Guidebook for Philadelphia
Food Scene
Metropolitan Bakery & Cafe
4013 Walnut StTheir bread is amazing!
A great place to try your first Ethiopian food. We can normally share a combo dish and be VERY full.
56 locals recommend
Abyssinia Restaurant
229 S 45th StA great place to try your first Ethiopian food. We can normally share a combo dish and be VERY full.
You know Bobby Flay? The renowned chef? He opened this tasty burger restaurant in 2010 and it has been a happening place ever since. We almost always get the LA Burger. You can also crunchify (add potato chips) to any burger for free!
18 locals recommend
Bobby's Burger Palace
3925 Walnut StYou know Bobby Flay? The renowned chef? He opened this tasty burger restaurant in 2010 and it has been a happening place ever since. We almost always get the LA Burger. You can also crunchify (add potato chips) to any burger for free!
A salad chain that is prominent on the East Coast. We love going there when we want healthy food, but have no time. Salads are between 8-10$ but easy fill you.
16 locals recommend
sweetgreen
3925 Walnut StA salad chain that is prominent on the East Coast. We love going there when we want healthy food, but have no time. Salads are between 8-10$ but easy fill you.
Can you say all you can eat Indian Lunch Buffet for $10? It is delicious! Have a student ID for the Philly area? You can get 10% off if you show it.
17 locals recommend
New Delhi Restaurant
4004 Chestnut StCan you say all you can eat Indian Lunch Buffet for $10? It is delicious! Have a student ID for the Philly area? You can get 10% off if you show it.
This is a convenience store, but Wawa is renowned for being very Philly. If you strike up a conversation with a Philadelphian, mention wawa and you will become instantfriends.
Perfect for late night sandwiches/snacks/candy
80 locals recommend
Wawa
200-210 Lombard StThis is a convenience store, but Wawa is renowned for being very Philly. If you strike up a conversation with a Philadelphian, mention wawa and you will become instantfriends.
Perfect for late night sandwiches/snacks/candy
Iconic ice cream shop in old city, steps away from 2nd street station on the Market Frankford Line (which is only a few stops from our house). This ice cream shop gets very busy on weekends in the summer.
90 locals recommend
The Franklin Fountain
116 Market StIconic ice cream shop in old city, steps away from 2nd street station on the Market Frankford Line (which is only a few stops from our house). This ice cream shop gets very busy on weekends in the summer.
One of the BEST brunch places in Philly. It also happens to be walking distance from out house.
Order the Stuffed Challah French Toast and share it with one other person ( you will still be full). This is one of our favorite breakfast/brunch places in Philly.
99 locals recommend
Sabrina's Cafe
227 N 34th StOne of the BEST brunch places in Philly. It also happens to be walking distance from out house.
Order the Stuffed Challah French Toast and share it with one other person ( you will still be full). This is one of our favorite breakfast/brunch places in Philly.
Pat's vs. Gino's is the long time Philadelphia Cheesesteak Rival. This is probably the most touristy place to buy a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We both don't have a preference as to which place is best, but they are across the street from each other, so maybe you should decide?
316 locals recommend
Pat's King of Steaks
1237 E Passyunk AvePat's vs. Gino's is the long time Philadelphia Cheesesteak Rival. This is probably the most touristy place to buy a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We both don't have a preference as to which place is best, but they are across the street from each other, so maybe you should decide?
This is a vegan restaurant. They have vegan Philly cheesesteak if that is your thing. They have a lot of other options that you will be surprised are vegan, because they don't neccessarily taste vegan.
67 locals recommend
HipCityVeg
127 S 18th StThis is a vegan restaurant. They have vegan Philly cheesesteak if that is your thing. They have a lot of other options that you will be surprised are vegan, because they don't neccessarily taste vegan.
Han Dynasty
3711 Market StOur most favorite Chinese food! Super close walk from our house.
Sightseeing
The Liberty Bell is probably the MOST iconic sight in Philly. It's also free. Enjoy!
755 locals recommend
Liberty Bell
526 Market StThe Liberty Bell is probably the MOST iconic sight in Philly. It's also free. Enjoy!
Want to see where the declaration of independence was signed? You'll need to pick up tickets at the visitor center prior to getting a tour. Also free!
569 locals recommend
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut StWant to see where the declaration of independence was signed? You'll need to pick up tickets at the visitor center prior to getting a tour. Also free!
If you haven't seen Rocky but are now visiting Philly, this is worth seeing.
Come pose in from of this large statue, located outside of the Philadelphia Museum Of Art. Run up the iconic Rocky Steps!
91 locals recommend
Rocky Statue
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyIf you haven't seen Rocky but are now visiting Philly, this is worth seeing.
