wall", hiking the Manayunk Tow Path, and rowing along the Schuyllkill River.

Located only minutes from Manayunk's Main Street, lies Fairmont Park. Fairmont Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and offers a variety of recreational options. Throughout the park lies paths for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, both paved and unpaved, as well as Boathouse Row. The Fairmont Park trails are popular among residents and a popular channel for escaping the inner city. The park runs from West Philadelphia, west to the King of Prussia area.

Many Manayunk residents take part in organized team sports that take place throughout the area. Through Philadelphia Sport and Social Leagues, both men and women are able to have fun and meet new people. Many leagues work with surrounding bars and restaurants to provide locations for teams to unwind after a competition.

Manayunk
Manayunk has two miles of extensive shopping centered along Main Street, including clothing boutiques and art galleries. Main Street also is a great place to find jewelry, electronics, beauty supplies, and florists.

Manayunk
Remember that most of the restaurants and bars of Main St are essentially concentrated on little more than 520 yards along the Canal, though you will find others at the Southeast end of the street.

East Falls
Wine and Sprits on Ridge Avenue offers a wide assortment of wines and liquors.

East Falls Beverage offers a variety of imported and domestic beers with a delivery service.

Manayunk
Manayunk is known for its hip night scene. Thursday-Saturday nights Main Street transforms into a hot destination for young adults. For the 21+ crowd Main Street offers 18 different bars to party in. Some bars are more sport related while others transform into dance clubs. Crowds from all over the city visit Main Street on the weekends because they know they will be able to find a good party, after all Manayunk does come from the Lenape Amerindian word manaiung (where we go to drink).

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Philadelphia/Northwest


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Philadelphia/Old City

Philadelphia's Old City is home to many historical sites, galleries, restaurants, and bars. It is known for its active nightlife and cultural opportunities.

Understand
Old City Philadelphia, sometimes known as "Olde City", is the most historic square mile in the USA. The streets and most of the buildings are still of the original brick and stone. This vibrant old-world neighborhood is the home to many independently owned boutiques, galleries, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Philadelphia’s most popular historic attractions — the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, Betsy Ross House, Penn’s Landing — are all just minutes from each other. The area is also near the Pennsylvania Convention Center and several nationally renowned hospitals.

For shopping, visit the 3rd Street Corridor from Chestnut Street to Vine to enjoy art, design and fashion hosted by the Philadelphia region's most exciting independently owned shops and galleries. Highlights include acclaimed boutique Sugarcube, 20th-century furniture design at Mode Moderne, and exhibitions at The Center for Art in Wood. It’s a haven for fashionistas and clothing is tax-free.

The area has easy access to all major transportation arteries; it is ten minutes by car from the Philadelphia International Airport and Amtrak’s 30th Street Station.

Old City hosts a lot of nightlife; expect to see a young, professional crowd here on weekends. The club section of the neighborhood consists of restaurants and bars that frequently showcase music while street musicians entertain outside.

Just east of Old City is Penn's Landing, which is on the waterfront. You'll find an array of hotels and restaurants. Every New Year's Eve and Independence Day, crowds gather on the Great Plaza to watch the fireworks. Nearby is Festival Pier, where many concerts are held.

 * Penn's Landing is the waterfront area, popular year-round with attractions such as an ice skating rink, concerts, and various city events. There are also many restaurants, hotels, and even a museum.  Penn's Landing
 * Old City is between Front and Fourth Streets to the east and west, and generally bounded by Race Street to the north and Walnut Street to the south.

By car
You can find parking structures and rates with the PPA Parking Finder. Parking along the streets in Old City is metered, scarce and frequently with a two-hour limit.

By bus
Numerous SEPTA bus routes serve the Old City, as well as the PHLASH Trolley trolley that operates part of the year.

By subway
The Market-Frankford Line runs under Market Street with two stations serving Old City: 2nd Street and 5th Street.

Sites within Independence National Historical Park

Some historic sites in Philadelphia are associated with the Independence National Historic Park but are not within its boundaries or the boundaries of Old City. These include the Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church in South Philly, the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial at the Franklin Institute in Center City West, and the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in North Philly.

