Here’s the nice thing about Philly: it’s small. Most of what you came to see sits between two rivers, close enough to walk, so almost anywhere central works as a base. Where you stay mostly changes what your mornings look like.
Old City means waking up a few blocks from the Liberty Bell. Fishtown means waking up near the city’s best bars, probably a little later than you planned. Rittenhouse means coffee by the square and a lot of window shopping. Below are the five areas we’d point a friend to, who each one is really for, what’s annoying about it, and a few hotels worth a look. Rates and fees move around, so check the hotel’s own site before you book.
The golden rule: If it’s your first visit, stay somewhere between the Delaware River and the Schuylkill River (Old City, Society Hill, Center City or Rittenhouse). You’ll be able to walk to most of the big sights, and you won’t need a car.
1. Old City: Best for First-Timers and History Lovers
Old City is the Philadelphia of the history books. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Elfreth’s Alley and Christ Church are all here, mixed in with galleries, cafés and cocktail bars in old brick warehouses, and Penn’s Landing on the river is a few minutes’ walk. It’s lively at night without being rowdy, mostly.
For a first visit, or a family trip where you want everything on foot, this is the obvious pick, and for once the obvious pick is right. The catch: weekend nights on 2nd Street and Market Street get busy and loud, so ask for a quiet room.
Where to stay in Old City
- Lokal Hotel Old City, 139 N 3rd St: a small boutique hotel with apartment-style rooms, between Arch and Race Streets. Website
- Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, 433 Chestnut St: a stylish hotel in a historic building, across the street from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Website
- Penn’s View Hotel, Front & Market Streets: a classic, intimate hotel at the edge of Old City near the waterfront. Website
2. Rittenhouse Square: Best for a Classic City Break
Rittenhouse is Philly with its good shoes on. The square is one of the best public spaces in the city, and the blocks around it are restaurants, cafés, boutiques and brownstones. You’re a 15 to 20 minute walk from the historic district and close to the Parkway museums.
It’s for people who want to walk to dinner and not think about it. It also costs more, and you’ll feel it. Coming on a weekend? Book early.
Where to stay in Rittenhouse
- The Rittenhouse Hotel, 210 W Rittenhouse Square: the classic luxury option, right on the square. Website
- Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, 117 S 17th St: a boutique hotel a couple of blocks from the square, with a fun, design-forward feel. Website
3. Center City and the Avenue of the Arts: Best for Location
The blocks around City Hall and South Broad Street put you dead center. The Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music are on Broad, Reading Terminal Market is a few blocks away, and SEPTA’s subway lines meet right under City Hall, so getting anywhere is easy.
In town for a show, a convention or two nights with no car? Stay here. Just know it’s more office district than neighborhood, and it gets quieter late at night.
Where to stay in Center City
- The Bellevue Hotel, Broad & Walnut Streets: a grand historic hotel that spans a whole block of South Broad Street. Website
- Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St: set in the landmark PSFS Building, one of the country’s first modern skyscrapers, a block from Reading Terminal Market. Website
4. Fishtown: Best for Food, Bars and Nightlife
Fishtown is where a lot of the city’s restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and music venues ended up, most of them along Frankford Avenue and Girard Avenue. It’s a short ride from Center City on the Market-Frankford Line (the El), and it’s where we’d put a friend on their second trip, or anyone in town for a concert.
The trade-off: nothing historic is walkable from here. You’ll be riding the El or grabbing a rideshare to Independence Hall. Easy, just not a stroll.
Where to stay in Fishtown
- Wm. Mulherin’s Sons, 1355 N Front St: a much-loved restaurant with just four hotel rooms upstairs, in a restored historic building. Four. Book early. Website
- Anna & Bel, 1401 E Susquehanna Ave: a historic boutique hotel right in the neighborhood. Website
- Lokal Hotel Fishtown: the Fishtown sister of Lokal Old City, with the same apartment-style approach. Website
5. University City: Best for Campus Visits and Easy Train Access
Across the Schuylkill River, University City is Penn and Drexel territory, with a food scene that reflects the area’s international community. It’s right next to 30th Street Station, which helps if you’re arriving on Amtrak or catching the train to the airport.
Here for a campus visit, a parents’ weekend or a hospital appointment, it makes total sense. For a sightseeing trip it’s a stretch: the historic district is a 25 to 30 minute walk, or a short El ride.
Where to stay in University City
- The Study at University City, 20 S 33rd St: a modern hotel between Penn and Drexel, aimed at campus visitors. Website
Three Things to Know Before You Book
- Skip the car if you can. Hotel parking in Center City is expensive, and you’ll barely use the car anyway. Walk, and let SEPTA and rideshares cover the rest.
- Check the calendar. An Eagles home game, graduation weekend or a big convention can fill the city’s hotels fast. Book early around them.
- Read the hotel’s own page. Rates, fees, parking and room types change often, and the third-party sites don’t always keep up.
If It Were Us
First trip: Old City. Second trip: Fishtown. Show or convention: Center City. Done.
Once you’ve booked, our list of the best things to do in Philadelphia will fill your days, and our cheesesteak guide handles the important part.
So where do you stay when you come to town, and which neighborhood did we sell short? Tell us in the comments.