StayAreasIs Old City a good place to stay in Philadelphia?
Yes, especially for a first visit or a history trip. Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are a short walk away, though the Art Museum is a subway ride and weekend nights can be loud.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- History lovers
- Families
Look elsewhere if
- You want quiet weekend nights
- You want to be near the Art Museum
- You want big modern hotels
Hotels in Old City
All Old City hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Old City
Old City is the best place to stay in Philadelphia for history. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution are all within a few minutes' walk, and the Market-Frankford Line runs from 2nd and 5th Streets to City Hall in about five minutes. Penn's Landing and the Delaware River are just to the east.
The area is built on colonial streets. Elfreth's Alley, Christ Church and Betsy Ross House sit among cobbled lanes and brick row houses, while the old warehouses along 2nd and 3rd Streets now hold galleries, restaurants and bars. Society Hill, just to the south, has some of the city's prettiest 18th-century streets.
The downside is that Old City is at one edge of the centre. Rittenhouse Square, the Art Museum and the Barnes are a subway ride or a 25 to 30 minute walk away, and the bars around 2nd Street get busy and loud on weekend nights. Hotels here are smaller and older than in Center City.
What makes Old City special is waking up next to the places where the country was founded. You can see the Liberty Bell before the crowds arrive, wander Elfreth's Alley and have dinner in a centuries-old building. For a first trip to Philadelphia, there's nowhere more memorable to stay.
Getting around
- Elfreth's Alley6walk
- Museum of the American Revolution6walk
- Liberty Bell Center10walk
- City Hall10transit
- Reading Terminal Market11transit
- National Constitution Center12walk
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)41
Old City questions
Is Old City a good area to stay in Philadelphia?
Yes, especially for a first visit or a history trip. Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are a short walk away, though the Art Museum is a subway ride and weekend nights can be loud. It suits first-time visitors, history lovers and families.
How much does a hotel in Old City cost?
A typical double is around $160 a night at a budget hotel, $215 mid-range and $320 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Old City?
About 41 minutes door to door: SEPTA Airport Line to Jefferson Station, then the Market-Frankford Line.
How far is Old City from the main sights?
Door to door from Old City: Elfreth's Alley 6 minutes on foot, Museum of the American Revolution 6 minutes on foot, Liberty Bell Center 10 minutes on foot and City Hall 10 minutes.