Penn's Landing
When it was built, I-95 effectively and disastrously cut off the Delaware river waterfront from the rest of the city. However, the walkways connecting Old City with Penn's Landing make it easy to get to the museums and sights on the water on foot. If you do make it over to Penn's Landing, here are some things to check out:

First Friday
If you are in Philadelphia on the first Friday of the month, you must attend First Friday. From 5PM-9PM, art and design galleries along with boutiques housed in historic industrial spaces of Old City (most of which can be found in the area between Front and 3rd Streets, and Vine and Market Streets) open their doors to celebrate new monthly exhibitions. But the art, design and fashion is only half the story. First Friday is an ideal time to watch the different communities living in Philadelphia mingle, and watch the sun go down over the city. It's Philadelphia at its best.

Buy
In addition to myriad art galleries, Old City boasts design studios, modern furniture showrooms and amazing clothing boutiques. Also, it is the restaurant-supply outlet center of the city.

The 3rd Street Corridor on 3rd Street between Chestnut and Vine Streets, is a premier shopping row which hosts over two dozen of the city's finest boutiques in the Philadelphia region. From vintage clothing at Briar, European furniture at La Roche Bobois, eclectic furniture at Reform, incredible contemporary and select vintage for men and women at Sugarcube, and womenswear at Vagabond. 3rd Street Corridor has the city's best locally owned independent retailers. Also of note are the array of salons and spas like Moko, Strands, Lakshmi, Hush and Spa Terme Di Aroma.

Drink
Old City is packed with restaurants, bars and smaller clubs from Front to 3rd Sts. and Race to Chestnut Sts. with the most concentration on 2nd and 3rd Sts. between Chestnut and Market Sts. Well-dressed attractive professionals crowd the sidewalks all night on the weekends, with the occasional celebrity too. Most of the venues are upscale, dressy and comparatively expensive with DJs and without; watch out for door policy and sometimes a line. There are too many to name and they're all right there, just look into the front windows to decide. You can also find more laidback drinking holes like Rotten Ralph's. Upstairs At Nick's has bands and special events. Cabs are everywhere at 2AM (closing time)

Connect
The Independence Visitor Center has free WiFi and cell phone charging stations.

title: Philadelphia/Old City


text:
Philadelphia/South

South Philly is a district of Philadelphia. Famous for its Italian heritage and for being featured in the 1970s movie Rocky, South Philly is home to FDR Park and most of Philadelphia's major professional sports teams.

Understand
You want a cheese steak? South Philly's where it's at! South Philly is home to many Asian and Mexican immigrants. It also includes Ninth St Market (aka Italian Market) and East Passyunk St (roughly 11th and Passyunk SE to Broad St and Snyder, also known as Passyunk Square) which is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. Its upper boundary is South Street. Arguably the center of nightlife and urban activity in Philadelphia, South Street encompasses almost every kind of urban attitude you'd expect in a major city. Tattoo parlors, cheese steak joints, local designer clothing stores, restaurants, music venues, and local cafes line South Street from Penn's Landing up to about 10th street. Some of the most famous include Jim's cheese steaks, Philadelphia Eddie's Tattoo parlor, and the Famous 4th Street Deli. Every night it seems as if there is a street festival going on here.

Society Hill-Queen Village is one of Philadelphia's oldest neighborhoods, site of Gloria Dei (Old Swede's) Church. Walking around Queen Village will give you a taste of what Ben Franklin might have experienced in Philly when he was alive, as well as give you a peek at Philly's old European roots.

South Philly is home to the Philadelphia Flyers (ice hockey), Sixers (basketball), Eagles (football), Phillies (baseball), and Soul (arena football league). (The city's MLS team, Philadelphia Union, plays in the suburb of Chester.)

Get in
SEPTA has many bus routes and subway stops to connect you to where you need to go.

Eat
South Philly dining is stereotypically synonymous with one thing: old-school Italian-American cuisine. And it's true that the area does it quite well, with numerous highly-recommended spots both for traditional red-gravy fare and more modern spins on the style, as well as a few absolutely top-notch Italian-style patisseries. However, in keeping with its melting-pot status, it has a wealth of other global cuisines, most especially Vietnamese, as well as classic American bars, diners, and quick-service sandwich joints.

In addition to being one of the main bar streets in Philadelphia, the stretch of South St. between Front St. and 6th St houses several good eateries which serve excellent fare; note, however, that many cater to the intoxicated (or the about-to-be-intoxicated) and so while delicious don't pay much attention to being healthy.

