"I once spent a year in Philadelphia; I think it was a Sunday," WC Fields once said of our Trip Pick of the Week.
While we might have agreed with his dismissive sentiment in the past, the last couple of years have changed our minds about Philadelphia entirely, especially as a weekend getaway.
This historic city has attracted a new, hip crowd with its cheap rents and super-close proximity to New York City.
And though we won't go as far as calling it the "sixth borough" of New York (as some publications have), there's no doubt that an enticing mix of artists, musicians and restraunteurs have chosen Philadelphia as their home. Needless to say, residents and visitors alike are reaping the benefits.
Indeed, Philadelphia has been cited by many of our jauntsetter friends as their favorite urban escape. After all, this charming and approachable city couldn't be closer or easier to get to: transportation options abound, and no matter how you go, you'll get to there in about 2 hours, door to door. In fact, if you take Amtrak you can be in the city in as little as 65 minutes!
Philadelphia is also entirely affordable; rooms are reasonably priced, restaurants inexpensive and wine sold at bargain-basement prices.* And as usual, we have thoughtful ideas on where to eat and drink, as well as some exclusive deals on choice accommodations.
All in all, we encourage you to keep reading and check out Philadelphia ASAP. This swinging city gets our vote for a fantastic, easy jaunt!
xoxo,
your jauntsetter team
* Pennsylvania's liquor stores are state-run; as a result, PA is the biggest consolidated purchaser of alcohol in the world. Its discounts are happily passed directly on to the consumer. That fact, combined with expensive local liquor licenses, have created an unrivaled BYOB scene and a unique food and wine (or mix-your-own cocktails!) destination.
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Trip Details
When to Go
Philadelphia is lovely any time of year, though we think it's better to go when it's not too cold, so avoid January and February if you can. That said, Philadelphia has plenty of indoor attractions, and lots of taxis to whisk you comfortably from point A to B, so it can really work any time of year.
Because of Philadelphia's close proximity to New York, it's also the perfect spontaneous getaway. There's plenty of accommodations to choose from and trains and buses leave for the city from New York almost hourly. If you've never taken a trip at the very last second, we recommend Philadelphia. Think about it (but not too hard!).
Length of Stay
While you could leave early Saturday and come back Sunday night, we recommend making Philadelphia a two to three night getaway, especially if you stay in one of our recommended hotels or bed and breakfasts. You'll feel refreshed after just a weekend here and you'll have plenty of time to get a feel for the city. If you really love it and want more time, there couldn't be an easier place to go back.
Getting There
Take the Bolt Bus!
This two hour bus ride costs anywhere from an affordable $19 to $24 roundtrip, and includes free wireless onboard and a guaranteed seat. Reviewers and friends alike give the service rave reviews. Plus, if you're a serious Philly addict, four roundtrip tickets earn you one free.
Better yet, tickets from Philadelphia to New York are on sale now for $1 one way. If you leave at certain times (8:30am, 2:30pm, or 6:30pm on Saturday/Sunday and all those times + 11:30am on Friday), you'll only pay $2.50 roundtrip.
Make sure to choose: 34th St (and 8th Ave. by Tick Tock) in New York and 30th St. (between Market and Chestnut) in Philadelphia for your departure/arrival points.
For even more options on transport, including the superfast Amtrak train, check out our "detailed information" section below.
Getting Around
There's really no need for a car in Philadelphia, so go ahead and treat yourself to cabs, which are both affordable and plentiful. Much of the city is also walkable.
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Where to Stay
As opposed to recommending one of the chain hotels in Philadelphia, we've done our best to pick accommodations with glowing reviews, convenient locations and a bit of character. Unless otherwise noted, we've also checked and made sure that availability is good for upcoming weekends.
Please note: all hotel rates are pre-tax.
Our Accommodation Picks:
Our Splurge Pick: Rittenhouse 1715
Watch out - the Rittenhouse 1715 often gets confused with a ritzier hotel called, simply, "The Rittenhouse," but we think our pick is better. Standard rooms start at $239/night at this splurge pick that gets super positive Tripadvisor reviews and it's easy to see why. The location of this boutique hotel is one of its finest attributes: it sits on a quiet street near the charming Rittenhouse Square, which is the center of the Philadelphia's art scene. Room service is actually delivery from the neighborhood's top restaurants, and the hotel provides a 24-hour concierge.
We also recommend Rittenhouse 1715 because we scored a free upgrade for our readers in November - mention jauntsetter when booking a standard room and get upgraded to a deluxe or superior room where available!
Midrange Pick: The Lippincott House
Like Rittenhouse 1715, The Lippincott is also located near Rittenhouse Square. With its private-bathroomed rooms, handsome decor and exclusive billiards room, this classic townhouse feels more like a chic inn than a bed and breakfast (though that's exactly what it's marketed as). All of its rooms have fireplaces, while some have whirlpool or claw-footed tubs (our favorite).
Other perks include free wireless, a media room with theater-style seating, and a complimentary cheese hour from 5 to 7pm. There are just a few Tripadvisor reviews for the Lippincott, but that's because they've only recently opened (about a half a year ago).
We talked to the owners and they're offering jauntsetters a special 10% off any room, at any time. That said, November weekend availability is limited to 21st, 28th, 29th, 30th - understandable as there are only four rooms. Book ahead for December, which is mostly available. (Tip: we noticed 3 of the 4 rooms are free for New Year's Eve - this could be a great place to grab a few friends for a celebration. Catering can be arranged and its elegant banquet hall can be used!)
