INTRODUCTION

Transportation

Directions - By Plane

Located eight miles from Center City, the Philadelphia International Airport is served by all major domestic carriers, with flights to more than 100 cities in the United States. There are more than 1,000 arrivals and departures daily. The International Terminal is an East Coast gateway for flights to and from Europe, Canada and the Caribbean, with connections to Asia. The SEPTA (regional rail) Airport Line connects the airport with Center City. One-way cab fare from the airport to Center City is $20. For more information, contact the Philadelphia International Airport at 215-937-6800 or www.phl.org. For real-time flight departure and arrival information, call 800-PHL-GATE, or visit www.phl.org.

Directions - by Train

Amtrak provides extensive service to Philadelphia's 30th Street Station (30th and Market Streets). For schedules and fares, contact Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL or www.amtrak.com.

Approximate rail times to Philadelphia:

Getting from the Airport to Center City

The easiest and least expensive way to travel from the Philadelphia airport to downtown is via SEPTA R1 Regional Rail train. For $6.00 off peak, or $7.00 during peak times, you can board a train at several airport terminal stops, and ride the R1 Airport line directly into downtown Philadelphia. The train makes 4 stops: University City (University of Pennsylvania campus), 30th Street Station (connect to AMTRAK, and convenient to Drexel University), Suburban Station (17th & JFK), and Market East (adjacent to the Pennsylvania Convention center and Reading Terminal Market).

Just board the train, and pay the ticket taker as he/she comes through the train car. There is no longer an option to buy tickets at the airport prior to boarding. Although the train schedule may look incomprehensible on the website, just remember that the train leaves the airport every 30 minutes, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Often, the wait for taxis is even longer than the wait for trains!

Subway

Two subway/elevated lines service the heart of the city. The two lines intersect at City Hall (15th street) station for a free connection:

The Market-Frankford Line (the “El” or Blue Line) runs east-west with key stops at 2nd street (Penn's Landing), 5th Street (the Historic District), 11th Street (Convention Center and Reading Terminal Market), 15th Street (City Hall) and 30th Street (connection to Amtrak). The 11th, 15th, and 30th Street stops all have convenient access to the SEPTA Regional Rail Lines. The 8th Street stop has a convenient connection to the PATCO High Speed Line.

The Broad Street Line (the Subway or Orange Line) runs north-south and will take you from City Hall (15th Street) to the sports arenas at the Pattison Ave stop (Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and Wachovia Center).

Bus

Over 70 bus routes service the city and surrounding area. Useful bus routes include: the #38 bus which can take you from Independence Mall to the Franklin Institute and the Art Museum; the #21 bus that can take you West from Penns Landing to University City via Walnut Street and returns East via Chestnut Street; the #44 bus connects Center City to the City Ave hotels and has a stop close to the Barnes Foundation in Merion; the #124 takes you from Center City to the King of Prussia Mall; the #125 also stops in King of Prussia and certain buses continue on to Valley Forge National Park. Please feel free to inquire on the forum if you have questions regarding buses.

Phlash Tourist Bus

From May to October each year, the purplePhlashtourist bus operates in a continuous loop along 27 stops that encompass all of the most popular destinations in Philadelphia, including the historic area, the museum area, the Philadelphia Zoo and Please Touch Museum and more. Tickets are only $2, or $5 for a day pass, $10 for a day pass for 2 adults and 2 children. When in operation, this is a recommended way to easily get around.

Waterfront Shuttle to Adventure Aquarium/Battleship New Jersey

A new, low-cost shuttle bus connecting visitors of Philadelphia's historic district to Camden's waterfront is going into operation for the 2009 summer season.

For $2.00 per person, round trip, tourists can ride the 20-seat "Waterfront Connection" bus, which leaves the Independence Visitor Center at Sixth and Market Streets, and take a short trip over the Ben Franklin Bridge to the Camden waterfront.

The bus makes stops at the Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey

SEPTA Fares and Pass Deals

Bus, subway and trolley fares are $2 per ride in cash, or you can buy tokens for $1.45 each. SEPTA offers several passes that may be of use to tourists. The one day convenience pass costs $6 and if valid for 8 trips on bus, trolley or subway on the same day. The one day independence pass costs $10 for individual, $25 for a family, and provides unlimited rides on all modes of transportation including the Phlash bus.

Regional Rail

The communities around the city are served by a regional rail network (the R trains). SEPTA Regional Rail trains stop at three stations in Center City: 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, and Market East. The R7 train runs from Center City to Trenton, NJ, where connections are available on New Jersey Transit to NYC. The R5 Paoli/Thorndale train stops in Merion within walking distance of the Barnes Foundation. Buy your tickets at the train station to avoid on-board services charges.