Cheap flights to Philadelphia
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Philadelphia and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
PHL
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-5 (UTC-4 in summer time)
Deals already spotted to Philadelphia
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
PHL linked to downtown by a SEPTA train in half an hour, and New York 1 h 10 away on the Acela
Philadelphia International (PHL)
Philadelphia International Airport, southwest of downtown, is the largest transatlantic hub of American Airlines according to Wikipedia (EN) and handles about 29.5 million passengers a year according to Wikivoyage (DE). The SEPTA Airport Line reaches Center City in roughly 25 to 30 minutes, with a train about every 30 minutes from 4:30 am to midnight according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Taxis offer a flat fare to Center City. Direct flights link the city to Frankfurt and Zurich according to Wikivoyage (DE).
Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE, ES) and Wikipedia; timetables change, so check them before you travel. We do not quote fares.
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn according to Wikipedia (EN, FR, DE, ES) and had 1,603,797 residents at the 2020 census. 30th Street Station, on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, is one of the country's busiest: the Acela reaches New York in about 1 h 10 and Washington in about 1.5 hours according to Wikivoyage (DE). Downtown is very walkable: most places are within 30 minutes on foot according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Landmarks
Independence Hall, City Hall, the art museum, Elfreth's Alley and the Schuylkill
Philadelphia presents itself as the birthplace of the United States: the Declaration of Independence was adopted here on 4 July 1776 and the Constitution drafted in 1787. The places below are illustrated; the Liberty Bell, Eastern State Penitentiary and Rittenhouse Square are covered in text.
The Schuylkill riverfront and downtown
The Schuylkill River runs beside the museum district and offers a landscaped promenade from which the downtown skyline stands out. It is an easy viewpoint over the city, calmer than the main avenues of Center City.
Independence Hall
The former Pennsylvania State House, completed in 1753 according to Wikipedia (FR, ES), saw the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 and the drafting of the Constitution. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 according to Wikipedia (DE). Entry is free, but a timed ticket is required according to Wikivoyage (DE).
City Hall
This huge pale stone city hall occupies the middle of Center City, with a tower 167 m (548 ft) high according to Wikipedia (DE) and more than 250 exterior sculptures according to the tourist board. It is a landmark in the city's grid plan.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Corinthian-columned facade of the art museum dominates the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The museum was created in 1876 and opened in 1877 according to Wikipedia (ES), and its "Rocky Steps", 72 of them, are famous according to the tourist board.
Elfreth's Alley
This cobbled alley lined with red brick houses has been inhabited since 1713 according to Wikipedia (FR). It gives a sense of the colonial city: narrow facades, shutters and lanterns, a few minutes from the old town.
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge
This 1926 suspension bridge, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long according to the tourist board, crosses the Delaware to New Jersey. The PATCO line runs across it, and in the evening the downtown skyline takes on golden tones.
The Liberty Bell, Eastern State Penitentiary and Rittenhouse Square
The Liberty Bell is displayed in a dedicated building since 2003 according to Wikipedia (DE), opposite Independence Hall, with free entry according to Wikivoyage (DE). It was hidden in Allentown during the British occupation of 1777-1778 according to Wikipedia (EN). Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison turned museum. Rittenhouse Square is the central park square, surrounded by restaurants and shops.
Museums and culture
Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute and the Mutter Museum
Art: Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation
The Philadelphia Museum of Art holds more than 240,000 works according to the tourist board, and the Barnes Foundation shows a major Impressionist collection. Both are in the museum district. We do not quote fares: several museums have discounted days or evenings, but these conditions change.
Science and medicine
The Franklin Institute is the science museum and the Mutter Museum is a museum of historic medicine and anatomical curiosities, both named by Wikivoyage (EN, DE). The Penn Museum, in University City, holds more than a million artefacts according to the tourist board.
History and the Constitution
The National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution and Eastern State Penitentiary explain the birth of the country and the 19th-century prison system. For hours and tickets, check the official sites.
Food and drink
Cheesesteak, soft pretzels, Reading Terminal Market and the Italian Market
The cheesesteak
The cheesesteak, a sandwich of thin grilled beef with onions and cheese in a roll, is the city's specialty according to Wikivoyage (DE). Pat's King of Steaks, founded in 1930, claims to have invented it in 1933 according to Wikipedia (DE), and its rivalry with Geno's on South 9th Street is famous according to the tourist board.
