Philadelphia has a high crime rate, but it rarely affects tourists as it is concentrated in more residential areas. To be safe, avoid dangerous areas and use street smarts when walking around. Most Americans perceive Philadelphia as a safe city with plenty of historical attractions, great nightlife, world-class restaurants, and numerous community activities. As the region recovers, many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, and attractions, restaurants, and hotels are open and ready for visitors.
Philadelphia is generally safe for tourists, especially in the tourist-friendly part of town. However, there are certain areas that should be avoided due to their high crime rates. Travel is safer if individuals are fully vaccinated and follow CDC travel recommendations. Traveling can increase the chances of getting sick, and international travel increases the chances of getting and spreading the virus.
South Philly has lower levels of violent crime and property crime, making it a better place to visit. The City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have announced new COVID-19 guidance. While the main tourist areas like Center City are generally safe, frequent travelers suggest other parts of the city (like South, North, or West) should be avoided due to their high crime rates.
Philadelphia is no more or less dangerous than any other city, and getting around the city is easy through various modes of transportation such as foot, bike, bus, and train.
📹 Philadelphia – The Don’ts of Visiting Philadelphia
Hey there fellow travelers! Heading to the city of Brotherly love? Well we have the do’s and don’ts of visiting Philadelphia for …
Is Philly safe in 2024?
Philadelphia’s violent crime rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels as of 2024, according to an Axios analysis of police data. However, summer has seen a recent spike in shootings compared to the rest of 2024.
Is it safe to walk in Philly at night?
Philadelphia is a safe city to walk in, especially on busier streets like Market, Chestnut, or Walnut. The city was laid out on a grid plan for William Penn and was America’s first planned city.
Is it safe to visit Philadelphia right now?
Philadelphia is a relatively safe city, especially in tourist-friendly areas. Although some areas should be avoided due to high crime rates, most neighborhoods and tourist areas can be toured without danger. As the largest city in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia has a higher crime rate than many communities in the state, but it is noticeably lower than most large cities in the United States. According to Neighborhood Scout statistics, the chance of being a victim of violent crime is one in 123, making it safer than most large cities in the United States. However, it is essential to take extra precautions, especially in avoiding petty offenses like purse snatching or pickpocketing, to avoid being vulnerable to these crimes.
Is it safe to drive through Philly?
A Forbes study has ranked Philadelphia as one of the worst cities to drive in the US, based on factors such as driving experience, safety, car ownership cost, and access to car maintenance. During rush hour, drivers experience the third-slowest traffic speed and spend the most money on gas. Philadelphia ranked 5th out of 100 for overall driving experience.
How safe is downtown Philadelphia?
Center City is considered relatively safe compared to other neighborhoods due to its brightly lit thoroughfares and private security personnel. The Center City District has deployed a bicycle patrol since November 2020 to support restaurants, cultural institutions, and museums. Community service representatives also patrol downtown areas, acting as “eyes and ears for the police”. However, public safety extends beyond academic data about murder, apartment break-ins, and assaults. The central question is whether people feel safe while working, shopping, running errands, visiting restaurants, or sitting quietly in a park.
Is it safe to walk around Philadelphia at night?
Philadelphia is a safe city to walk in, especially on busier streets like Market, Chestnut, or Walnut. The city was laid out on a grid plan for William Penn and was America’s first planned city.
Is it safe to walk in Old City Philadelphia?
Old City is a vibrant neighborhood in Philadelphia, with a convenient location near public transit and a sense of safety. However, there is a lack of a good grocery store and difficulty finding street parking. Despite this, the neighborhood offers numerous bars and restaurants, making it a good option for those looking to purchase rather than rent.
Is it safe to drive today Philadelphia?
The driving conditions are satisfactory, but it is advised to be vigilant for any changes in the weather forecast.
Should I bring a car to Philly?
Philadelphia’s Center City is a popular destination due to its walkable neighborhoods, making it easy to explore on foot, cab, or public transportation. If you’re driving in, consider parking in a garage to fully experience the city. The Philadelphia Parking Authority provides information on parking options in the city, allowing you to find a nearby garage near your destination, such as an attraction, hotel, or neighborhood. You can compare nearby garages by their hours and rates.
Is Philadelphia a good place to travel?
Philadelphia is a unique and internationally recognized destination, one of only eight U. S. destinations to be included in Michelin’s global guidebooks. The city’s arts and culture scene, sprawling park system, and bustling neighborhoods make it an unforgettable experience. Philadelphia is considered a gateway to the East Coast due to its accessibility, with 29 direct flights to international destinations and Center City just a 20-minute drive or 25-minute train ride away.
Major U. S. cities like New York and Washington D. C. are also within easy reach. Philadelphia is also home to history, with the Old City historical district offering a glimpse into the lives of America’s Founding Fathers. For those interested in American history, Philadelphia is a must-visit destination.
Are there any safe parts of Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has numerous safe neighborhoods, including Pennypack Park and Somerton East, with crime rates well below the average. Other top picks include University City, Upper Roxborough, Academy Gardens, Fox Chase East, Fitler Square, Bella Vista, and Fairmount. Manayunk, Fishtown, and Rittenhouse Square are considered the best areas to live in, with Bella Vista and Fairmount receiving A+ ratings from Niche. The 19003 zip code is considered the safest zip code in Philadelphia.
Downtown Philadelphia is a safe place to live, but it’s important to be aware of surroundings and protect yourself and property. Pennypack Park is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, according to NeighborhoodScout.
📹 The Real Reasons People Aren’t Moving to Philadelphia
In this video, we explore the reasons why more and more people are choosing not to move to the streets of Philadelphia. Despite …
If you’re from the west coast or south, don’t take Philly people’s “rudeness” personally. It’s an east coast city with blue collar roots so people tend to have that gruff “tell it like it is” vibe. But deep down, you realize how authentic and genuine the people actually are. I had some guy at a septa station ask if I had a spare train token (this was in 2008 when they still used Tokens). I gave him one. I accidently dropped my only token and it rolled into a drain. The guy saw and handed his token back and told me “It’s the thought that counts, man.” I never forgot that. You’ll never see that happen in LA or SF.
