Philadelphia
Around Philadelphia
Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Pennsylvania · 6.3M people
Philadelphia
Locals say Delaware Valley · “Philly”, “City of Brotherly Love”
Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington
Where every corner has a story and every cheesesteak is a legend.
Flyers orangeMidnight greenPhillies red
Welcome to the Delaware Valley, where the cheesesteaks are thick and the sports passion runs deep. Whether you're exploring the historic streets of Philly or the quiet suburbs of Delaware and Jersey, you'll find a community that loves its jawns. Get ready to cheer on our teams and enjoy the best water ice in the country.
Clubs for Philadelphia
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The room
One room for everyone around Philadelphia. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
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Marketplace
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Things to do
- Independence Hall Where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
- Liberty Bell Iconic symbol of American independence.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art Famous for the Rocky steps and vast collections.
- Fairmount Park One of the largest urban park systems in the US.
- Reading Terminal Market Historic indoor market with diverse food stalls.
- Penn's Landing Delaware River waterfront with events and views.
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Schuylkill River Trail
- Outdoors Hike in Wissahickon Valley Park
- With kids Philadelphia Zoo
- With kids Please Touch Museum
- Evenings Bar hop in Fishtown or Northern Liberties
- Evenings Catch a show at The Fillmore
- Locals love Cheesesteak joints
- Locals love BYOB restaurants
Through the year
- Mummers Parade January New Year's Day string band and comic brigade parade.
- Philadelphia Flower Show March Largest indoor flower show in the world.
- Broad Street Run May 10-mile road race down Broad Street.
- Wawa Welcome America July July 4th festival with concerts and fireworks.
- Philadelphia Folk Festival August Long-running folk music festival in Schwenksville.
Four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out.
Talk like a local
- “Jawn”
- Thing, place, or person; a catch-all word.
- “Wooder”
- Water, as pronounced locally.
- “Youse”
- You all, plural you.
- “Wit/Witout”
- With or without onions on a cheesesteak.
Getaways
- Atlantic City Beaches, boardwalk, and casinos.
- Lancaster Amish country, farmlands, and outlet shopping.
- Lehigh Valley Dorney Park, steel history, and wineries.
- Reading Outlet shopping and the Pagoda.
Local flavour
Teams
- Philadelphia Eagles NFL
- Philadelphia Phillies MLB
- Philadelphia Flyers NHL
- Philadelphia 76ers NBA
- Philadelphia Union MLS
- Wilmington Blue Rocks MiLB
- Villanova Wildcats NCAA Division I
- Temple Owls NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Cheesesteak Thinly sliced ribeye with melted cheese on a long roll, from iconic shops like Pat's and Geno's.
- Hoagie Italian-style sandwich on a crusty roll, a deli staple.
- Soft Pretzel Salted, chewy pretzels sold from street carts and shops.
- Water Ice Italian-style frozen dessert, especially from Rita's or local stands.
- Scrapple Pork scrapple, a breakfast meat, often from local butchers.
- Tastykakes Local snack cakes, a Philadelphia institution.
- Wawa Hoagies The convenience store chain's made-to-order hoagies are a regional obsession.
- Roast Pork Sandwich A rival to the cheesesteak, often with broccoli rabe and provolone.
- Tomato Pie Square pizza without mozzarella, a South Philly specialty.
Where people go
- Row House Blocks Tightly packed brick row homes with marble steps, defining the residential landscape.
- Italian Market Outdoor market with fresh produce, meats, and Italian specialties.
- Reading Terminal Market
- Cheesesteak Joints Corner shops and legendary spots like Pat's and Geno's, often open late.
- Hoagie Shops Neighborhood delis and sandwich shops that craft hoagies to order.
- Wawa Stores Convenience stores with hoagies, coffee, and a loyal following.
- Soft Pretzel Carts Street vendors selling soft pretzels with mustard.
- Water Ice Stands Seasonal stands serving Italian water ice in many flavors.
- BYOB Restaurants Bring-your-own-bottle dining, common in the city's diverse neighborhoods.
- Historic Landmarks Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Elfreth's Alley.
- Sports Bars Neighborhood bars packed with fans during Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers games.
Heritage and traditions
The Delaware Valley is proud of its role as the birthplace of American democracy, its fiercely loyal sports fans, and its rich mosaic of ethnic neighborhoods—from the Italian Market to South Philly's Irish pubs—that keep old-world traditions alive.
This time of year in Philadelphia
- Foliage in Wissahickon Valley Park Fall Fall colors along the creek make for scenic hikes and bike rides.