Cheesesteaks
Two globally-famous Philly cheesesteak shops are located across the street from each other in South Philly. Nearly all of these have been mentioned in travel guides and on national television, so large crowds of tourists are a common sight, and you should expect to wait in long lines, particularly on weekends. As these are all take-out windows, there are no indoor seating available, but some have outdoor seating.

title: Philadelphia/South


text:
Philadelphia/West

West Philly is a mostly residential section of Philadelphia west of the Schuylkill River, which represented the western boundary of William Penn's original plan for the colonial city. West Philadelphia is a vibrant, diverse, multi-cultural urban area, home to three excellent and world-renowned universities. Tourists may be more interested in the neighborhoods near the campuses than the working-class that lie further west. Even farther out, at the very edge of the city, West Philadelphia gradually gives way to newer, and often larger housing in neighborhoods like Overbrook and Wynnefield, the latter of which is home to half of the Saint Joseph's University campus.

Understand
With the exception of a few colonial and early federal mansions like the Woodlands and Bartram's Gardens, most of West Philly developed from farmland as an early suburb. Development moved west from the Schuylkill following the course of a network of trolleys (many of which still run today) and the El which runs above Market St. University City is also known as the "Left Bank" (an homage to Paris' Latin Quarter), as well as Philadelphia's "international" neighborhood because of the multitude of ethnicities living here.

Not surprisingly, West Philadelphia today presents a living catalog of 19th- and early 20th-century residential architecture ranging from dramatic ornate Queen Anne Victorian mansions to more humble brick rowhouses. Although many sections suffered decline and urban blight as the heavy industry that fed the demand for housing construction in West Philly dwindled and departed the United States, areas like Powelton Village, Spruce Hill and Cedar Park have been largely preserved and provide an opportunity to "step back into time" as you stroll the wide tree-lined streets of stately 19th-century homes. The area has been declared a National Historic District.

West Philly is home to several large educational institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and the former University of Sciences in Philadelphia (now Saint Joseph's University - University City Campus).

The area also holds most of Philadelphia's expansive Fairmount Park, the largest municipal park in the country. It is home to Mann Music Center, the Philadelphia Zoo, and the Please Touch Museum. On Sundays, MLK Drive is closed to traffic, so bring your rollerblades!

Check out Clark Park on Baltimore Ave at 43rd Street, or take a stroll on Spruce or Pine.

By public transit

 * West Philadelphia is primarily served by stops 30th St through 63rd St of the Market-Frankford subway/elevated train line, which most locals refer to simply as "the El." This transit line which, as its name suggests, runs along Market Street, connects the neighborhoods of West Philadelphia with Center City to the East, ending in the Frankford section of Northeast Philadelphia. To the West, the El connects the city with 69th Street Terminal in the suburb of Upper Darby, where riders can transfer to various suburban trolley and bus lines.

 * In addition to the El, all of Philadelphia's remaining trolley lines run through West Philadelphia at some point of their route.
 * West Philadelphia is also served by Regional Rail, the city's network of commuter lines. Every line serving the city stops at 30th St station, and some lines make additional stops in the area (see the SEPTA rail map for additional information).
 * Both Megabus and BoltBus have their Philadelphia stops behind 30th Street Station. The area is easy to locate as there is often groups of people waiting, vendors, and signs where the buses stop. Megabus and BoltBus both run multiple trips to New York each day. Megabus runs to various other places including Washington D.C., Toronto, Boston, State College, and more. See the website for current information.

By car
In addition to the network of city streets, West Philadelphia has easy access to Interstate 76 (usually referred to as the Schuylkill Expressway, after the river along which it was built) on its Eastern edge and Interstate 476 (the Blue Route) may be accessed on the Western edge of the area via PA Route 3 (West Chester Pike).

By bike
West Philadelphia cyclists count on one of the more extensive networks of bike-friendly streets in the city, many of them with designated bicycle lanes. These streets are all part of the city's Bicycle Network. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia also provides resources. There are also a few good places to get new/used bikes as well as new/used parts and accessories: The Neighborhood Bike Works and Firehouse Bicycles.

Culture

 * Special Events @ International House
 * Special Events @ International House
 * Special Events @ International House

Misc

 * Foreign Language Classes @ International House

Fitness & recreation

 * SWEAT gym (right before the Walnut Street Bridge)
 * SWEAT gym (right before the Walnut Street Bridge)
 * SWEAT gym (right before the Walnut Street Bridge)
 * SWEAT gym (right before the Walnut Street Bridge)
 * SWEAT gym (right before the Walnut Street Bridge)
 * SWEAT gym (right before the Walnut Street Bridge)

Buy
There are two main streets in West Philadelphia along which the majority of the area's shopping is concentrated. Walnut street in University City caters to the more upscale tastes of residents, many of them students, who live on and around the college campuses, while 52nd St has historically been frequented by the less affluent residents of outlying neighborhoods. The 52nd St shopping district has a reputation for being unsafe, but still may offer some interesting shopping and dining options for those who care to visit.

