Why go
- Most populous city in Pennsylvania, US.
- 2 curated must-see attractions on record, including Independence Hall.
- 3 recommended spots to eat and drink.
- Served by Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
History
Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous city in the United States. Its population was 1.60 million at the 2020 census and estimated at 1.57 million in 2025. The Philadelphia metropolitan area, also known as the Delaware Valley, is located in both the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States; home to 6.33 million residents, it is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in technology and business, sports, and music.
Must-see attractions
Eat & drink
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 23 airlines, 122 direct destinations
- American Airlines AA (CRJ, Dash 8-300, A319, A320, Embraer 190, A321…) · 118 routes: Akron*, Albany, Allentown, Amsterdam, Athens, Atlanta*, Austin, Baltimore, Bangor*, Barcelona, Bermuda, Binghamton, Birmingham*, Boston, Brussels, Buffalo, Burlington, Cancun, Charleston*, Charlotte, Charlottesville VA, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Doha, Dublin, Elmira, Erie, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Frankfurt, Georgetown, Glasgow, Greensboro* … +78 more
- US Airways US (CRJ, A319, A320, DH8, Embraer 190, Embraer 175…) · 117 routes: Akron, Albany*, Allentown*, Amsterdam, Athens, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Bangor*, Barcelona, Bermuda, Binghamton*, Birmingham, Boston, Brussels, Buffalo*, Burlington, Cancun, Charleston, Charlotte, Charlottesville VA*, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Elmira*, Erie*, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Frankfurt, Georgetown, Glasgow, Greensboro*, Greenville* … +77 more
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 717, 737-800) · 11 routes: Atlanta*, Chicago, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, St. Louis, Tampa
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, M90, ERJ, MD-88, 737-800, A319…) · 8 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Paris, Raleigh-durham*, Salt Lake City
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-800, 73C, 717) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Chicago*, Denver*, Fort Lauderdale*, Orlando*, Phoenix*, Wichita*
- United Airlines UA (A319, 737-800, 737-900, A320, 757-200, 737-700…) · 6 routes: Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Toronto*, Washington*
- Spirit Airlines NK (A320) · 3 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach
- Air France AF (A320, 737-800, 757-200, M90, 737-800) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris*
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A320) · 2 routes: Cancun, Punta Cana
- Virgin America VX (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A330-200) · 1 route: Athens*
- AeroMéxico AM (757, MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Air Canada AC (Embraer 175) · 1 route: Toronto
- Alaska Airlines AS (73J, 737-800) · 1 route: Seattle
- Alitalia AZ (737-800, MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- British Airways BA (767, 777) · 1 route: London
- Finnair AY (767, 777) · 1 route: London
- Iberia Airlines IB (767, 777) · 1 route: London*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Boston
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A320, M90, MD-88, 737-800) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A340-300) · 1 route: Frankfurt
- Qatar Airways QR (777-200LR) · 1 route: Doha
- TAP Portugal TP (757-200) · 1 route: Lisbon*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 14 direct destinations
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319) · 14 routes: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh-durham, St. Augustine Airport, Tampa
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 9 direct destinations
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80, A320) · 4 routes: Myrtle Beach, Punta Gorda, Sanford, St. Petersburg
- American Airlines AA (CRJ-900, CRJ-700, CRJ, Dash 8-300) · 2 routes: Charlotte*, Philadelphia
- Delta Air Lines DL (717, CRJ) · 2 routes: Atlanta, Detroit*
- US Airways US (CRJ, CRJ-900, CRJ-700, DH8) · 2 routes: Charlotte*, Philadelphia*
- Air France AF (CRJ) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (CRJ) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- United Airlines UA (ERJ-145, ERJ) · 1 route: Chicago*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 9 direct destinations
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320) · 8 routes: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Tampa
- United Airlines UA (ERJ) · 2 routes: Chicago*, Houston*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: PHL has direct flights to 122 destinations on 23 airlines (incl. Atlanta, Denver, London, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas…). By water: 2 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Penn’s Landing, 1.4 mi); routes include Philadelphia - Camden.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Trains & rail
Coaches & shuttles
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.