Philadelphia has one of the most irresistible mixes of old and new in the USA. Follow us to the fascinating metropolis, which will impress you with historic buildings and museums, but also with modern skyscrapers and trendy bars.
| State: | Pennsylvania |
| County: | Philadelphia County |
| Area: | 369 km² (350 km² of land) |
| Population: | 1.6 million (metropolitan region 6 million) |
| Nickname: | Philly, City of Brotherly Love, Athens of America |
| Time zone: | Eastern (UTC−5/−4) |
Philadelphia is located in the Northeast of the USA, about 100 km from the Atlantic coast. The city lies right on the border between the Atlantic coastal plain and the Piedmont Plateau and covers an area of about 369 km². Of this, about 6 % is water surface, spread mainly between the Delaware River and Schuylkill River, the lakes in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, and the man-made East Park Reservoir.
"Philly" is home to around 1.5 million people, making it the largest city in Pennsylvania and the fifth largest city in the United States. The metropolitan region on the Delaware River, which also includes the cities of Wilmington in Delaware and Trenton and Camden in New Jersey, also ranks fifth in the USA with around six million inhabitants.
You can find accommodations all over Philadelphia, but especially in the city center. These are some hotel tips for Philadelphia:
This chic hotel in the center of Philadelphia is just a few minutes' walk from Rittenhouse Square with its many shopping opportunities. You can also quickly reach top sights such as the Liberty Bell Center and the Barnes Foundation. The hotel's rooftop terrace offers a magnificent view of Philadelphia's skyline.
Club Quarters Hotel Rittenhouse Square is a great choice, especially for solo travelers. Centrally located on Chestnut Street, it offers you other amenities, such as the hotel's restaurant, a fitness center, and a beautiful lobby.
Guests at Sonder The Witherspoon appreciate its large, bright, and well-appointed rooms with air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, kitchen with dining area, and bathtub. Thanks to its location in the heart of Philadelphia, you can reach the most beautiful sights within a short walk.
Philadelphia International Airport is one of the largest airports in the East of America. If you are looking for cheap flights to the USA, you should definitely also research connections to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. From here, you can reach Philadelphia with a one-to-two-hour train ride.
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Philadelphia is a place full of history where you can travel back to the beginnings of the United States. These sights in Philadelphia will impress you the most:
The National Historical Park is a must-see for all America lovers. The historic building, formerly called the Pennsylvania State House, was the place where both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were adopted by America's Founding Fathers. Today, the landmark structure is the most important part of Independence National Historical Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Only a few steps away from Independence Hall, an iconic national symbol of the USA is on display at the Liberty Bell Center. The Liberty Bell was rung when the Declaration of Independence of the United States was read publicly for the first time on July 8th, 1776. At that time, it hung in the tower of the Pennsylvania State House. America's most famous bell moved to its current home, the Liberty Bell Center's glass pavilion, in 2003.
You'll get a sense of the spirit of old Philadelphia as you stroll down the historic Elfreth's Alley, which is lined with 32 well-preserved houses built between 1703 and 1836. The alley was a place of residence and work for various craftsmen such as shipbuilders, blacksmiths, furniture makers, and glassblowers in the 18th century. Today, it has the status of a National Historic Landmark. While you're here, be sure to go to number 124 and visit Elfreth's Alley Museum.
Even from a distance, the striking tower of Philadelphia City Hall will catch your eye. The brick, white marble, and limestone building was built in 1894 and still serves as the seat of the city government and courthouse. As a visitor, you can explore the National Historic Landmark on a guided tour, which you must book online. On your tour, say hello to Pennsylvania's founding father, William Penn, who watches over the city in the form of a bronze statue from the top of the City Hall tower.
The structures of the former Eastern State Penitentiary, or ESP for short, are arranged like the points of a star. The massive complex, which served as a prison from 1829 to 1971, is where famous criminals such as Mafia boss Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton served their sentences. The construction of the Eastern State Penitentiary, which became a role model for more than 300 prisons worldwide, established the then-revolutionary penitentiary system of segregated confinement as a form of rehabilitation. Today, you can see the National Historic Landmark as a museum visitor.