Philadelphian here and you got it all right! lol. We probably don’t realize you’re a tourist and just think you’re a local who came out not ready to function. Haha. Generally speaking, we truly don’t appreciate being slowed down. One day of driving will prove that! BUT if you ask us questions and we realize you’re an out-of-towner, our demeanors change and some become makeshift tour guides. We love telling you the best places to go!
I was born and raised in Philly. I have never in my life heard a more fair, accurate or good natured/honest assessment of my city. Literally every single thing you’ve said is perfectly true, even the less-than-kind or flattering things. Philly really doesn’t care what any other city thinks of us – we are who we are and if you’re with us, great. If you’re not, get out of our way. Wonderful guide. 10/10. Favorite Cheesesteak place was always Delassandro’s in Roxborough for me, up on Henry Ave. 😉
“If you don’t eat well in Philadelphia, that’s on you!” You’re damn right! IMO the distinction between Reading Terminal and the Italian Market is that the Italian market is more of a majority small-business grocery shopping, and Reading Terminal is going to cater more to a cafe/restaurant experience, although you can switch it up at both. Speaking of Septa, get yourself a Key card, put 20 bucks on it, and ride the buses. You can get an unofficial, unguided tour of the city for 2.50 lol. (P.S. Septa Real Time will change your LIFE!!!) The only thing I think is missing in this article is the MURALS!! Philadelphia is THE city of murals (officially) and on nearly every block you walk by you’ll see a gorgeous work of art on the wall of the most random building. Mural arts tours are also pretty inexpensive and you get to appreciate the work put into the city by young artists since 1984. I really really recommend keeping an eye out for all the incredible art all over the city.
Oh, man… as a former Philly resident expatriated in Vermont, I love this. Only nit I would pick: wtf are those PRETZELS you showed? They were more like mall kiosk soft pretzels, not Philly pretzels, which are more oblong and fatter. And you need to get those from a street vendor, with mustard on them of course, and preferably while you’re stopped in traffic on the Vine Street Expressway or the Schuylkill, from a guy who’s got a couple Wawa milk crates full of them and is hawking them from the island between lanes near the intersection. Otherwise, I love this article! Thank you.
As a descendant of people who came to Philadelphia on the Welcome with William Penn, I liked most of this but I was HORRIFIED by the pretzel you showed! That pretzel is one of the DON’TS!!! Don’t eat a pretzel that looks like that! True Philadelphia pretzels are flattened into an 8 shape, very little open space, allowing the cooks to get more pretzels into the oven at the same time and the vendors (usually food carts) to keep enough pretzels to satisfy Philadelphians’ voracious appetite for PRETZELS!!!
As a NYC resident who visited a few years back, and who fearlessly wore Met shirts on several days of my stay, I can say I had nothing but positive interactions with the people there. In fact we had originally planned to stay a few days and ended up staying a week. There’s a ton of stuff to do and great food everywhere. I’d recommend a visit for anyone who appreciates culture, history, art, architecture, etc – but then again, we visited pre-pandemic, so I can’t vouch for how it is now.
When visiting the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall: If you need a break, there’s an astounding Maxfield Parrish/Louis C Tiffany glass mosaic mural in the lobby of an office building that’s literally steps away from Independence Hall. The Curtis Publishing building is at the corner of 6th and Walnut, and the lobby on 6th Street is open to the public. It’s a little oasis of quiet in a busy city, and one of our great hidden beauties. No cost to enter, and there might even be someone playing the piano.
As someone who grew up in South Jersey and has been going to Philly my entire life, this was a great article! Dead on with all of these! I will say you can wear another teams gear however be prepared to hear about it, especially if it’s a major rival of any of the Philly teams. Also I cracked up when you started laughing about Flyers fans because I’m literally sitting in a hotel room in Buffalo NY right now, and the whole reason we drove up was to see a Flyers game… We are a passionate bunch even when the team sucks like they do this year haha!!
I have never felt unsafe in Philly. I’m originally from Princeton NJ, but went to Philly all the time as a kid. As a high school student who liked modern, hip, clothing, Krass Brothers (937 South Street – Store of the Stars!) was a must-stop place for me every time I took the train south. I live in Virginia now, but a monthly trip north has been on my itinerary for years.
I was born in Philly in ‘76. I have a special birth certificate along with my regular one that commemorates being born on the 200th anniversary of the city. Also, filming for Rocky began on the day I was born, so OF COURSE I have to have a pic with the Rocky statue. Anyways, I love Philly even though I’ve been living in S. Jersey for over two decades now. I’ve been to Pittsburg on vacation, and I’ve walked Philly quite often because I’m so close. Philly feels like home, but Pittsburgh is a fantastic city with so many amazing features and charms (and great food) as well. Pittsburgh also has great public transit, even if it is more condensed. SEPTA goes much farther than people would realize.
I grew up, just outside of Philly – when learning German in college (college was in New England) I was perplexed that ‘Downtown’ and ‘Center City’ weren’t the same thing, and then after class with my new Connecticut college friends they were perplexed why I had such a conviction, even in English, that ‘Downtown’ and ‘Center City’ weren’t the same thing. Also spot on Mark! I miss home now, a little, mostly the snacks.
Having grown up near Philly in South Jersey it’s always interesting to hear other peoples’ perspective on the area. I travel around a decent amount for my job and people are always thrown by our accent and how we say water. (Wooder) We’ve got a lot of tough prideful people here; it’s often thought that we’re ruthless but I’d say on the whole it’s a super down to earth city as long as you’re not a Dallas fan. 😂😂😂 And on the whole we’re probably less pretentious than other northeast cities like NYC or Boston.
I wana add. SEPTA regional rail might have some timing issues but for the most part, the subways, buses, and trolleys are fine. Little tip on getting to the city. I would drive to your closest regional rail stop or patco and leave your car there. I wouldn’t leave it in Camden, but some of the other stops would be fine to leave it.