Say it like a local: “jawn” — A thing, object, or placeholder for anything.
Festivals
- Odunde Festival June The largest African American street festival in the US, celebrating Yoruba culture with music, food, and a procession to the Schuylkill River.
- Philadelphia Fringe Festival September A citywide performing arts festival with avant-garde theater, dance, and music in unconventional venues.
- Puerto Rican Day Parade September A vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican heritage with colorful floats, music, and food along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
- Italian Market Festival May A weekend of Italian food, music, and street performances in the historic Italian Market.
- Philadelphia Beer Week June A ten-day celebration of craft beer with tastings, brewery events, and special releases.
- Christmas Village November-December A European-style holiday market in LOVE Park with vendors, mulled wine, and festive lights.
Landmarks with a story
- Eastern State Penitentiary A former prison known for its grand architecture and now a museum with an annual haunted house.
- Christ Church An Episcopal church where many Founding Fathers, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, worshiped.
- Elfreth's Alley The oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States, dating to 1702.
- Betsy Ross House The home where Betsy Ross is said to have sewn the first American flag.
- Philadelphia City Hall The largest municipal building in the US, with a statue of William Penn on top.
- The Mutter Museum A medical museum with anatomical specimens and oddities, part of the College of Physicians.
Food traditions
- Cheesesteak Born in the 1930s at Pat's King of Steaks, now a citywide obsession with endless debates over cheese (Whiz vs. provolone) and onions.
- Hoagie The Italian hoagie, with cold cuts, provolone, and oil, originated in South Philly and is a staple at any gathering.
- Soft pretzel A street food sold from carts and bakeries, often enjoyed with yellow mustard.
- Water ice Italian ice, a summer treat from stands across the city, especially in South Philly.
- Scrapple A Pennsylvania Dutch pork breakfast meat, often fried and served with eggs or on a sandwich.
Music and arts
- Philly soul A genre of soul music developed in the 1970s with lush orchestration and a distinctive groove, led by artists like Gamble and Huff.
- Mural Arts Program The nation's largest public art program, with over 3,000 murals across the city.
- Philadelphia Orchestra One of the world's leading orchestras, performing at the Kimmel Center.
- Philly rap scene From Will Smith to The Roots, Philadelphia has a rich hip-hop tradition.
A little history
- 1776 Declaration of Independence signed
- 1787 U.S. Constitution drafted
- 1790-1800 Philadelphia served as the capital of the United States
- 1874 First zoo in the US opened (Philadelphia Zoo)
- 1751 First hospital in the US founded (Pennsylvania Hospital)
Rivalries
- Eagles vs Cowboys NFC East football rivalry.
- Phillies vs Mets NL East baseball rivalry.
- Flyers vs Penguins Metro Division hockey rivalry.
- 76ers vs Celtics Atlantic Division basketball rivalry.
- Game day Eagles tailgating at Lincoln Financial Field
- Game day The 'E-A-G-L-E-S' chant
- Outdoors Running up the Rocky steps
- Outdoors Walking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- With kids Academy of Natural Sciences
- With kids Independence Seaport Museum
The Philly accent is famously distinctive: 'wooder' for water, 'jawn' for any thing, and a broad 'a' in words like 'bad' and 'glad'. Locals also use 'youse' for you all and say 'hoagie' for a sub sandwich.
Only here
- The 'Philly Special'—a trick play in Super Bowl LII that became a city legend.
- The Rocky steps and statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where visitors reenact the famous run.
- The first zoo in the United States, founded in 1874.
- The first hospital in the United States, Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'wooder' for water and 'jawn' for anything—you'll fit right in.
- Get a SEPTA Key card for buses, subways, and regional rail; it's the easiest way to get around.
- Try a cheesesteak from Pat's or Geno's, but be ready to pick a side in the eternal debate.
- Tailgating is a serious ritual at Eagles games—bring hoagies and soft pretzels.
- The city is walkable, but parking is tough; use public transit or ride-sharing.
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Part of Greater Philadelphia
Nearby
Every areaTrentonNew JerseyWhere the statehouse meets the Ivy LeagueVinelandNew JerseyWhere the fields meet the bay, and the tomatoes taste like sunshine.ReadingPennsylvaniaWhere the hills roll and the pretzels are always soft.Lehigh ValleyPennsylvaniaWhere the steel valley meets a new day.Atlantic CityNew JerseyBoardwalk days and blueberry nights.DoverDelawareWhere the First State’s heart beats steady.LancasterPennsylvaniaLocal rooms for Lancaster County.LebanonPennsylvaniaLocal rooms for Lebanon Valley.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.