Philadelphia Travel Essentials

• Philadelphia's climate is marked by temperate weather with wet springs, hot and humid summers, dry and crisp falls, and cold winters with at least one big snowstorm.
• The most rainfall can be seen in July with an average of 4.28 inches, though precipitation is steady year-round with an average of 2.6 to 3.75 inches in other months.
• The warmest months of the year are June through August, with average highs exceeding 80 degrees and a July average of 86.2, topping all months.
• The best time to visit is between March and May when hotel rates are good and the cherry blossoms burst into color across the city.

• The plug type is a typical 2- or 3-prong wall outlet just like everywhere in the United States.
• Electricity is 120 volts (60 Hz).
• The currency is the United States Dollar and normal U.S. coinage.
• The international dialing code is +1, but you usually don't have to dial it to call within the continental U.S. or outlying territories.
• For emergency telephone calls, call 911, the universal number across the U.S. This number applies even in cases of non-life-threatening emergencies where you just need to get hold of police or first responders.

Philadelphia has some of the best transportation options in the entire country, so getting here from just about anywhere is a cinch. You can fly, take a train, or even catch a boat or ferry to come into town.

Airports

Philadelphia is serviced by Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which is located roughly 15 to 20 minutes from downtown. After flying in, and depending on your hotel, you can take a shuttle to town, hail a cab or rideshare, or rent a car. Bus service is also an option. 

Major train stations

Train lines in Philly along with trolleys and subways will get you where you need to go. Train stations can be found throughout the city. The major Amtrak station is inside the 30th Street Station on the edge of the Center City neighborhood. If you're taking a major train into town, this is your most likely stop.

Travel tips

Philly's mass transit authority, SEPTA, runs almost all the public transportation in the city, including trains, buses, trolleys, and subways. You are best advised to take part in the SEPTA Travel Wallet program or secure a key card to make your travel throughout the city largely painless, though cash is accepted for most transit options. Be sure to have exact change handy if you are using cash.

Subway system

Philly's rapid transit combines the use of subway lines, trolleys, and buses to get you where you need to go. You'll travel on 2 major subway lines throughout the city, the Broad Street Line and the Market-Frankford Line. They are exceptionally comprehensive and can get you almost anywhere in town.

Taxi and rideshare

Taxis can be safely and easily hailed from almost any main street. They are abundant all through Philly. Rideshare services are also widely available, with Lyft and Uber being the most popular and trusted. The Philly Black Car limo service is also quite popular among locals.

Bus network

Like the subway system, the bus network is expansive and can easily get you from one point to another almost anywhere in the city. Combined with the subway and trolley lines, this public transit system ensures that you'll have no problem navigating Philly. In fact, many say that the trackless trolley system is the only way to see the city, and it works on the same system as the bus and trolley network.

Car rentals

Philadelphia is one of the nation's major cities, and as such car rental services such as Enterprise, Budget, and Avis can be found just about everywhere. The airport can set you up with a rental car when you get into town, and many hotels can direct you to the nearest place to rent a car while you're here. All you need is a driver's license, a credit card, and a photo ID to get up and running, for the most part.

Bicycle rentals

Bicycle rentals are a popular way to get around Philly, get some exercise, and see the city. You can find any number of rental services including Indego, a bike-share service that maintains grab-and-go self-service stations all across the city. You can pick up a bike from any station and return it to any other station when you're done with it.

Ferries

Ferries leave from the main Delaware River ports downtown including Penn's Landing and Wiggins Park. These can take you on a river cruise to see the city from the water. They also travel to New Jersey if you want to take a day trip to see the sights there. Ferries are also wheelchair accessible.

Mummers Parade

When: Jan. 1, every year

What: Local clubs compete for prizes with elaborate costumes, music, dance, and floats with moveable scenery that can take months to complete. It's one of the big spectacles of the year.

Where: Broad Street, ending at the Convention Center where performers are judged

Philadelphia Auto Show

When: Early March annually over a full week

What: This show highlights hundreds of vehicles showcasing the latest hot models, concept cars, and upcoming trends in the auto industry.

Where: Philadelphia Convention Center

Philadelphia Flower Show

When: Held in mid-June over a full week every year.

What: The longest-running flower show in the nation and one of the largest, with acres upon acres of stunningly colored flower gardens, displays, and art pieces. Each year has a different theme, and it's been going on for nearly 2 centuries.

Where: Recently moved outdoors to FDR Park in South Philly.

Independence National Historical Park

This federally designated and protected historic district hosts several sites that were important to the American Revolution. The park's centerpiece is Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were born. The Liberty Bell can be found here, as can the First and Second Banks of the United States, Carpenters' Hall, and the City Tavern, which has been re-created and operates today.

Elfreth's Alley Museum

The oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the nation, this spot is also a living history museum of historic homes with 2 adjacent houses dating to 1755 that serve as a formal museum to trace the history of the alley and its namesake blacksmith, Jeremiah Elfreth. You'll also find a gift shop here. You can take a 45-minute guided tour or explore on your own.

Philadelphia City Hall

This is among the largest municipal buildings in the United States with more than 14.5 acres of interior space. It's famed for its iconic statue of William Penn and stands 548 feet high, which is astounding in that it has no steel frame. It boasts lavish public rooms that are popular with social media photographers.

Love Park

This public square is home to one of the most iconic and quirky sculptures in the city: the word "LOVE" spelled out in giant letters that are brightly lit at night. Its formal name is John F. Kennedy Plaza, and besides the sculpture, it offers an ornate fountain, tons of green space, walking paths, and benches for relaxing and people-watching.

As if Philadelphia doesn't offer enough to do, the many towns and villages around this major city offer tons of historic sites, museums, quirky gift shops, great dining, and stunning scenery. Whether you want something a bit different or you want to just explore the region, these spots an hour or less from town are sure to enchant.

Ambler

This historic town features a walkable downtown business center with beautiful buildings and a true small-town feel. It's known for its arts and entertainment spaces, indie boutique shops, and local restaurants. You'll find performance spaces and tons of annual events, arts festivals, and shows all year long. It's about 40 minutes north of Philly. Among the more famous spots here are the Ambler Theater, the Act II Playhouse, and the campus of Temple University. Its First Fridays festival is a must-attend.

Kennett Square

This town about an hour west of Philly offers a classic historic city center that features tons of events including unusual offerings like winter farmers markets, speaker series, and festivals. You can find a wealth of local mom-and-pop shops to support the local economy, as well as fantastic dining here. Some popular attractions include the Kennett Underground Railroad Mural; Longwood Gardens, covering more than 1,000 acres of meticulously maintained woodlands; and The Creamery, a historic 1902 community gathering spot and craft beer garden.

New Hope

About an hour north of Philly, New Hope in Bucks County offers eclectic shopping and a scenic small-town feel. It's known for its restaurants right on the river and its many cultural attractions with a Main Street that has been featured in USA Today and Travel & Leisure. Here you can see the New Hope Historical Society, the Locktender's House historical site, and Perry Mansion. A canal runs directly through downtown, making this one of the more scenic small towns in the region.

Doylestown

Doylestown is the county seat of Bucks County and offers a wide range of stunning buildings, specialty shopping destinations, outstanding local dining, and historic sites. It's only an hour from Philadelphia but offers so much to do that you can easily spend an entire vacation here. This town was named as USA Today's Best Small Town Cultural Scene and offers such attractions as an actual castle as well as the Mercer Mile of museums and the Michener Art Museum just off Main Street.