I Love Philadelphia! I live in central NJ and I take Amtrak which is a 55 minute ride from my local train station, Metropark. I have never used public transportation within the city. I did take a cab once when I had too much to drink at a Cuban restaurant in the historic district, Cuba Libre Restaurant, a great place for great Cuban food and great music. I always pick a hotel near Logan Square. From there I can then easily walk to the major museums as well as the historic district. Philadelphia is a mini-Manhattan in that it is very walkable in a smaller sense. Where else can you walk in the steps of the brave founders of our country and also appreciate world class art in the same day? Love that city!
Philly also had a world champion boxer named Joe Frazier that has a statue also I believe it’s located at the sports complex’s in South Philly. I’m from and live in Philly and most of the folks I know will gladly help a visitor if asked especially about a good cheesesteak, and you are absolutely right about the parking authority they are EVIL. Don’t forget our Casinos and beautiful parks.
Wolter, You correctly noted that Wanamaker’s department store is now a Macy’s BUT failed to mention that the historic Wanamaker organ therein is the largest fully-functional pipe organ in the world. It would have been nice to have five seconds of its magnificence for all the classical music buffs who may visit the city.
I moved from the south to Philly, and to be honest it is probably the closest thing to the deep south there is north of Virginia, prideful blue collar people who will show you the respect they’re given. South Jersey people will claim to be from Philly, but they aren’t they’re something completely different, Phila is a great place.
Philly native here… we’re good ppl!! dont be afraid to ask us questions! We’re more than willing to help and guide unless we have places to go (like catching the ever so “reliable” septa train) 😅 1 tip: I guess wherever you’re traveling becareful w/ur belongings… i see waaay too many tourists on their cellphones trying to navigate around… which makes them easy targets!!
GREAT article!!! I have been a Philadelphian my entire life. Just so you know we don’t order Cheesesteaks with wiz cheese. I live in Uptown and we sometimes call it downtown. Walking to upenn from rittenhouse square is a little over a mile. You can depend on the bus to take you there. For the traffic DO NOT TAKE 76, 676 or any highway. Pats and Genos are tourist traps don’t go. South street in the day time is much better than south street at night time and much safer. When you are at the rocky statue do not let someone hold your camera and take the picture for you. Some people will charge you to get your camera back. There is a lot to do in Chinatown please check that out. Check out Northern Liberties and Manayunk too. For some upscale shopping visit King of Prussia Mall. You can take a bus there but it will take forever. Also check out West Mt Airy and Chestnut Hill. They are nice neighborhoods with a small town vibe with HUGE Multi Million dollar homes. Looks like something from a hallmark movie. Another thing to do if you have the time but book in advance. Take a trip to 30th street station and book a train ride to Lancaster, PA it’s about 1.5 hour ride and it’s usually around $20 one way. It’s a lot to do their too. And a perfect day trip.
Very accurate list. I would also add: 1: “Don’t call it Italian ice, it’s “water (or “wooder”) ice” 2: Don’t call it a sub or grinder, it’s a “hoagie” 3. If you don’t see a cheese you like on the cheesesteak menu, don’t even bother asking for it (Google “John Kerry Swiss cheesesteak”) 4. Don’t go through yellow lights in your car, they last only about 5 seconds in Center City, when you see yellow just come to a stop 5. Don’t mock or diss Wawa (you can criticize the food and drink offerings, just don’t mock/diss the brand). 6. When you put on local TV news on your hotel don’t mock or diss the 6abc Action News theme song (yes its very old, but it’s beloved and may never go away, its a Philly earworm for life) 7. If in town during the Xmas season do not miss the Christmas Market at City Hall and Love Park. 8. At Reading Terminal Market, don’t pass up Beiler’s Donuts. The line is worth the wait.
I lived in Philadelphia for 32 years. I have great memories of it. I’m retired in Southern California now; much better weather. Other do’s and don’ts. 1) Check out the Gayborhood around 12th and Spruce. Lots of fun. 2) Stay away from the ghettos. There are lots of them. 3) Enjoy the city parks, such as Rittenhouse Square, Fairmount Park, The Wissahickon, and the Art Museum area. The Morris Arboretum is great.
I’m a native Philadelphian and saw this article, and kudos to you on a great article! Thanks especially for driving home (ironically) the walkability of the city. Most people who live around center city can do everything they need walking with maybe a bus/subway ride or two. It was built in the old world days before the car and you don’t need one if you live in the core of the city. Like other east coast cities like NYC, Boston, DC, it’s a very different lifestyle than the average American life
Being an Eagles fan who lives outside of Philly, I’ve ventured there twice to watch them play. Never once did I need a car; SEPTA card took me everywhere I wanted to go. And yes, don’t skip out on food other than cheesesteaks. One of my recommendations? Philly has a killer Vietnamese food scene. Some of the pho is as good (if not better) than what you can find in more prominent Vietnamese communities in the US.
Philly gal here and loved your article! Well done and your recommendations are spot on. I’ll add places to see: University of Penn’s archeological museum; Edgar Allen Poe House – bad neighborhood but it’s too creepy to miss; Laurel Hill Cemetery – if you’re into that kind of thing, you’ll be blown away by the Victorian splendor of the place; City Hall and the adjacent Masonic Temple; and, if you can get there when it’s open, St Stephen’s Episcopal Church on 10th near Chestnut has the world’s largest collection of ecclesiastical Tiffany stained glass windows. Lots of little historical places you can check out all over the city. Enjoy your visit!
