Philadelphia Travel Forum

Hi, on vacation in the US this summer, I will have a 4 hour stop in Philadelphia around lunch time. Where is the best place to stop, park, and which has a few restaurants to choose from and is near some interesting places to visit...? ..and what would be the top 2 or 3 things to see in this admittedly quick stop-over ? Thanks very much.

If you're fond of history then Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the Franklin museum are all near each other and admission is free. There's an underground parking lot and plenty of restos in the vicinity as well.

If you're going to the Independence National Historic Park (as described above, and which is a worthy place to go, see http://www.nps.gov/inde/ ), note that the City Tavern (established 1773) is just about a block or two away at Walnut and 2nd. Sample some colonial cooking, and see what made us so rebellious ;-) . See www.citytavern.com .

Oh, on the sites, yes, the sites listed above are free, but for Independence Hall, you must have a timed tour ticket. Read the website above for notes on reservations, restrooms, etc.

Also, how are you arriving? by car? plane? train? Do you really have 4 hours here?

Bill

Four hours is certainly not much time to see Philadelphia, but I'd head for the downtown, historic area for sure. There are lots of car parks (whoops... thinking British instead of my Phila. roots here) and there are also lots of eating choices. At 12th and Market (not too far a walk from Independence Hall etc.) is the Reading Terminal Market. It's a great place for lunch with lots of choices under one roof. On South St. there's a famous Phila. cheesesteak place, and you won't quickly forget that treat.

BUT I'm going to need some more information.

It seems that you're driving a car (I'm going to guess along I-95), so I'm wondering on what basis you conclude you have exactly four hours to see the city?

On what route are you arriving, and departing?

How certain can you be of arriving at a specific time?

What will happen if you're delayed in traffic -- a VERY real possibility in Philly?

What are your main interests? History? Culture? Shopping? Surfing? (that was a joke, BTW) PROBABLY you'll want to head for Old City, but someone with no interest in US history may find it a waste of time.

If you have no interest in American history, there's a great art museum in Phila. and parking there is usually not difficult. I haven't been back for years, but it probably has a nice spot for lunch, too. Not far away is a little-known Rodin museum.

Chinatown is a few blocks from the historic area so that is another possibility for food. I always enjoy visiting the various pastry shops getting various bean and meat buns along with the sweet ones and making a meal of it. There's at least a dozen stores in a four block area and the pastry/buns cost about .75 each.

That is just enough time to get the real taste of the traffic of downtown philly.You need more time to get any meaningful feel or the city of brotherly love!

if you want to eat and shop, and do it all in one great location, i recommend reading terminal. you eat yourself sick, do some shopping and enjoy lots of local flavor.