The City of Brotherly Love [Philadelphia Travel Guide]

THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE [PHILADELPHIA TRAVEL GUIDE]

Wanted a change of scenery from NYC, so we decided to make a little road trip and head to Philadelphia for the weekend. Just 2 hours drive from Manhattan, you can easily make it as a day trip. This was my first time visiting Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania, so my to see list was pretty extensive.

Philadelphia the name made out of the two Greek words philio (love) and adelphos (brother) got the name “The City of Brotherly Love”. Philadelphia also known as Philly is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, until 1800 it was the capitol city of the US. Therefore, this city has a lot of rich history and significant historic landmarks.

Unfortunately, in recent years Philly has gotten some bad reputation and its often classified as a dangerous city to visit. However, not all areas are sketchy or dangerous, and like when visiting bigger cities you should always be alert of your personal belongings and surroundings.

Continue reading to see which places you should not miss during your visit to Philadelphia as well as some food and drink recommendations.

Getting to and around Philadelphia:

It’s just a 2h drive from NYC. I would suggest driving to Philadelphia since you would need a car to get around the city, hence like most US cities its not walkable.

Another option is taking a bus or train or if you are traveling from further away to fly in.

The main attractions are around the city center area and you can walk from one place to another. However, some sights are further out and you would need to drive to them. If you don’t have a car, Uber and Lyft are great options. Also to note, finding parking in the center is a nightmare so be prepared to spend a good amount of time circling around to find a parking spot.

Best time to visit:

Spring time is the best time to visit Philadelphia, when the weather is nice and warm. This trip took place the first week of February and it was freezing cold (-15 Celsius + strong wind)

Where to stay:

Various options to stay from luxury hotels to more budget options such as Airbnb. During our stay we decided to stay in an Airbnb. Tip: if you are renting an Airbnb research well the area/neighborhood where the property is located, since some areas tend to be very sketchy and run down.

Must see and do:

Liberty Bell- is an iconic symbol of the American freedom. The bell has been rung on multiple important occasions in US history. The bell was cast in London in 1776 and cracked the first time it was rung. The bell is located at the Independence Hall and its free to visit.

Rocky steps and Rocky statue- Philly is popular in pop culture because of the cult movie Rocky (1976). The iconic steps where Rocky runs up are the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Next to the steps there is a bronze Rocky statue.

Try Philly cheesesteak- another staple of Philadelphia. There are many places around Philly where you can try the iconic Philly cheesesteak, continue reading to see my recommendation.

City Hall- the world’s largest free-standing masonry building, built from granite, marble, and limestone. Until 1908 it was the tallest building in the world. A truly remarkable architecture piece.

Elfreth’s Alley- the oldest residential street in America that has continuously been inhabited. Even today there are people living. The street is adorable and reminds you of a street somewhere in Britain.

Independence Hall- the place where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America’s Founding Fathers. The Independence Hall is open for visitors and there are various tours offered.