Philadelphia

48 hours in Philadelphia

History comes alive in Philadelphia, where you can stroll down cobbled alleys and into buildings depicted in famous paintings. But the city is much more than an open-air museum. Its indoor museums are world-class too, and there’s a distinct local culture (those Mummers, for one thing; cheesesteaks for another) and a great arts and music scene.

Pat's King of Steaks offers a variety of options, from left to right – pizza cheesesteak, steak with provolone, steak with cheez whiz and the steak with cheez whiz topped with hot peppers © Getty / The Washington Post

Zora O'Neill

Lonely Planet Writer

Historic Philadelphia: exploring America’s first World Heritage city

When Philadelphia was named the first World Heritage City in the USA in 2015, the honor recognized the town’s indelible imprint on American history, and by extension, the modern world. It was a well-timed award for one of the oldest cities in the USA; even as Philly’s history, from architecture to iconography, was lauded, the city has been experiencing a new bloom of dining and nightlife.

When the award was announced, you may have heard a slight groan of dismay from the vicinity of New York and Boston – rivalries between Northeastern cities are as old as the towns themselves. Perhaps at the same time, the City of Brotherly Love allowed itself a smile, a Yards Pale Ale and a bit of boasting. That’s Philly: when you travel here, get past the clichés – yes, there are cheesesteaks, and they are good – and you’ll find an attitude that refuses to play second fiddle to, well, anything.

Adam Karlin

Lonely Planet Writer

Beyond the cheesesteak: Philadelphia’s food scene

Tourists associate the City of Brotherly Love with its most famous sandwich – the cheesesteak, created by South Philly hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri for his taxi driver clientele in 1930. But regional food choices in Philadelphia extend well beyond Pat's or Geno's, provolone or cheese whiz, with or without fried onions. Landmark delis, markets and noodle shops, still in business nearly a century after opening, pay tribute to the city's colorful immigrant past; a few doors down, modern chefs and bakers riff on classic dishes, from Jewish gravlax to Korean fried chicken, that represent the city's diverse range of cultural and ethnic groups. Have your cheesesteak – and eat one, too, from the rival stand across the way – but save some room for Philly’s other foodie delights.

Salamis hanging in Philadelphia's Italian Market. Image by jbolles / CC BY-SA 2.0