Overview of Philadelphia

Over the years numerous taglines have been coined to apply to America's most historic city, Philadelphia. It has been called the 'Athens of the Americas', the 'city of brotherly love', 'the friendliest city', the 'most honest city', 'the safest city' and, most recently, 'the city that loves you back'. Fabulous 'Philly', fifth largest metropolis in the United States, is all these things and more, which is why it is regarded as one of the world's most dynamic destinations and the happy home of more than three million people.


The city is sensibly sited 60 miles (97km) inland from the Atlantic coast on a protrusion of land at the merging of the mighty Delaware River and the Schuylkill River, land granted to William Penn, an English Quaker, back in 1682. Penn's vision was to establish a 'green countrie towne', but because of its location controlling the Delaware Valley and its good freshwater port facilities, Philadelphia soon outgrew its original boundaries and by the 18th century was the second largest English-speaking city in the world.


Today Philadelphia draws tourists mainly for its historical wealth, centred around Independence National Historical Park, regarded as the most significant historic square mile in America where the United States was conceived, declared and ratified. The Constitution of the United States was written here in 1787 and the city was the nation's first capital between 1791 and 1800.


Philadelphia is also a shopper's paradise, featuring the world's largest mall, as well as offering some of the finest dining establishments in the country, thousands of acres of beautiful parkland, attractive boulevards where street fairs and parades are common events, and a vibrant arts and entertainment community. In short, to add to all its other tags, Philadelphia can justifiably be said to offer something for everyone.

Whats included in Philadelphia

Shopping in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has some excellent shopping all over the city. Chestnut Hill has several antique boutiques alongside retail chains on the outskirts of Philly. Franklin Mills Mall is only 15 minutes from Downtown and has over 200 stores, sure to meet any shopping need. Main Street Manayunk offers an alternative to the mall and has many local shops and national chains. Old City is home to some of the hippest boutiques and vintage shops in Philadelphia. Most of their clothing stores are aimed toward younger shoppers into the indie rock scene. South Street, between Center City and South Philly, has an eclectic collection of shops, tattoo parlors and hip bars. For a more upscale shopping experience, Rittenhouse Square in Center City is in a very convenient location.

Dining in Philadelphia

Home to some of Philadelphia’s best restaurants, the Center City dining scene is diverse and happening. From high-end steakhouse chains such as Ruth’s Chris and Morton’s to luscious Italian food at Osteria, Philly’s Center City restaurants offer an appealing combination of American cuisine and international fare. Center City is home to restaurant Morimoto, featuring the exquisite Japanese fusion dishes by lauded “Iron Chef� Masaharu Morimoto, as well as to the Museum Restaurant, which features a seasonal menu that rotates to complement, in region or origin, the exhibits in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A favorite of Philadelphia locals, Bistro St. Tropez draws crowds with seasonal French bistro fare and breathtaking views of the Schuylkill River. No matter what your taste, restaurants in Center City offer a bounty of appealing dining options.

Nightlife in Philadelphia

Although Philadelphia is well known for being one of the most historic cities in the country, it should also be recognized for having a great nightlife. Philly has a diverse bar scene—there’s truly something for everyone. Live music clubs, college bars, dance clubs, dive bars and sports bars are just a few of the drinking establishments that can be found in Philadelphia. Old City has many popular bars including Eulogy Belgian Tavern that boasts about 300 bottled beers and over 20 on tap. Lucy’s Hat Shop, near Eulogy, has an infamous happy hour that attracts hordes of college students. Northern Liberties is another area of Philadelphia that is home to several great bars. The Khyber is a funky live music venue with two floors, each with its own bar.

Whats included

Independence National Historic Park

On July 8, 1776, the Liberty Bell rang out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning citizens to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Today the Hall stands proudly, revered as the birthplace of the American nation, in Independence National Historical Park, an eight-block historic neighbourhood in the very centre of old Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell itself is on display here, in a pavilion in Market Street between 5th and 6th Street. Independence Hall on Chestnut Street was originally built as the Pennsylvania State House in 1732, but became famous after first the Declaration of Independence and later the Constitution of the United States was ratified here. The rest of the 45-acre Independence Park is packed with historically significant buildings and museums, interpreting the events and lives of the movers and shakers involved in Philadelphia’s years as capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800, including George Washington and John Adams. About 20 buildings are open to the public daily, with times varying according to season. Advance tickets are required for Independence Hall, obtainable from the adjacent Visitor’s Centre or bookable in advance through the National Parks Service.