City Line Ave, which divides Philadelphia City and County from suburban communities in Montgomery County, also provides a variety of chain stores and restaurants.

Eat
West Philadelphia boasts one of the largest and most varied concentrations of ethnic restaurants outside of Center City. However, more familiar chain restaurants, from McDonald's to Boston Market, aren't hard to find for the less-adventurous palate. Food trucks are also popular around the university areas, leading several Penn students to start a website cataloguing and mapping all the local trucks, with a handy filter for only trucks that are open.

Drink
In West Philly, local dive bars and Irish pubs rule the roost.

title: Philadelphia/West


text:
Philadelphia Region

The Philadelphia Region is in eastern Pennsylvania. Its two largest cities are Philadelphia and Allentown. Philadelphia is the cradle of American democracy, a former capital of the United States and the nation's sixth-most populous city.

For the portion of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area that is in New Jersey, see Delaware River Region; for the portion in Delaware, see New Castle, Delaware.

Cities

 * — Pennsylvania's third-largest city is the center of the Lehigh Valley region and home of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
 * — Settled in 1614 by Moravian missionaries, Pennsylvania's seventh largest city was once a major center for the U.S. steel industry. Now, the city is home to a vibrant arts scene and Pennsylvania's largest casino.
 * — A struggling city located between Philadelphia and Wilmington, the city's redeveloping waterfront is home to a casino and a Major League Soccer team.
 * — Visit the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to telling the story of America’s historic towpath canals
 * — Home of Valley Forge National Historic Park and one of the largest malls in the United States.
 * — A university town with a large Mennonite population
 * — A popular culinary destination accessible by SEPTA regional rail in neighboring Delaware County.
 * — Pennsylvania's largest city is the birthplace of American democracy and home of the cheesesteak.
 * — As the urban center of mostly rural Berks County, Pennsylvania's fifth largest city hosts a number of cultural festivals each year.

Understand
The Philadelphia region is the seventh most populated region in the nation, and the city of Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, is the nation's sixth largest city and the second largest city in the Northeast megalopolis (after New York City).

Talk
Philadelphia is home to the Philadelphia accent but is also a home to the greater Mid-Atlantic dialect. Some unique words found in the dialect include "pavement" instead of "concrete," "center city" instead of "downtown" and "hoagie" instead of "sub" or "grinder."

By plane
Philadelphia is served by Philadelphia International Airport, a large public airport that served nearly 10 million passengers in 2021 and is the 21st-busiest airport in the United States. Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown serves the Lehigh Valley region roughly 60 miles north of Philadelphia.

Public transportation
In the city of Philadelphia, public transportation is extensive and convenient. In the suburbs however, service tends to be more spotty.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the body that is in charge of public transportation in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. It has bus, subway, trolley and commuter rail services.

New Jersey Transit (or NJ Transit) operates bus service between Philadelphia and various points in New Jersey, and also commuter rail services on the Northeast Corridor between Trenton, New Jersey and New York.

See

 * Shangy's is a famous beer distributor located on Main Street in Emmaus and one of the largest beer distributors on the East Coast. It advertises itself as having the largest number of beer brands from all over the world of any distributor in the nation.  Shangy's attracts beer enthusiasts from around the nation, especially those looking for hard to find domestic or international beers.

Do

 * Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown is a popular amusement park and water park that is home to at least six world-class roller coasters,
 * The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the AAA-level minor league team of the Philadelphia Phillies, play their home games from early April through early October at Allentown's Coca-Cola Park.
 * The Liberty Bell Museum in Allentown has exhibits and a full-size replica of the Liberty Bell which was hidden from the British in this historic church during the Revolutionary War.

Stay safe
There is a stark contrast between rural, suburban, and urban areas. Philadelphia often ranks among the USA's most dangerous cities, though most crimes are constricted to specific neighborhoods. Allentown and Reading also have their share of violence, though being street-smart and asking locals for help will be enough to avoid trouble. Suburban and rural areas are safe for the most part.

Go next
Travelers on East Coast itineraries can easily find a bus or train to other major cities on the east coast, including Washington, D.C., New York City, and Baltimore. Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore are also a short drive, bus, or train ride away. Travelers wishing to see more of Pennsylvania have the option of visiting Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch Country by journeying westward.

title: Philadelphia Region