Philadelphia or Philly is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is the 6th most populated city in the United States. William Penn, an English Quaker, founded this city in 1682. Many of the universities and colleges of this city make it to the top national centre for education and academic research. It is also the centre of economic activity in the state of Pennsylvania and is home to five Fortune 1000 companies. This city has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other city in America. It has 9,200 acres of park space which makes it one of the most expensive park systems in the country. This city is home to many of the country’s firsts which includes the first library, university, business school, hospital, medical school, stock exchange, zoo and national capital. The city hall of Philadelphia is the largest municipal building in the country. The city is well known for its culture, arts, cuisine and colonial and revolutionary era history.

When to visit Philadelphia, United States of America

March to May is the best time to visit Philadelphia. At this time you can avoid the frigid, often snowy winters that the city experiences and the tourist rush that can take over the city’s attractions in summer. During these months, the weather is next to perfect and the parks are in full bloom, making casual walks around the city much prettier.

What to know about Philadelphia, United States of America

Climate

The climate of Philadelphia is continental with hot summers and cold winters. The daily temperature of the city ranges from 1.3 in January to 25.6 in July. December to February is very cold with an average temperature just above freezing point, but the cold spells during which the temperature can drop to about -10/-15 are not rare. Snowfalls during these months are very frequent and sometimes can be abundant, resulting into real snowstorms.  -21 is the coldest temperature recorded in January 1982 and in January 1985. Summers are very hot and humid where the days have pleasant temperatures around 25/27. July is the warmest month of the year with an average maximum temperature of 31 and January is the coldest month of the year with an average maximum temperature of 5. The month of July receives an average of 275 hours of sunshine making it the sunniest month of the year. July also tops the list of wettest months of the year with 112mm of rainfall, while February is the driest month with 70mm of precipitation.

Currency

The U.S. dollar or American dollar is the official currency of the country. You can pay using your credit card to save on commissions. You can withdraw your money from the ATMs available around the City. It is advisable to exchange your money from any exchange bureau once after reaching the city.

Language

English is the most widely accepted and spoken language among the population of Philadelphia. Around 11.1% of the population speaks Spanish, 2.55% of the population speaks Chinese and 0.883% of the population speaks Arabic in the city. Due to a major part of the residents being immigrants, other languages like Vietnamese, Russian, French and Italian are also spoken by a handful of people.

Transportation 

The excellent public transportation services are the biggest way to get around Philadelphia and its attractions.

Buses

Rapid transit

Car hiring

Commuter rail

Taxis

Trolleys

Bicycle

Two wheeler hiring

Places of attractions in Philadelphia, United States of America

The Independence Hall

The Independence Hall is a historic civic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It served as the capital for the Province and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania after the completion of its building in 1753 as the Pennsylvania State House. This place sits across from the Liberty Bell Pavilion in the Independence National Historical Park. There is no fee to enter inside this hall but the tickets are very limited and timed, so make sure you book your tickets earlier. Also you have to go through the security screening while entering inside the Independence Hall.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is an art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. It contains one of the largest collections of paintings and other artworks of the United States. It has a variety of classes of artwork including sculpture, prints, paintings, photographs, armour, drawings and decorative arts. This museum is home to more than 240,000 objects. The mediaeval galleries are among the finest sections of this museum which includes pictures by Rogier van der Weyden and the van Eyck brothers. It highlights the creative achievement of the Western world and those of Asia in more than 200 galleries. The Asian collection of this museum includes the paintings and sculpture from China, Japan and India, the furniture and decorative artworks which includes major collections of ceramics from China, Japan and Korea. Every year many special exhibitions are held in this museum including the touring exhibitions arranged with other museums in the United States and abroad. In 2021, this museum was the 65th most visited art museum worldwide with 437,348 visitors.

The Eastern State Penitentiary

The Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1829 with the aim of rehabilitating criminals through confinement. It was the most expensive and high tech prison in the world when it was opened in the past. It has a Gothic Revival type of architectural style and covers an area of 11 acres. It was closed in 1971 and now serves as a museum to the public. A scavenger hunt is also available for children. Proper guided tours are also available for gaining the important information of this historical site. Currently it is a U.S. National Historic Landmark which can be visited any day of the week from 10 am to 5 pm. It is one of the most important places to visit in the city.