Pretzels and roast pork
Soft pretzels and the roast pork sandwich are also local classics according to the tourist board. Water ice, a fruit-flavoured frozen dessert, is another specialty according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Markets
Reading Terminal Market has more than 80 restaurants, bakeries and delis according to the tourist board, and the Italian Market is described as one of the oldest open-air markets in the United States. Both are good places for lunch without booking.
Getting around
On foot downtown, SEPTA and PATCO for the rest, Amtrak for other cities
On foot and SEPTA
Downtown is among the most walkable in the United States according to Wikivoyage (EN). SEPTA runs the subway (Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line), trolleys, trolleybuses, buses and Regional Rail according to Wikivoyage (DE, EN). Fares change: check the operator's site.
PATCO and Amtrak
PATCO links downtown to New Jersey across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, with its own fare card according to Wikivoyage (EN). 30th Street Station serves New York, Washington and other East Coast cities.
By car
Traffic is heavy at rush hour and street parking is hard to find near downtown sights according to Wikivoyage (EN). A car is only useful for trips outside the city.
Budget and precautions
An average East Coast price level, with free entry to key historic sites
Price level
Philadelphia sits at the average for large East Coast cities, with free entry to several historic sites. The currency is the US dollar. We do not publish figures: the sources are dated or disagree.
Flights and alerts
SniperAir monitors flight prices to PHL and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. For East Coast travellers, the Acela train is an alternative to flying between Philadelphia, New York and Washington.
Precautions
Some North Philadelphia neighbourhoods struggle with crime according to Wikivoyage (EN); the busy tourist centre is safer. Foreign visitors should check US entry requirements for their nationality.
When to go
Cold winters, hot humid summers, spring and autumn the most pleasant
Winter (December to February)
Cold and often snowy, with temperatures around 0 °C (32 °F) and about 59 cm (24 in) of snow a year according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Spring (March to May)
Pleasant, with 15 to 25 °C (60s and 70s °F) according to Wikivoyage (EN): one of the two best seasons for walking the historic centre.
Summer (June to August)
Hot and humid, with a heat index around 32 °C (90 °F) by day and 22 °C (72 °F) at night according to Wikivoyage (EN). The heat record is 41.1 °C (106 °F), on 7 August 1918 according to Wikipedia (FR, ES).
Autumn (September to November)
Pleasant, with 15 to 25 °C according to Wikivoyage (EN); an excellent time for museums and markets.
Philadelphia has a humid subtropical climate according to Wikipedia (ES), with about 1,050 mm (41 in) of rain a year (Wikipedia FR, DE) and more than 118 rainy days according to Wikipedia (DE). The cold record is -23.9 °C (-11 °F) on 9 February 1934 (FR, ES). Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for visiting on foot.
By length of stay
What to do in Philadelphia depending on how long you stay
The essentials
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, City Hall, Elfreth's Alley, Reading Terminal Market and a cheesesteak.
Museums and districts
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute, Rittenhouse Square and the Italian Market.
Around the city
Germantown, Valley Forge, Longwood Gardens, Atlantic City or a day in New York by train.
In pictures
Philadelphia in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Philadelphia
How do I get from Philadelphia airport to downtown?
The airport (PHL) is linked to Center City by the SEPTA Airport Line in roughly 25 to 30 minutes, with a train about every 30 minutes; a flat-fare taxi is another option. Check timetables before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Philadelphia?
In spring and autumn, with 15 to 25 °C (60s and 70s °F). Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold and sometimes snowy.
Can I visit Independence Hall for free?
Entry is free, but a timed ticket is required according to Wikivoyage (DE). Check current rules on the park's official site.
Is Philadelphia expensive?
It sits at the average for large East Coast cities, and the main historic sites are free. We do not publish figures, as sources are dated or disagree.
Can I go from Philadelphia to New York by train?
Yes: the Acela takes about 1 h 10 according to Wikivoyage (DE), and other Amtrak trains also serve New York and Washington.
What should I try in Philadelphia?
The cheesesteak, soft pretzels, the roast pork sandwich, water ice and produce from Reading Terminal Market.
How much does a flight to Philadelphia usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Philadelphia drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Philadelphia as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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