Born and raised in Philadelphia, and now live in South Jersey! Your blog is pretty accurate. When I was a kid living in West Philly and Mt. Airy we said downtown, but that was quite some time ago. Sadly, Philly natives are impatient, but I find that’s true for most of the NE! Especially in the current pandemic climate. However, Philly natives can be some of the friendliest, down to earth people you’ll ever meet. Philadelphia is a fantastic location for history, culture, architecture and Restaurants (as you said🥰) We have the oldest zoo, and theater (Walnut street) in the country and the largest park as well(Fairmount)! We also have some of the best universities and hospitals in the world (U of Penn and Jefferson) ! I agree driving in Philly is rough and Septa is not reliable. There are tourist trolleys tours you can purchase, ride and get on and off for Center City, Olde City and South Philly🥰 One last thing, those pretzels are not the traditional Philly ones, there the Amish pretzels, but they are delicious. I love my hometown and visit often.❤️ Enjoy your blog very much!
as a native I had several lol moments in this article. It’s all accurate. Don’t slow down the locals, either on foot or behind the wheel! The childrens museum in Fairmount Park (close to the Philly Zoo, oldest in America) is fantastic and beautiful and worth a visit. When you’re at the art museum area, don’t forget the Rodin museum. And, visit Chinatown!
Great article! As a Philadelphian who has lived in London for the past 11 years, I am amazed at how few British and Europeans who have been to the US have never been to Philly. They go to NYC, Vegas, Disney World, and Miami (Miami???). I tell them the two most American cities I know are Chicago and Philadelphia. A word in defence of Pat’s and Geno’s: yeah they are not the best, but they are not horrible. I used to live about a 20 minute walk from them, and had to pass by them whenever I had to go to the Post Office to pick up a package. I’d stop by one or the other (I prefer Pat’s because they have great hot sauce — once I even got a Geno’s steak and surreptitiously went over to Pat’s to put some hot sauce on it, risking life and limb) and it was a decent enough lunch on a Saturday afternoon.
Don’t get cheese wiz on your cheesesteak. Don’t go to Pats & Geno’s. CityView on Spring Garden has quality cheesesteaks or Max’s on Broad Street. Any place that offers cheese wiz on cheesesteaks should be banned. Born and raised in Philly and didn’t hear of that nonsense until I went off to college 🤦🏽♂.
In reference to pretzels, auntie Anne’s is a national chain and is not a Philadelphia pretzel. You want to seek out a local chain called Philadelphia (Philly) pretzel factory, that will be a Philadelphia pretzel. Also it’s very important to realize that when the street signs and your GPS disagree please for the love of God believe the street signs. North south east and west work the same in Philadelphia as they do back home! If you do choose to drive around please keep in mind that the quick easy convenient parking space you just found is probably illegal meaning it is a fire hydrant, driveway, or bus stop! And please keep in mind that flashers mean nothing!!
Yes, don’t drive in Philly, it is a nightmare. We are a walking city, you can walk throughout Center City and South Philly effortlessly. Do get out of Center City (by the way, you can use the term downtown as a more vague reference, fine to say it when coming in from the suburbs/far-off neighborhoods)…my recommendations are East Passyunk, Chestnut Hill and Manayunk. We also have one of the best urban park systems in the nation, do a hike along the Wissahickon if you have more time, late October along the trail is magical! To elaborate on the safety issue, there are a lot of neighborhoods you absolutely should avoid: Kensington, Point Breeze, Kingsessing, West Philly past 42nd Street and pretty much anywhere north of Girard Avenue. Do not wear jewelry or watches and always park your car in a protected lot (carjackings are all too common now). Also, don’t bike on the damn sidewalks, we will wish pain and suffering upon thee if you do.
Born, raised, educated, and lived most of my life in the Philadelphia area. Just about everything he says is 100% true. Philadelphia is the last place people knew you when and it’s a better place than Gotham. Surprising how many people passed up the shot at the Big Apple because it’s friendlier in the Big Scrapple. That said, he missed one point if you’re there in the winter – it’s the world’s best basketball town. Not just the Sixers, but the colleges. Makes Ohio State football look bush league. Also, get out and see the Delaware Valley. South Jersey (the Shore), the Main Line, the Poconos, Amish country, Valley Forge.
Philly-area native here! Just chiming in to concur: DON’T GET STEAKS FROM PAT’S OR GENO’S! Go to Jim’s or Tony Luke’s. That’s where you get the real stuff the locals eat. Reading Terminal advice was solid, as was the pretzel advice, Wolter! But, get the pretzel from a cart on the street, or if that fails find a Philly Pretzel Factory. The pretzels shown in the article are some Auntie Anne’s lookin’ garbage! Also, the cool old church shown at 8:08 was converted to office space years ago, and I’ve spent time in there (great Halloween party location)! It’s next to the Mutter Museum. As for the local sports fans, it’s kinda true that some of them will mess with you if you’re wearing other team’s gear, but you’re probably not going to get beat up unless you talk smack if someone makes a comment. Just laugh and smile and move on! And when you say goodbye to a Philadelphian, say “have a good one” instead!
It’s not Center City and water ice. It’s “Center Ciddy” and “Wooder ice”. XD I’ve never minded driving in Philly, but I grew up in NJ nearby, and then lived in Philly for a while, and then spent time there visiting my best friend who still lives in the area. But I can definitely see how it can be not so fun for tourists not used to the roads there. As much as I love chicken cheesesteaks, what I miss the most is a good Italian hoagie!
I’m from Philly and it’s OK to say downtown or center city…but he’s right, know what u want and where you’re driving. Also…it’s not safe to walk around certain parts of Philly. One block too far and u could run into an unsavory character. If u don’t know the City it’s best to stay in the tourist parts and they get dangerous at night time. Jims on south street is the best for cheesesteaks. Great article
I love the “don’t” about Pat’s and Geno’s. You could end up waiting an hour or more for a cheesesteak that just OK (5/10 in my opinion). Just because they are famous doesn’t mean they are the best. Also if you plan on using septa arrive 15 minutes early. Sometimes they are early and sometimes they are late. Hardly ever are they on time.
Thanks for your article about Philadelphia. I thought you may want to know why we call our downtown area Center City. It really goes back to the beginning of the city. Our city has various small green parks that were laid out when the city was founded. One of the squares is where the current city hall is located. That square was at the time the center of the city and was referred to as the center of the city. So that name came into common usage when referring to anything in our downtown area. I grew up in southwest Philadelphia and we did use both names depending on where you were going. If you were going to anything near City Hall you were going to center city however if you were going shopping to one of the many old department stores especially around 8th and Market street you were going downtown. Not to mention if you were going to somewhere near the historic area attractions you were going to old city.