For our budget picks, and even more midrange options, please see our "detailed information" section at the bottom of this page.
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What to Do
There's tons to do in Philadelphia but at the same time, this accessible city is never overwhelming. Take a look below for some of jauntsetter's highlights, and make sure to check our blog daily for more detailed tips on where to eat, shop and play in this exciting destination.
- Check out the quirky Mutter Museum, a museum that documents medical oddities. It has "one-of-a-kind treasures" like: 2000 objects extracted from people's throats, a cancerous growth removed from President Grover Cleveland, the tallest skeleton on display in North America, and a plaster cast of the torso of Siamese Twins Chang & Eng and their conjoined livers. Strange, to say the least, but definitely worth visiting!
- On a more conventional note, there's an amazing shopping scene in Philadelphia, which was voted by Lucky magazine as one of the best places in the country to shop. Check out our blog post on our favorite boutiques, plus handy guides from other publications.
- We're admitted Iron Chef dorks, which leads us to recommend recent winner's (Jose Garces) restaurant: Distrito. Nothing costs over $16, the bar scene looks fun and most importantly, the food sounds delicious!
- Do the BYOB scene: check out this handy interactive map from the Philadelphia tourism board. Not only are all BYOB restaurants listed, but liquor stores are too! For ideas on what restaurants to choose, take a look at CitySearch's "Best of BYOB" guide.
- Try and visit Philadelphia on the first Friday of a month if you can. If you do, you get free admission to all of the Old City's 40 galleries, where there's plenty of art and fun to be had - think SoHo on a Thursday. From 5 to 9pm.
- Other free offers: The Curtis Institute of Music has free concerts on Mondays and Wednesdays; The Institute of Contemporary Art is free 11-1pm on Sundays; the Philadelphia Art Museum is pay what you wish on Sundays; the University Museum of Archeology and Anthropology is free all day on Sundays Sept-May.
- Live music: See a show at the First Unitarian Church, an awesome music venue for all denominations. Most shows are in the basement but a few are in the chapel, including the upcoming Meg Baird show on Thursday November 6th ($10). She's got a folksy style and seraphic voice; we highly recommended checking her out if you can! Listen to her work and get show details at the R5 productions site.
- Philadelphia is a veritable foodie destination. Pick up some delicious groceries at either their famed Italian Market or the impressive Reading Terminal Market before you head back home. Both markets are open on Sundays!
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More Detailed Information
Getting There
Decided the bus isn't for you? Trains do run more frequently, and also leave from the convenient Penn Station. Plus, we happen to love riding the rails. You have two options: the cheaper NJ Transit or the faster Amtrak. Read on for details.
NJ Transit
- The NJ transit train leaves from Penn Station and arrives at Philadelphia 30th st. Schedules here. (You transfer once at the Septa Transit Center.)
- Pros: The train runs about every half hour, plus it starts and stops running earlier and later than the bus or Amtrak: 4:20am-11:42pm on weekdays, 5:14am-11:14pm on Saturdays, and 5:14am-10:14pm on Sundays. It's also cheap - an offpeak roundtrip ticket is $21.50 (peak is roughly $25).
- Cons: Unlike the Amtrak train, which takes an hour, this train takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Plus you have to transfer once. We've done it before and it's hassle-free - but it's still a transfer.
Amtrak
- Amtrak's trains to Philadelphia run very frequently (sometimes every 40 minutes) from Penn Station, and there's one from very early in the morning till late at night.
- Pros: Amtrak will get you there the fastest (between 1 hour 5mins and 1.5 hours). This is a direct route, and there are no transfers.
- Cons: This is the most expensive option - regular fares cost you the most (rates start at $90 r/t).
- Bonus: Amtrak has a weekend fare special, and the NY-Philly route is included. As long as you travel on Saturday and come back that Saturday or on Sunday before 11am, you'll pay $72 r/t - for a 20% savings. Note: make sure to book at least 3 days before traveling!
Where to Stay
Another Midrange Pick: Penn's View Hotel
Rates start at our other midrange pick at just $160 for a standard queen room (which comes with a sizeable marble bath), and both Fodor's and Tripadvisor reviewers back us up in our recommendation. This boutique hotel is conveniently located in the Old City, a neighborhood filled with art galleries and top restaurants, and is within walking distance to lots of Philadelphia's top attractions.
Because the hotel is so popular, the next couple of November weekends are booked up, but there's still plenty of availability for the weekends of the 22nd and the 29th, plus December is open as well. A good value.
Budget Pick: Thomas Bond House
Rooms start at just $115/night at our budget pick, also conveniently located in the Old City. Perks include continental breakfast during the week and a full breakfast on weekend. There's also complimentary wine and cheese nightly; coffee, tea, and ice water available throughout the day; and an "evening treat." Fodors and TripAdvisor recommended.
A note on availability: November is pretty much sold-out, as there's only one room available on 28th and 29th. However, as for December, rooms available on 12th, 13th, 26th, 27th. Because this is such a popular pick, try reserving a month or two in advance! Or check out the equally-lauded Alexander Inn, in the City Center, where rates start at $110.
A Final Special: The Westin
While we don't normally recommend chain hotels, we're making an exception with the Westin because of its solid reviews (it's Fodors hotel pick for Philadelphia) and this significant special. If you stay one night, you get the second night at 50% off. We did the math, and that means its lovely rooms, which are normally come to $189 a night, a reduced to $142/night if you stay the weekend. It's also conveniently located near the 70+ shops and restaurants by Liberty Place.
