Solo travel · Philadelphia · United States
Solo travel in Philadelphia
How to enjoy Philadelphia at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jeffrey M. Vinocur, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Philadelphia is easy alone: the centre is compact and walkable, market counters and bar seats make eating solo normal, and there are free walking tours and museum talks to join. Many solo travellers base themselves in Washington Square West and Midtown Village.
Key facts
- Base
- Washington Square West and Midtown Village
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Language
- English
Solo travel tips
- Eat at the counters in Reading Terminal Market or at bars in Midtown Village for an easy solo meal.
- Base yourself in Old City or Washington Square West to walk to most sights.
- Free ranger talks at Independence National Historical Park are a good way to learn the history without a group tour.
- Use the Schuylkill River Trail for a safe, busy daytime run or bike ride.
- After midnight, take a ride-hail rather than waiting on quiet subway platforms.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and first-timers
Washington Square West and Midtown Village
Between Old City and Broad Street, this area mixes tree-lined residential blocks with the restaurant and bar cluster of 13th Street and the long-established LGBTQ+ nightlife of the Gayborhood. Pine Street's Antique Row is on its southern edge, and Reading Terminal Market and the convention center are a short walk north.
- Good
- Central between Old City and Rittenhouse; Lively restaurants and bars; Close to Regional Rail at Jefferson Station
- Watch out
- Busy and noisy on weekend nights; Convention weeks push up hotel rates
- Nearby
- Reading Terminal Market, Washington Square, Antique Row, Jefferson Station
Great on your own
Historic site · Old City
Independence Hall
Pick up or print your tour ticket first, then visit the Liberty Bell Center across Chestnut Street while you wait for your slot.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Landmark · Old City
Liberty Bell Center
Lines are shortest first thing; after closing you can still see the bell through the glass from the Chestnut Street side.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Kids
Museum · Fairmount
Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rocky Steps
Run the steps and take the photo with the Rocky statue at the bottom right early in the morning, before the queue forms.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
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Museum · Old City
Museum of the American Revolution
Time your visit to catch the tent presentation early, before it fills with school groups.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Fairmount
Eastern State Penitentiary
Use the audio tour; its side stories are the best part, and the self-guided route takes longer than most visitors expect.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Street · Old City
Elfreth's Alley
Visit early or late in the day for quiet photos, and keep voices down; people live here.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Meeting people
- Reading Terminal Market grazing — Share a roast pork sandwich, a Pennsylvania Dutch pretzel, a slice of shoofly pie and a Bassetts cone between two or three people to taste the city's classics in one lunch.
- The cheesesteak face-off — Pat's and Geno's sit across 9th and Passyunk under neon signs; try one from each, then compare with a neighbourhood shop elsewhere to decide where you stand on Whiz versus provolone.
- Fishtown and Northern Liberties — Breweries, music venues such as Johnny Brenda's and the Fillmore, and late bars along Frankford Avenue.
- Midtown Village and the Gayborhood — The 13th Street restaurant and cocktail cluster and the city's main LGBTQ+ bars around 12th and 13th Streets.
Sensible precautions
The main visitor areas are busy and generally comfortable, but car break-ins are common, so leave nothing visible in parked cars. Late at night, stick to well-lit streets and take a ride-hail rather than waiting at quiet subway stations, especially on the northern Market–Frankford Line.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Staying connected
- Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, public libraries and at the airport; US prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Philadelphia good for solo travellers?
Philadelphia is easy alone: the centre is compact and walkable, market counters and bar seats make eating solo normal, and there are free walking tours and museum talks to join.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Philadelphia?
Washington Square West and Midtown Village: The Gayborhood's rainbow street signs, 13th Street bars and Antique Row.