As a fellow Philly resident, everything you said about this city was spot on. I know Philadelphia always gets a bad rep, but there are parts of the city that are absolutely beautiful, and worth the exploring. The soft pretzels, cheesesteaks, and roast pork sandwiches here are fantastic, and I’m always whiz wit 😅
Don’t stop at yellow lights. In Philly yellow means “speed up before you miss the light”. Also don’t drive slow. Also if you want a good cheese steak, one that actually represents Philly, don’t go to a tourist trap, you’re gonna have to go to one of the many corner stores in the inner city. Don’t worry, the poors won’t bite until after dark.
I did a “Founding of the United States” trilogy of trips three years in a row. Boston was 2018, Philly was 2019, and the DC/Virginia had to wait a little because, you know. Highly recommended. You get to see where the Revolutionary War started, gained a purpose, and ended. Then think about traveling between these places in the 1770s. While being pursued by the British.
It’s weird seeing someone talk good about our city. Philly local here, I’m just here to say NEVER take Septa outside of center city. Public transportation can be filthy and there can be a lot of crazy people depending what areas you go. Great article like always! Thank you for reminding me that it isn’t so bad here!
This is probably one of the most accurate articles about Philadelphia you’re going to find. Only one note, it’s just “Old City” not “The Old City”. As someone who’s lived in Old City for 10 years I apologize in advance for getting annoyed with tourists – the number of times I’ve had to direct someone to Betsy Ross’s house or Elfreth’s Alley by pointing to a sign that’s directly in front of them is astounding. Also, put away the giant paper maps you picked up at the visitors center or your hotel – use your phone and google maps will give you walking directions. Last but not least, Philly has awesome restaurants but most of them are NOT in Old City. The majority of places on Market street are over priced, underwhelming, AND have poor service because they live off of tourists who don’t bother to check reviews or want to venture to far away from the tourist sites.
After reading through the comments, the one really important thing that wasn’t mentioned is our cultural and ethnic diversity. You will have the great pleasure of coming across people from all over the world. The cuisine is just as diverse. In Chinatown, besides Chinese, you’ll find Cambodian, Thai, and Burmese. We have Indian restaurants all over. There’s Ethiopian in West Philly. Dahlak has been there for about 40 years and is now owned by the kids. I heard we’ve got a Philippine restaurant, but haven’t tried it. Most places are reasonably priced.
Bummer. I wish I would have known you were coming!!! I love my city! It’s extremely walkable. The food is amazing! In my opinion skip pats and genos. It’s a tourist trap. It bad food but not the best. Definitely hit a game or two! Yea we give visitors a razzing but if you’re respectful we’re respectful!
Great article! I visited Philly right before this article came out. Based on your posting date, I’m guessing this was a spring snow in the background — probably the storm that came through the day I left. I second your point about not slowing down the locals. To that I would add if you use SEPTA, enter your route on your phone so you can know what stop you are approaching. When I was there the trains and buses did not announce the stops, and if you traveled at night, you could not make out landmarks through windows, especially if lights were on in the bus and all you could see was your reflection. Likewise, not all bus stops are marked. Study your route first! I loved my visit to Philly and marveled at the history, world-class art and pop culture sites within walking distance.
If you go to Philly, see Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written. You can see the Liberty Bell there too. That is what is unique that you can’t see anywhere else. Philly, has lots of good places to eat, art Museums, and so on, but you can get all of that anywhere. The other things to do is to go to Amish country. that is about an hour west of Philly, these are the unique things to see
What a refreshingly positive take on one of the most underrated/unnecessarily hated cities in the country. I would add: don’t mistake us being mean for us being cruel. The phrase kind but not nice perfectly describes this city where we all hate each other but would help a neighbor in need at the drop of a hat
I was just in Philly for work 2 months ago. I agree with everything you said but I learned the hard way. Also I had a rental car while I was there, parking was atrocious SOMETIMES. You just gotta be patient and ready to walk. Also I ate at Reading Terminal market 4 times and super worth it. Also because it was super cold outside, there was no line at The Liberty Bell 😂
I agree with snacking on a pretzel but what you showed is in no way shape or form a Philly pretzel!! Oh emm gee! Pretzels are long and narrow..no topping or anything like that …not a “super pretzel” not Annie Anne’s The rest of the article was great but I almost had a heart attack on the pretzel thing. 😂
Only Tips I got for Philadelphia is 1. Don’t go walking at night in Philadelphia It’s not a safe city! Literally saw some women get stabbed outside a greyhound station at like 11pm at night. And tons of homeless people doing drugs! 2. Do not go to Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia! Really dangerous and isn’t really meant for tourists! Almost stepped on a used heroin needle while I was there! There were so many needles on the ground It looked like a horror movie set ! And they even had used needle disposal Boxes on every block! And an HIV testing and pregnancy Van in the neighborhood! Totally sad to see!
Hey, I can see the Center City skyline from my bedroom window, so of course I have something to say! The only thing I’d add would be a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate an architectural beauty! And don’t youse get my started about “yinz”. “Yinz” doesn’t make any sense!! “Youse” is a natural plural of “you” and even “y’all” – “you all – makes sense. Or, to stay geographically neutral, I use “folks”. Yinz….get outta here with your weird words! And take your bad pizza, back to your side of the Appalachians!!
Finally visiting Philly for the 1st time in a couple weeks. It’s been one of the tops cities that I’ve wanted to go to for so many years. I gave myself a week to visit after realizing how much there is to see and do but now I’m thinking I my not have enough time. And definitely looking forward to the food. I’m getting outside of the city for a week also.
Nobody cares if you call it “downtown” and any of the places that make you order “number, cheese, onions” or whatever like Geno’s are shithole tourist traps and nobody should go there anyway. “Give yourself time for transit to be late” is also literally just a thing that applies in almost every city in the world. The buses are late sometimes in Berlin too. I appreciate the enthusiasm here but like, this is an extremely friendly and accommodating city. It’s not like NYC. We’re not mean or gruff to tourists (unless they’re just generally very obnoxious people). Oh, and Wawa’s had exclusively kiosk ordering for over a decade, so you literally can’t hold up the line ordering there. Really though, it’s not a bad attempt, but no tourist should actually rely on this article.