Come pose in from of this large statue, located outside of the Philadelphia Museum Of Art. Run up the iconic Rocky Steps!
Did you know Edgar Allen Poe lived in Philly? You can take tours of the house. Around Halloween they have some fun spooky events.
32 locals recommend
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
532 N 7th StDid you know Edgar Allen Poe lived in Philly? You can take tours of the house. Around Halloween they have some fun spooky events.
Arts & Culture
Very iconic art museum. Pay as you wish on Wednesday nights!
1164 locals recommend
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyVery iconic art museum. Pay as you wish on Wednesday nights!
Another famous art museum in Philly!
It previously was a private art collection of a prominent doctor, now open to the public!
Free the first Sunday of every Month!
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyAnother famous art museum in Philly!
It previously was a private art collection of a prominent doctor, now open to the public!
Free the first Sunday of every Month!
Rodin Museum
2151 Benjamin Franklin PkwyFamous Sculpture Museum
Pay-as-you-wish all the time!
Definitely a unique Philly experience. Homegrown Philadelphia artist who has been beautifying South Philadelphia for decades.
385 locals recommend
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South StDefinitely a unique Philly experience. Homegrown Philadelphia artist who has been beautifying South Philadelphia for decades.
Philadelphia is famous for its murals. You can take tours run by the non-profit that is behind the creation of the murals. You can also do a self-guided tour of murals in center city link here: https://www.muralarts.org/self-guided/
23 locals recommend
Mural Arts Philadelphia
1727-29 Mt Vernon StPhiladelphia is famous for its murals. You can take tours run by the non-profit that is behind the creation of the murals. You can also do a self-guided tour of murals in center city link here: https://www.muralarts.org/self-guided/
Entertainment & Activities
Cinemark University City Penn 6
4012 Walnut St$5 Tickets on Tuesdays!
Sports and Concert Venue
Accesible by train take Market-Frankford line to 15th street, transfer to Broad Street line South bound, take train to last stop.!
124 locals recommend
Wells Fargo Center
3601 S Broad StSports and Concert Venue
Accesible by train take Market-Frankford line to 15th street, transfer to Broad Street line South bound, take train to last stop.!
Where the Eagles Play!
Accesible by train take Market-Frankford line to 15th street, transfer to Broad Street line South bound, take train to last stop.
112 locals recommend
Lincoln Financial Field
One Lincoln Financial Field WayWhere the Eagles Play!
Accesible by train take Market-Frankford line to 15th street, transfer to Broad Street line South bound, take train to last stop.
In the Summer it is a roller skating rink and carousel, in the winter an ice skating rink and winter wonderland. Lots of good food available from food trucks and vendors.
53 locals recommend
Blue Cross RiverRink
101 S Christopher Columbus BlvdIn the Summer it is a roller skating rink and carousel, in the winter an ice skating rink and winter wonderland. Lots of good food available from food trucks and vendors.
Drinks & Nightlife
World Cafe Live Philadelphia
3025 Walnut StIntimate Friday night concerts.
Our favorite place to go dancing. From salsa to bachata, this is a great place for novice to experts to go dancing. It is also right off of the 2nd street subway station, so it is a quick train ride from our house.
15 locals recommend
Brasil's Nightclub
112 Chestnut StOur favorite place to go dancing. From salsa to bachata, this is a great place for novice to experts to go dancing. It is also right off of the 2nd street subway station, so it is a quick train ride from our house.
Essentials
ALDI
4421 Market StVery Budget-friendly! Bring a quarter in order to use a shopping cart!
Large grocery store with a lot of variety, also on the pricier side.
101 locals recommend
The Fat Chicken
2355 S Bucknell StLarge grocery store with a lot of variety, also on the pricier side.
Getting Around
Market Frankford line goes Eastbound to Center City and Westbound to West Philadelphia. This is about 3 minutes walking from our house.
18 locals recommend
40th Street Station
Market Frankford line goes Eastbound to Center City and Westbound to West Philadelphia. This is about 3 minutes walking from our house.
Best way to get in and out of Philly without a car. This is walking distance to our house on a pleasant day (about a mile).
You can catch a train or a cheap bus to cities in the Northeast. I have found $2 bus tickets to Boston/NYC/Washington D.C. at unpopular times or weekdays. Otherwise, expect $10 ($20 for Boston) if booked in advance.
222 locals recommend
30th Street Station
2955 Market StBest way to get in and out of Philly without a car. This is walking distance to our house on a pleasant day (about a mile).
You can catch a train or a cheap bus to cities in the Northeast. I have found $2 bus tickets to Boston/NYC/Washington D.C. at unpopular times or weekdays. Otherwise, expect $10 ($20 for Boston) if booked in advance.