Since the 1980s at the latest, Philadelphia has stood not only for America's independence but also for the fighter mentality of its inhabitants. Feel the spirit yourself by jogging up the 72 steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art like the boxer Rocky Balboa from the famous movie series of the same name, which are now also known as the "Rocky Steps." You can then take your winner's photo in front of the bronze Rocky Statue that has been set up in front of the museum.
Afterwards, get an admission ticket to the impressive Philadelphia Museum of Art, which features works of art from America, Europe, and Asia. Be sure to take plenty of time to view the 240,000 paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and armor on display. A few steps away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you'll find two more world-class art museums, the Rodin Museum and the Barnes Foundation.
If you're in the mood for even more art and culture after your museum visits, just take a walk! No American city features more sculptures and murals in the open air than Philadelphia.
All that walking in Philadelphia made you hungry? The city's specialty foods will restore your strength. Cheesesteaks, hoagies, dumplings, soft pretzels, chicken hot pie, and scrapple are typical Philadelphia foods and can be found at these traditional restaurants, taverns, and markets:
Would you like to plunge into the nightlife in Philadelphia? No problem, the creative East Coast metropolis has many bars and clubs where you can have a great time:
Do you love fashion? Then take an empty suitcase with you on your trip to Philadelphia. You're in a shopper's paradise because the state of Pennsylvania doesn't charge sales tax on clothing and shoes! You can find your bargains at these places, for example:
Sports fans can consider themselves lucky in Philadelphia because top teams from all four major US sports are represented in the city. The baseball stars of the Philadelphia Phillies, who have been competing in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1883, for example, have a long sports tradition. You can watch their home games at Citizens Bank Park.
American Football highlights can be seen when the NFL team of the Philadelphia Eagles plays at Lincoln Financial Field. And at the Wells Fargo Center, you'll be entertained by the professional ice hockey team of the Philadelphia Flyers as well as the basketball pros of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Historic buildings, art projects, and movie sets: Philadelphia is full of interesting places to get your Instagram feed buzzing. Start your photo tour at these five Instagram hotspots in Philadelphia::
Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded in 1681 by William Penn and was the capital of the former colony of Pennsylvania during British colonial rule.
Philadelphia also played an important role during the time of the American Revolution in the 18th century, as the nation's Founding Fathers met there for consultations. Beginning in 1775, the Second Continental Congress, whose participants signed the United States Declaration of Independence, met in Philadelphia.
The United States Constitution was also signed in Philadelphia at the US Constitutional Convention in 1787. From 1790 to 1800, until the completion of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia was the capital of the United States and the largest city outside of England where English was spoken.
As industrialization took hold in the 19th and 20th centuries, Philadelphia developed into an important economic center and a hub for many railroad connections. Due to the economic boom at that time, numerous immigrants from Europe, especially from Germany and Ireland, came to the emerging metropolis.
The population reached its peak in the 1950s, when Philadelphia was the third-largest city in the USA after New York City and Chicago, with just under two million inhabitants. In the following decades, however, more and more residents left the inner city area and moved to the surrounding countryside. Today, "Philly" has around 1.5 million inhabitants and is the fifth largest city in the USA.
During its long history, Philadelphia has witnessed many American premieres, such as the openings of the first library, the first hospital, the first medical school, the first university, the first stock exchange, and the first zoo in the US.
If you're looking for some excellent opportunities to work in the USA, Philadelphia is a great choice. The metropolitan area ranks eighth among the strongest economies in the United States and is home to five Fortune 1000 companies.
Nowadays, the service sector, in particular, is booming in Philadelphia. Moreover, the tradition-rich and excellent universities and colleges make "Philly" a hub for research and innovation. The city's largest employers include Aramark, Carpenter Technology, CIGNA, Comcast as well as Rohm and Haas.
According to the Cost of Living Index, Philadelphia's living costs are about the same as the US average. Housing is comparatively affordable (33 % below average), but you will have to dig deep into your pockets for mobility, for example. The most popular neighborhoods in Philadelphia include Chestnut Hill, West Philly, East Falls, and Fishtown.
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