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Undeniably historic, Philadelphia is packed with iconic sights, a plethora of cultural attractions and an ever-growing foodie scene. Our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Philadelphia will help you choose which area is best suited to your trip whether you're visiting for the history, architecture, fantastic bars and restaurants or catching a game or concert at one of the major arenas.
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As with many big cities there are certain neighbourhoods with strong personalities and tastes. Philadelphia’s artistic treasures are clustered around the city’s north-west neighbourhoods, including Logan Square and Fairmount — this is where you’ll find the Rodin Museum, the Museum of Art and the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Many of the city’s historic highlights can be found to the east of Center City, around Old City, Washington Square West and Rittenhouse Square — these are great places to stay if you want to spend some time at the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, and the City Hall. There are some hip and lively neighbourhoods in the city too — popular with Philadelphia’s university demographic — check out University City and Fishtown.
Center City is what Philadelphia calls its very walkable downtown neighbourhood. The bit most densely packed with historic sights, museums and galleries, offices and accommodation. Within the Center City area are the smaller neighbourhoods of Old City, Chinatown, Rittenhouse Square, Midtown Village, Washington Square West, and Society Hill. This is where you’ll find City Hall, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Kimmel Center, and many of the most historic buildings in Philadelphia — including some fantastic old residential buildings that have now been converted into gorgeous boutique and bijou hotels.
Discover our recommended hotels in Center City
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Rittenhouse Square is considered a chi-chi neighbourhood, known for its chic hotels and buzzing alfresco drinking and dining scene. Among the elegant cafes, bars and restaurants along the main streets — Broad Street, Market Street and South Street — are cool, locally owned galleries, independent boutiques, and even theatres and music venues. If you want to shop head over to Rittenhouse Row and Walnut Street. The actual Square in the name is a one block park, popular with families, artists, and everyone who likes a bit of city greenery. It hosts festivals, farmers’ markets, fairs, and all sorts of arty and family-friendly events. There’s a lot going on in this neighbourhood; it’s a super popular place to stay with a great range of accommodation.
Discover our pick of the best hotels in Rittenhouse Square
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Old City is a neighbourhood of cobbled streets and 17th and 18th century architecture radiating out from Independence Mall. It is one of Philadelphia’s oldest neighbourhoods, and is a key part of the Historic District — which is frequently referred to as the birthplace of the nation. Old City is close to the Liberty Bell, the First Bank of the United States, and Penn’s Landing too; it's right on the river close to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The waterfront area is a great place for families: events are hosted here throughout the year, including an ice rink in winter. Old City is where you will find the National Constitution Centre, the Independence Visitor Centre, and the National Museum of American Jewish History. When it comes to more contemporary features, it has a number of very fashionable restaurants, cool boutiques, and cutting-edge galleries and theatres. This is a great neighbourhood to stay in if you love a bit of local nightlife.
Discover our recommended hotels in Old City
Midtown Village is the neighbourhood at the very heart of Philadelphia's Center City: a rectangular area between Broad Street and 11th Street, which encompasses several of Philadelphia’s best hotels and restaurants, and an exciting collection of theatres and galleries. Midtown Village has some well known nightclubs, late night cafes and bars too — this is a hub of LGBT life in Philadelphia, so there’s an extra layer of colour to some of them. The neighbourhood hosts Philadelphia Pride, as well as a lively food and music festival called the Midtown Village Fall Festival, which livens up the area every October. Midtown Village is also known for its boutique shopping.
Discover our pick of the best hotels in Midtown Village
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The University City neighbourhood is the busy centre of Philadelphia academia, radiating around not one, but three universities: the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Saint Joseph’s University. So as you'd expect there's a creative and youthful vibe here and this neighbourhood reflects that with its food and drink culture, affordable and hip accommodation options, and artistic and cultural attractions. Guests staying in University City are close to the Penn Museum, one of the world’s first archaeological and anthropological museums — with loads of Egyptian artefacts — and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Walk the streets of University City and you’ll see Victorian architecture, along with chic art galleries, cool cafes, and late-night hang-outs. If you’re eating out you’ll find everything from student-friendly street food to Michelin recommended restaurants.
Discover our recommended hotels in University City
Fishtown is a cool neighbourhood on the Delaware River. Possibly Fishtown’s previous incarnation as a centre for commercial fishing is what has kept the area from gentrifying too far. It’s got a pre-grid layout of narrow streets and alleys with modest terrace houses — some which have now been turned into hotels and aparthotels, or other small, independently owned businesses. And as with any up-and-coming neighbourhood, Fishtown has seen all sorts of interesting places to eat, drink and shop open up to please the trendy crowd moving in, and this is now one of Philadelphia’s liveliest neighbourhoods.
Click here for our pick of the best hotels in Fishtown