I am from Philly, (actually a sub burb of) went on at least 20 school field trips to center city during my younger years. And of course been there since, a hundred times! Your description of things and your sight-seeing comments is very experienced guidance. I didn’t hear you mention the local beers. Philly loves its beer!
Another reason not to drive is to avoid being carjacked! The funny thing is I’m not joking. Also, we do say downtown but center city is a lot more common. It’s also not called “the old city” (5:05) just “old city”. Don’t ask multiple people for the best cheesesteak spot because that’s a great way to start a fight. That said the best pieces of advice were not to slow us down, we are pretty bad with it like zero tolerance bad mostly in reference to ordering food and driving. As well as the sports thing… I’ve seen some shit I’m not proud of… That said, we can be nice a big tip would be to always hold the door open for whoever is coming into a public building behind you. Like if they are a few feet away you don’t have to but directly behind you, especially going into a Wawa it’s just rude as hell to close a door in someone’s face. I wouldn’t say that’s strictly a Philadelphian thing but after spending time outside of Philly I’ve noticed people might hold a door open behind them like 20-40% of the time whereas in Philly I would say it’s like 80-90% of the time. We recognize people from Jersey like that all the time, they don’t hold doors for no one and they drive like shit.
Really good information, especially food tips! Philly is so much more than cheesesteaks! The pork sandwich has to be one of Philly’s best kept secrets. I recommend getting a donut at Beiler’s if you visit the Reading Terminal Market! My tip is anything with a line at the Reading Market is worth the wait! Oh man so much good food in Philly…..far too much to name everything!
This article is on point! I love Philly – got a lot of great memories there with family. Grandma and Grandpop stayed in Philly until their last days, since migrating from Georgia around 1940. My mom and aunt told us a lot of stories from back in the day. Later, they moved to South Jersey until their last days. With that, mom’s second set of kids were born in South Jersey – which includes me. Who’d I first marry? The guy from Philly. Anyway, everytime I cross the bridge, the nostalgia of younger days settle in with the feeling of “home”.
Really good article. I’m a transplant into Philly and you hit a lot of things on the head. Driving is terrible. Food is great IF you know where to look (i highly recommend the Caribbean and Halal food scenes). SEPTA will probably get you there, on its own time. Center City is great (you showed my workplace in the b roll lol). Love the museums. Street crime is very real here so pay attention. Locals are very friendly and cool unless you piss them off. Garbage on the street is ABUNDANT. You will witness insane levels of littering in broad daylight 😂
Love this! Been perusal all of your Europe articles over the years and got excited to see Philly 🥨 all tips spot on! Would recommend following uwishunu/local events calendars as Philly has tons of festivals, neighborhood block events throughout the Summer/Fall to attend but also good to know when streets are shut down. This is why I don’t recommend staying near Fairmont/Art museum area or near City Hall as we have LOTS of races/runs that can ruin weekend plans. Gotta throw my hat in to visit Fishtown: distilleries, breweries, lively bar and restaurant scene, tons of murals/funky art vibe and can easily walk to the waterfront at Penn Treaty Park, easier parking then downtown and close to I-95 and accessible via the MFL subway line that takes you all across the city and to West Philly.
I think you forgot about Penns landing. 47th and Locust as mentioned in the movie The Sixth Sense. China Town 🤷♂️. Fdr Park for the Asian American Street food experience (seasonal,only when weather is permitted). Sesame’s place for the toddlers. You probably have mentioned these places in the article but i didn’t catch but these are some of the places that comes to mind when i think of Philly. One more thing though FLY EAGLES FLY!!!
Hey, don’t be afeared by stories of violence. Philly’s not really a “let’s bother the stranger” type of place. People who aren’t involved in the street life are safe. Mind your business and you’ll be ok. The uptick in violence is younger dudes fightin over social media and then acting upon it. If you don’t get that there’s an entire gun culture in the inner-cities that is embraced and glorified by its participants…oh well. Now these dudes get to be like movie stars by documenting their activities on-line. I’m not sure if the behaviors are coping mechanisms anymore. The Internet changed all of that. That being said: Watch out for packs of teens. Typically you’ll hear them before you see them. These packs frequently hit Center City and just start hitting people. Move away from the noise…Avoid public transportation when schools let out. It’s a scene. If you’re in Center City at night avoid the small alleyway-like streets. Always look behind you. Yeah, if you see two street dudes trailing you, don’t turn down one of them alley streets. Nobody at 1:00 am is going to ask you for the time or a cigarette. Oh, do not buy soft pretzels from dudes at the intersections. Unless you like urine and mucus.
I’ve lived in the Philly suburbs for about 17 years and been going into the city for years. Don’t forget about the food trucks. If you’re on a budget, they can be a decent and affordable option, particularly for lunch. Also don’t limit yourself to just Cheese steaks and American food. We have lots of diversity and many options for ethnic restaurants, so check out the variety of cuisines in the city. University City (the area by University of Pennsylvania or Penn and Drexel U) has a bunch of Indian restaurants because of their international students. West Philly has African and Caribbean restaurants with the heavily African, African American and Afro Caribbean population. Chinatown has Chinese and some other Asian restaurants. South Philadelphia had Italian restaurants, but now also has a bunch of good Mexican restaurants. Northeast Philadelphia had both Chinese restaurants and options like Russian or Uzbek restaurants because of all the immigrants. Seriously Google any cuisine and you’ll probably find it in Philadelphia. And just over the County line in Delaware County is Upper Darby, which has a huge and diverse immigrant population and a lot of ethnic restaurants. If a restaurant seems Indian, but it’s Halal and serves beef, it’s either Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Like I said, pick a country/cuisine and you can probably find it in the Philadelphia area and probably in the city or close by. I think we have a Tibetan restaurant in Northwest Philly.
