Fodors Philadelphia

If you ever feel lost, you can orient yourself by gauging where you stand in relation to the two main thoroughfares that intersect at the citys center: Broad (or 14th, Street, which runs northsouth; and Market Street, which runs eastwest. Where Broad and Market meet, neatly dividing the city center into four quadrants, youll find massive City Hall, Philadelphias center of gravity.

Within Center City, the numbered streets start on the eastern side, from the Delaware River beginning with Front Street (consider it 1st Street) all the way west to 25th Street on the banks of the Schuylkill (pronounced SKOO-kull) River. In between Market to the north and Lombard to the south, most of the eastwest streets have tree names (from north to south: Chestnut, Walnut, Locust, Spruce, Pine).

Center City has four roughly equal-size city squares, one in each quadrangle. In the northwest quadrangle theres Logan Square; in the southwest is Rittenhouse; in the northeast theres Franklin Square; and in the southeast is Washington Square. Running along the banks of the Delaware River is Columbus Boulevard/Delaware Avenue.

Driving

Laid out in a grid pattern by its founder William Penn, Center City is relatively easy to navigate by car. Just remember that many streets are one-way, and the main thoroughfares are often congested with traffic. A spot at a downtown parking meterif youre lucky enough to find onecosts $2.50 per hour. Philadelphia Parking Authority officers are seriously vigilant about ticketing. If you plan on spending a good amount of time in the city, supplementing your visit with walking and public transportation, your best bet might be a parking garage; there are a number throughout Center City.

Public Transportation

Philadelphias SEPTA buses provide good coverage of Old City and the Historic Downtown, Center City, and farther west to University City. A bus ride costs $2.25 in cash (exact change only). A transfer costs an additional $1. Find fares, maps, and schedules at the Independence Visitor Center and online at septa.org . Purple PHLASH trolleys follow a Center City route to 22 downtown sights; you can buy a hop-on, hop-off all-day pass for $5 at the Independence Visitor Center or when you board the trolley.

SEPTA , Philadelphias subway system, runs regular trains throughout the day, but their geographic reach is somewhat limited, so trips may need to be supplemented with bus, taxi, or car service rides. The Market-Frankford Line, or Blue Line, runs eastwest along Market Street; the Broad Street Line, or Orange Line runs northsouth along Phillys main thoroughfare.

Taxi Travel

Taxis are plentiful in Center City, especially along Broad, Market, Walnut, and Chestnut streets and near major hotels and train stations. Theyre hailed street-side; smartphone users can also download 215GetACab, a free Android/iOS app that allows you to schedule pickups instantly. Fares rise according to distance: $2.70, plus 23 for each one-tenth of a mile. The standard tip for cabdrivers is about 20% of the fare.

Arts and Entertainment

Billing itself as a guide to experiencing Philly like a local, Uwishunu is an in-the-know blog extension of the citys more comprehensive visitor site. Written by a diverse staff with different interests, it lives up to its local point of view. Visit Philly is a comprehensive guide to events throughout the year; it also includes new entries in Philly dining, attractions, and shopping.