This city took me by surprise, in the best way possible. There is so much history and character sitting on these streets and I’m excited to give you a guide. I went back in October with a couple of friends and we stayed for 4 days, we were in the Fishtown neighborhood and were able to use public transportation and rideshares the whole weekend.

Wednesday

We arrived Wednesday night around 11:00pm and got a Lyft from the airport to our Airbnb. We later found out the subway did run late, but ultimately still used ride shares for the final ride home each night because they weren’t expensive. We stayed at an Airbnb under Sonder Corp., before this trip I had never heard of the company but I can guarantee if you find their name on the building your accommodation will most likely be a 10/10. I can also say their 24/7 customer service was great considering we did get locked out of our room on Saturday and they were quick to try and help.

Thursday

The day started off easy, we stopped at the neighboring Palmer Park and got bagels and teas at Philly Style Bagels and Steap & Grind. Then we walked to a nearby market, Riverwards Produce Market, to get some produce for our stay.

After a calm morning it was time to see every bit of history Philly had to offer. We got SEPTA tickets at the nearby Girard station on the blue line, which cost $20 for the three day pass, and we got off at the 5th Street Independence Hall Station which gave us quick access to many popular stops.

Liberty Bell Center

Free of charge and only about a 5-10 minute wait.

Independence National Historical Park

Free and full of beautiful greenery with great views of Independence Hall.

Explore Old City

Streets full of local food and shops, and even more historical buildings like Benjamin Franklin’s Printing House.

Penn’s Landing

An open riverfront along the Delaware River with plenty of seating.

The rest of the day was an adventure on the subway to explore wherever we could. We found ourselves on South Street to go to the Magic Gardens, which we had a reservation for but missed after taking the wrong subway line, but they were nice enough to give us a full refund. We stayed in the area and got some drinks at Tattooed Mom, then ended the night in the Gayborhood with more food and drinks at Indeblue Restaurant and Bar.

Friday

After being influenced by a Tik Tok we had seen before our trip we decided to use this day as a day trip to NYC on the 1.5 hour Amtrak. It was quite affordable and if you want to know what we got into there you can check my post on Things to Do in NYC Without A Vaccine Card.

Saturday

The energy level that morning was less than enthused, we were all exhausted after the activities in NYC and the constant walking, but that did not stop us from making our last day the best. The first place we visited was The Philadelphia Museum of Art, known for the steps in Rocky, the interior is full of eye-catching pieces from world renowned artists. I could have stayed the whole day there and been content, there is even a cafe with different food stations for when you need a break between exhibits.

Next we headed to 11th Street near Jefferson Station and visited Wonderspaces and Reading Terminal Market.

After many hours we were finally on our way to the last attraction, but what would vacation be without an impromptu shopping stop. Only a two minute walk away from Wonderspaces and the market was a Primark. The whole street is filled with great stores, but this was the first Primark any of us had been in and with such affordable prices it was hard to leave empty handed.

The last place we went to was Shane Confectionary, one of the most iconic candy shops in America, they do offer tours on Friday which you have to reserve ahead of time but the shop is still open without one. I recommend trying their peanut butter cups and watermelon gummies, I have a big sweet tooth and these were phenomenal.

Sunday

We had a 9 hour drive back so we left early this day. Sonder didn’t have any checkout requests like some Airbnbs do so it was an easy leave.

I believe this was one of the best trips I’ve been on this year, and I was lucky to have been on a lot. If you’re considering going to Philly, don’t question it just go, it’s a beautiful city with a lot of history, plus it won’t break your bank.