Back when I was young and lived in West Chester, I would often drive into Philly and park in/near Chinatown. I’d knock around Chinatown for a bit, and then walk down to South Street. Once I was done down there, I’d walk back to my car in/near Chinatown and head home. Lots-I-walking, and great architecture to look at during the transit walks.
lifetime Philadelphian here. we don’t think anything of Pittsburgh, it’s not even a thought in our mind. down town is fine to say in place of center city, btw, in fact, it’ll make you seem like a long time resident as center city has only taken its place recently as a majority term. I cannot believe you didn’t make a trip to K&A (kensington and allegheny) to remark on that amazing representation of philadelphia. It’s as abyssmal as everyone says.
Not only was I born in homestead, but I got mugged there. Tbf it was Saint Paddy’s, I broke the rule and stumbled away from the group. But I was mugged in the nice area around spring garden and rescued by a mother at 20th and York. Right between Kensington and strawberry Mansion. Obey the rules of any city and this place will treat you well
I was born in South Philly, then we moved to Southwest. Many years ago, Saturday outings, were going in town or down town, on the trolly. This is before Liberty Place was even built. I miss the many stores on Market, Chestnut (The Gallery) and Walnut streets, and the many movie theaters, in the area. First, we go to the movies, then go eat, and stop in the stores. Was so great around the Holidays. Was back in the eighties. Incidently, we loved our Federal pretzels, that looked like a figure 8. Now you have to be careful where you go, cause like other main cities, we have areas you should avoid. Stay safe.
Tip for anyone that wants to visit Philly from Berks/Reading, the toll routes are straight forward and traveling will be alot less stressful than taking a non toll route. Especially if your going to the northeast. For me, street rd exit to Homesburg is alot easier going on the toll ways rather than going through Center City.
Solid article, couple of criticisms though. The soft pretzel shown is NOT the brown bag kind we typically get (the long 8, you know what I’m talking about.) Also you forgot to mention the hoagie! #1 is the most important part though, we can tell immediately who isn’t from here. Also the recommendation to get a steak wherever you are is great, some of the best I’ve had in my life are from corner stores. Respect for the respect to the Rocky statue 🙂
1. Don’t go into North Philly. Don’t! 2. Center city is safe, but don’t be naive. Be aware of your surroundings. 3. Don’t wear a Cowboys, Giants, Mets, or Braves jersey. You’re asking for trouble if you do. 4. When ordering a cheesesteak, don’t say I’ll have a “Philly cheesesteak,” or “wiz wit”. That’s dumb. 5. It’s hard to find real Philly soft pretzels. Federal Pretzels closed years ago. Rule of thumb. If it looks like crap, don’t get it. 6. Do not get mayo on your italian hoagie, just oil (no vinegar). Make sure you ask for gabagool & proshute. (that’s right. Say it just like that)!
Do’s: Get buffalo wings at Moriarty’s Get an Italian Diablo hoagie at Primo Hoagies Get the truffle (tartufo) pizza at Stella’s Get a greasy lunchcart cheesesteak Get a beer at McGillan’s Olde Ale House Get dumplings at Dim Sum Garden Get the house vermicelli bowl at Vietnam Go to Voyeur nightclub during an event Go to World Famous Gold Club and get a private dance Go to Rittenhouse Square during an Art Show
The thing that makes an authentic philly pretzel unique and tasty is all the exhausts fumes that seep into them while sitting in open crates at major intersections where you are most likely to find them being sold by the locals.😉 And if you happen to get one from a sweaty man who sticks each one in his armpit as he puts mustard on the next, you have hit the flavor jackpot🤣
Pat’s and Gino’s should never be eaten unless you’re a drunk tourist and it’s 1am. Go to Jim’s, Delassandro’s, or Sonny’s. Pat’s and Gino’s suck. Check out some of the “lesser known” museums, like the American Swedish Historical Museum, yes that’s a thing and it’s a very worthwhile stop. Also, if you love art, Philly has the most commissioned murals of any American city at nearly 4,00p, doing a walking tour of the murals is amazing!
First thing I like to comment about is that I have been Philadephia 65 years. That’s because I was born here I grew up here worked here and went to college here on a house here, etc.. I make people wait for my order all the time. Some of the younger generation have become impatient. How many of them are first generation from somewhere else maybe New York. But if you want to take your time, take your time make them wait on you. You have a right to that. They were half puff, but they don’t blow the house down.
As a west philly local born and raised(walnut hill section) on March of 86′. I’m gonna say you was on point with that jawn lol. Btw, be prepared to hear the word “jawn”a lot lol. Awesome that you enjoyed your time here. Check out the local nightclubs and bars next time you come back to visit, it’s fun.
As a local I’m loving this article so far. This guy is right SEPTA sucks, the city is very walkable, traffic sucks, parking sucks, the food is great, Soft Pretzels in Philly are the best in the world, he likes cheesesteaks but I feel it’s our most overrated food, downtown is absolutely Center City🤣, Reading Terminal Market is freaking awesome, we’ve got tons and tons of history etc.
Philadelphia Is a fast paced place,drivers are crazy,speed limits are more of a guideline! The parking police in Philly are called the PPA and they’re not city workers and work on tickets and tow away and there no joke be careful where you park in center city. Cheesesteaks are mostly about good fresh bread,if someone comes in from out of town I’ll take them to Pats or Geno’s some call it a tourist trap but Pats started it all so you gotta try it once. Everywhere in Philadelphia and the burbs have there own version of who’s best so I’m not going to start a food fight! People can be friendly or rude just remember it’s a fast paced town but there are so many things to see and do it makes for a wonderful vacation stop If you’re looking for a good stateside vacation.✌🏻
Umm..as a Philadelphian…we dont care how you order your cheesesteak..but the reason we don’t get green peppers on it is we want to get rid of the stereotype that it comes with green peppers..usually the most simple idea is the best.. Traffic isn’t confusing and usually not 1 way. Unless you go to south Philadelphia, heck this is evident from just trying to go south from center city.