Flights to Philadelphia from Ireland

There are regular direct flights to Philadelphia from Ireland with US Airways


The average flight time from Dublin to Philadelphia is 7-8 hours.



CityBreakUSA is a trading name of Platinum Travel who are fully licensed and bonded by the Commission for Aviation Regulation in Ireland (Licence number TA0634)


As we are a fully service Travel Agent we would be delighted to arrange your holiday from start to finish including flights, transfers, accommodation and general advice.


Most of our special offer package prices already include flights, However, if you have already booked your flights we can also tailormake a package for you to just include accommodation and anything else you may require.

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia International Airport has two international terminals and five domestic ones. The terminals house over 160 restaurants and shops and the airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and the main gateway to one of America's most culturally rich and diverse cities - Philly, or Philadelphia.


The immigration counters at Philly Airport are often understaffed, so if you're travelling at peak periods then allow yourself enough time for queues and delays. Once you've dealt with the queues, the airport has a range of services on offer, including shoeshine facilities and a great art programme.


Location
The airport is located seven miles (11km) from downtown Philadelphia.


Getting to the city
The most popular transport is SEPTA which provides a high-speed rail service between the airport terminals and central Philadelphia and is the fastest connection to the city centre. Fares cost US$7 one way. Philadelphia Trains depart every half-hour between 6am and midnight and the journey takes about 20 minutes. SEPTA also connects to the Greyhound Bus Terminal and Amtrak at 30th Street Station. Bus Routes 37 and 108 run to downtown. Taxis are available day and night, charging a flat rate for transport to the city centre at $28.50. Taxis are found on Commercial Transportation Roadway at zone 5. Shared shuttle vans are also available in zone 7. Call: +1 215 937 6958 for ground transport information or go to their desk on arrivals at each baggage claim area. They can arrange for limousine passage departing from zone 6.


Time
GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).


Contacts
Tel: +1 215 937 6937.


Car rental
Car rental agencies represented at the airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. Information phones are available at all baggage claim areas for each of the on-airport car rental agencies.


Transfer between terminals
Philadelphia International Airport consists of six terminals (A, B, C, D, E, and F), which are connected by free shuttle bus services.


Facilities
ATMs can be found in the main concourse of each terminal and Travelex offers currency exchange and flight insurance. There are numerous restaurants, cafes and fast-food outlets throughout the airport. A shopping centre called Philadelphia Marketplace is located in the connecting link between terminals B and C, featuring numerous shops and eateries. There are also duty-free shops available in terminals A and E and wireless Internet throughout the airport.


Parking
Short-term parking at Philadelphia International Airport costs $4 for half an hour and $2 per 30 minutes thereafter going up to a flat rate of $40 after 3.5 hours. Long-term parking has similar hourly rates, but the daily rate is just $20. The Economy Lot costs just $11 per day and is connected to the terminal via a free shuttle service.


Departure Tax
None.


Website

www.phl.org


Airlines
Direct flights to Philadelphia International Airport can be booked from cities across the United States as well as a number of major airports worldwide. Some airlines with flights to and from Philadelphia International Airport include Air Canada, AirTran, American Airways, American Eagle, Frontier Airlines, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Lufthansa, United, Southwest and US Airways.


Internet
Complimentary wi-fi is available throughout the airport.


Business Lounges
A number of workstations are scattered throughout the terminal. The UPS store between Terminal A and B offers photocopying, faxing and mailing facilities as well as Internet stations.

Prices and Departure Dates for Philadelphia

Transport

The city of Philadelphia is well equipped with public transport, most of it run by SEPTA. There is a subway system, but this does not serve the city centre and is mainly useful for accessing the extremities of the city. Good, reliable buses are the main standby, particularly the purple minibuses of the PHLASH bus service that are designed for visitors. PHLASH runs in a circuit from the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through the downtown area to Penn's Landing. The route includes 33 stops and buses arrive every 10 minutes every day from 10am to midnight during summer, and till 6pm in winter. Unlimited ride day passes are available. Through the rest of the city and suburbs SEPTA buses cover 110 routes. A useful one for tourists is the Ben FrankLine (Bus No. 76), which runs between the zoo and Penn's Landing taking in some top attractions on the way. SEPTA also runs a good network of commuter trains serving the suburbs. Taxis are plentiful in the city centre, but scarcer elsewhere, particularly at night.

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