Philadelphia Getting there & around

Getting around

Fare for a taxi to Center City is a flat fee of $20. The airport is also served by SEPTA’s regional service using the R1 line. The R1 ($6) will drop you off in University City or in numerous stops in Center City. SEPTA’s ticketing machines on the train platforms frequently don’t work.

Although driving is pretty simple in central Philadelphia, parking is difficult and regulations are strictly enforced. Downtown distances are short enough to let you see most places on foot, and a train, bus or taxi can get you to places farther out relatively easily. Philly is an inexpensive place to rent cars. Typical daily rates for a compact are $30 to $50 with unlimited mileage, less on weekends or by the week.

SEPTA (215-580-7800; www.septa.org) operates Philadelphia’s municipal buses, plus two subway lines and a trolley service. Though extensive and reliable, the web of bus lines is difficult to make sense of, particularly since SEPTA’s confusing website doesn’t provide a comprehensive map of the 120 routes servicing Philly’s 159 sq miles. To get such a map, you have to purchase SEPTA’s Official Philadelphia Transit & Street Map ($7) either online or from a sales office. The one-way fare on most routes is $2, for which you’ll need the exact change or a token. Many subway stations and transit stores sell discounted packages of two tokens for $2.60.

Cabs, especially around City Center, are easy to hail. Fares are $1.80 for the first one-sixth of a mile, then 30¢ for each subsequent one-sixth plus 20¢ for every minute of waiting time. The fare from University City to Penn’s Landing is about $7. The flat fare from Center City to the airport is $20. Some cabs accept credit cards.

The Phlash (215-474-5274) shuttle bus loops downtown from Logan Circle through Center City to the waterfront and South St (one way/all day $2/4).