Philadelphia
United States · Country profile
Philadelphia is the historic birthplace of the United States, the great American city of the Delaware river that anchors the colonial East Coast, where the founding fathers of the republic wrote and signed the declaration of the independence and the constitution of the nation. The most populated city of the colonies and the first capital of the new America, it grew into the industrial workshop of the nineteenth century and today stands as a dense, historic, food-obsessed metropolis of the bell, the liberty, the row houses, the murals and the extraordinary museums. The historic district of the independence, the market of the city with its cheese steaks and its food stalls, the grand steps of the art museum and the brownstone streets of the row-house neighborhoods anchor the essential visits, while the riverfront, the park system and the neighbourhood festivals of the town carry the daily democratic energy of the city. Historic, scrappy and endlessly soulful, Philadelphia is the fond, beating heart of the founding of America.
About Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 1,600,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Philadelphia International Airport.
The Hall of the Independence and the Bell of the Liberty
Philadelphia is a compact, walkable historic city where the essential circuit moves between the independence national park, the museums of the great parkway and the lively market district, with the riverfront and the row-house neighbourhoods framing the days. The bell and the hall of the independence, the liberty and the historic houses of the colonial town anchor the founding story, and the art museum with its iconic steps, the museum of the African-American history and the museums of the city cover the cultural ground. The famous market of the town, with its cheese steaks, its roast pork and its breadstreets, and the murals and the parades of the proud neighbourhoods, run the everyday flavour and the soul of the city.
The Parkway of the Museums and the Steps of the Art
The climate of the city is the four-season mid-Atlantic, with the hot, humid summers, the cold, snowy winters and the brilliant spring and the golden autumn of the changing trees, each season with its street festivals and its sports. The dollar is the currency and the English the language, with the legendary neighbourhood rhythms of the town part of the charm. The historic centre, the parkway and the market make the core circuit, and the walkable grid of the city covers most of the essential ground without a car. Season-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes complete the simple preparation for the historic capital of the republic.
The Market of the Terminal and the Streets of the Flavours
The independence national park of the city, the small colonial district of the Hall of the Independence where the founders signed the declaration and the constitution, and the campanile tower of the neighbouring hall that houses the cracked freedom bell of the republic, is the sacred political heart of the United States, surrounded by the restored brick houses and the cobbled lanes of the old colonial town. The great parkway of the city, the broad European-style boulevard that climbs the hill of the art museum with its famous steps of the cinema, strings the principal museums of the metropolis, including the great art museum with its extraordinary collections across the eras and the museum of the science with its enormous dinosaur skeletons. The enormous market of the town, the celebrated market hall of the century that runs the double block with its cheese-steak counters, its soft pretzels and its families of the lunch hour, and the Italian market of the south with its food stalls of the immigrant quarter, complete the essential, soulful circuit of the great founding city of America.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 1,600,000
- Coordinates
- 39.8744, -75.2424
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Philadelphia
Airports we list for Philadelphia:
Other airports in the area:
- Newark Liberty International AirportEWR≈ 128 km from Philadelphia
- John F. Kennedy International AirportJFK≈ 151 km from Philadelphia
- LaGuardia AirportLGA≈ 153 km from Philadelphia
- Washington Dulles International AirportIAD≈ 216 km from Philadelphia
- Boston Logan International AirportBOS≈ 450 km from Philadelphia
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Philadelphia the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Philadelphia?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Philadelphia?
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the airport we list for Philadelphia.
How far is Philadelphia from the nearest airport?
Philadelphia is about 128 km from Newark Liberty International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Philadelphia? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.