Philadelphia

From a historical perspective, Philadelphia played a vital role in the development of the United States. The original site where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the City of Brotherly Love is a must-visit on any trip to the US.

Things to See and Do

Before setting off to discover the city, we recommend stopping at the Independence Visitor Center on Market Street in Philadelphia. Here, you will be given lots of useful information about the city.

These are some of the most essential visits:

• Independence National Historic Park: Here you’ll find the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. You’ll have to get the ticket at the Independence Visitor Center to visit this hall, (it's free and quickly sells out, so we recommend going bright and early).
• Franklin Court: Benjamin Franklin is probably Philadelphia’s most famous citizen and Franklin Court is where Benjamin Franklin’s house was.
• Old City: You’ll find several interesting visits along Arch Street: Elfreth's Alley, the oldest street in the U.S., Betsey Ross’ house, designer of the flag of the United States, U.S. Mint, where the dollars are printed, (the visit is free). The National Constitution Center and the Federal Reserve, with exhibitions on the economy.
• Reading Terminal Market: A pretty little covered market where you can buy top-quality delicacies. Several stands are owned by the Amish. This is a good place to try the classic Philly cheesesteak, a meat and cheese sandwich typical of Philadelphia. We highly recommend Spataro's Cheesesteaks near 12th and Arch Streets inside the market.
• Philadephia Museum of Art: In a magnificent building, this museum is known worldwide thanks to the Rocky films. Every day, thousands of tourists walk up the 99 steps that became famous in the 1976 film. At the bottom of the stairs there is a statue of Rocky.
• Betsy Ross's House: this small house, almost easy to miss along a busy city street in Philadelphia is home to the woman who created the first version of the United States flag during the Revolutionary War. 
• Elfreth's Alley: Known as the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States, Elfreth's is a cool slice of history. Originally built in 1703, this little alleyway still looks like it did 300 years ago and is home to locals. With historic exhibits year-round, it's worth checking out on any Philly visit for a taste of colonial America.

Other interesting attractions include the Library Hall (which includes a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the first edition of the Origin of Species by Darwin), the Rodin Museum (home to the largest collection of works by Auguste Rodin outside of Paris), and lastly, the National Constitution Center (a museum dedicated to the United States Constitution).

How to Get to Philadelphia from NYC

• Book a day trip: the most convenient way to get to Philadelphia is to book the tour to Philadelphia and the Amish region. The price is US$ 130 per person and includes a pick up at your hotel and tour guide during the whole day. You can book a day trip to Philadelphia from New York here.
• Going by yourself: the round trip price per person by train is between US$ 70 and US$ 90 (Amtrak from Penn Station) or about US$ 20 by bus (several companies do this route, check out Megabus or Greyhound).
• Renting a car: Renting a car is an interesting option if you want to use it for several days, if not, it is cheaper and easier to take the bus.