Philadelphia: A Bite-sized City Tour

From being dubbed "#1 in the US for overall culture and historic sites" by Travel + Leisure, to being named UNESCO's first and only US World Heritage City, there's certainly a lot of exploring to be done in the city of Brotherly Love. 

Old City: The cobbled streets of Old City host not only many important monuments to the birth of a nation (thank you, Nicolas Cage and the cast and crew of "National Treasure"), but also some of Philly's most fashionable neighborhoods. Penn's Landing offers amazing views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Spruce Street Harbor Park, just one SEPTA token away from Penn's campus. In between the two rivers Schuylkill and Delaware lies Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the oft-photographed LOVE Park.

Northern Liberties and Fishtown: In the early 1990s, there was a movement that pegged these two areas as the city's creative and artistic scene. Known for its quirky bars, indie boutiques, and live music, North Philly boasts open-air plazas, live screenings, and dance performances. You can't go wrong with a part-coffee-shop-part-record-store combo. 

South Philadelphia: Characterized by its large Italian community, South Philly is home to the Italian Market, one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in America. Spanning 10 blocks, it features everything from Mexican taquerias to Vietnamese banh mi stalls, to the (in)famous Philly cheesesteak. 

University City: Of course, the stomping ground for Penn (and Drexel) students lies West of the Schuylkill River. Not without its merits, University City boasts several artsy hang-outs and late-night joints like the Institute of Contemporary Art and World Café Live, a concert venue for up-and-coming artists. Head north and you'll run into the Philadelphia Zoo and several hiking trails, perfect for those much needed afternoon escapes.

Philadelphia is known as a city of neighborhoods, each offering a different perspective of the city and its diverse people.

-Helen N. '18