It’s a complete myth that density is bad cities and towns of all sizes and there is actually evidence that it can make our cities safer and more pleasant. Of course overcrowding is a very real issues for some cities but Philadelphia is actually praised by city planners for its appropriate density. In fact high density and non car infrastructure make a significant improvement in livability especially for those who cannot afford or are not able to drive a car. I love the character offered by historic dense neighborhoods personally and Philadelphia has lots of that. I also enjoy more quiet and private environment but you can find that in dense small towns and truly rural areas. All this to say that the “density is bad” mindset is bad because it drives us towards economically unsustainable solutions like car dependent sprawl and strict zoning laws that restricts economic development just to please only some of the population
Lived in Philly for 17 years until one year ago when I moved to California. Most of this I can agree with, especially the Parking, Traffic, and Trash. There’s good pizza for sure. There is a ton of great music in Philly and a wealth of culture, hip bars, great restaurants, and reallly cool neigborhoods. There are still tons of reasons to move there and I don’t regret my many years there!!
I used to live in Philly and would certainly move back. It’s a beautiful town with a lot to do. As for this article.. I like your website but do disagree with you some of the negatives in this particular article. You barely touched on why it’s important to preserve history. Idk anything about the trees in Oregon, but preserving the buildings where this country was literally founded in Philly is so important and it actually adds to the uniqueness of the city. I wish Philly would do more to play up its historic roots. As for the traffic – it’s bad in any major city. I lived in Atlanta for a while and that city is way worse than Philly. I was in South Fl – bad traffic. I was Dallas – bad traffic. Austin – bad traffic. I mean, idk how a city with millions of ppl are supposed to get around that. Which brings me to public trans. Philly isn’t that bad. One of the most popular modes of transportation is walking. It’s easily one of the most walkable cities in America which I personally love. And lastly crime – yeah philly is bad right now, particularly in certain neighborhoods. It breaks my heart. I love that town. I hope things get better. But I will say crime has gone up globally since the pandemic. So it is unfair to single out philly. Anyway, again – love the website. But for anyone who watched this article – don’t be deterred from visiting this town. It’s one of the most interesting places in the country.
At the beginning of the article you said the population is decreasing and then you said the population is ever-growing. If anyone is wondering, the population actually increased from 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023. I live in Philly and moved here in 2021. It’s far from overcrowded, I don’t drive so I don’t have to deal with traffic or parking (instead I take the bus, train or bike – and public transportation isn’t amazing but it’s better than most American cities). The winters aren’t bad – nothing like a midwest winter. This winter was incredibly mild and didn’t even snow properly. As far as COL goes it’s affordable for a city of this size.
I live in Philadelphia and I work in Philadelphia. I’m not surprised by the negative comments, including Mr. Briggs’, but Philadelphia isn’t worse with crime, homelessness, or dirtiness than other big cities I have visited recently. There is an undeniable cost of living advantage here compared to NYC, DC, and Boston.
I’ve lived in the Philadelphia area for 30 years. During the last few years the winters have been mild. Very little snow or ice. Rarely sub-freezing temperatures. The climate is changing. Also, I never heard the term “Killadephia”. That said, there are a lot of shootings and carjackings in the city.
I moved to Philadelphia from Florida twenty years ago and absolutely love this city!! Beautiful, historic, walkable, affordable (compared to NYC) with world class museums, performing arts venues, parks, medical care, etc. — all these things make Philadelphia a great place to live for those who enjoy city living. Of course Philly has its problems–what big city doesn’t? Bottom line–I wouldn’t even consider living anywhere else.
I have lived in Center City Philadelphia for 25 years and worked in city for 40 years. My daughter went to Public Schools from pre-school to High School and had a wonderful education and experience. The City has had it’s moments both good and bad but it is crazy, unique, cultured and fun. Some of the best restaurants in the World, some of the best Theaters for shows and Orchestra. Sports venues that serve some of the best teams in the World. So many flavors of culture and people from South Philly Italian Market to ChinaTown and FishTown just to name a few. All within blocks of each other. People can be crazy, passionate and unique but that’s why we say- ‘IT’S A PHILLY THING”. I LOVE LIVING HERE!!!
Yes, Philadelphia (filthydelphia, killadelphia, … ) is all those things listed in the article. I travel across the Ben Franklin daily then take 6th street to work. The roads are in bad condition with many potholes. There are a lot of buildings left vacant and not maintained. Also a lot of construction of new housing (gentrification) . And on and on. Still, Philadelphia also has interesting places and people throughout. Native Texan here. I moved to the Philly area in early 2000. There was a time when I would walk throughout the Italian Market, Reading Terminal, Rittenhouse Square, Boathouse Row, and other spots, carrying a DSLR and taking photos of people on the streets. No one gave me a hard time. Many stopped and smiled and even chatted with me for a while. I know folks say Philly has attitude. I found that this attitude doesn’t mean they are truly unfriendly. I came to think of it as Chilladelphia. 😉
I live8n Philly for 3 years and completely agree with this list. The only big thing you left off was its profound rudeness and xenophobia. It’s like the whole place is angry. NYC is rude, but it is an impersonal rudeness that never bothered me. Philly just seems to hate outsiders and it feels personal.
I currently reside in Philadelphia. I would say a lot of this is sadly true BUT 1) there are a lot of folks working to change this and some of these initiatives are actually gaining momentum 2) there is more to these issues than this. For example: you mentioned waste and recycling and before the pandemic that was lowering, but then the Kenney Administration completely gutted a whole department oriented toward that to save money. Also it was recently ruled that the way PA schools are funded is unconstitutional – so we are hopeful our schools will start to receive the funding they deserve, Philadelphia has been particularly affected by that funding. In reference to crime, I won’t pretend it isnt an issue, it is. But before 2020 the Kenney (the current mayor) administration’s total homicide number was lower than all previous mayors up to Goode. If you are interested in moving to Philly do not let this article disway you there are many good things about this city! It’s convenient to New York City and DC and even other smaller cities. It can be tight knit in certain neighborhoods. There’s a certain grit that often gets mistaken for meanness. Philly is also extremely walkable (although it could be better!). I love Philly.