StayAreasIs Rittenhouse Square a good place to stay in Philadelphia?
Yes, especially for couples and food lovers. The square, Walnut Street's shops and top restaurants are on the doorstep, though the Liberty Bell is a subway ride and rooms cost more.
Stay here if
- Couples
- Food lovers
- Return visitors
Look elsewhere if
- You want to walk to the Liberty Bell
- You're on a tight budget
- You want big nightclubs
Hotels in Rittenhouse Square
All Rittenhouse Square 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 Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is the most elegant place to stay in Philadelphia. It sits a few blocks west of City Hall, so Center City is a 10 minute walk, Suburban Station has trains to the airport, and the Market-Frankford Line runs from 15th Street to Old City. The Schuylkill River Trail and the Art Museum are within walking distance.
The area is built around its square. Locals read, picnic and walk dogs under the trees, the grand buildings around it hold restaurants with terraces, and Walnut Street is the city's main shopping street. Sansom Street and the side streets are full of small restaurants, cocktail bars and old brownstones.
The downside is the price and the distance from the historic sights. Hotels and restaurants here cost more than elsewhere in Center City, and Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are a 25 to 30 minute walk or a short subway ride away.
What makes Rittenhouse special is how good it feels to come back to. You can spend the day at the Liberty Bell or the Art Museum, then end it with dinner on a terrace by the square. For couples, food lovers and return visitors, it's the nicest neighbourhood in the city.
Getting around
- Rittenhouse Square1walk
- Liberty Bell Center12transit
- Reading Terminal Market12transit
- Independence Hall14transit
- City Hall14walk
- Museum of the American Revolution15transit
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)39
Other options in Philadelphia
Compare all 5 areas →Rittenhouse Square questions
Is Rittenhouse Square a good area to stay in Philadelphia?
Yes, especially for couples and food lovers. The square, Walnut Street's shops and top restaurants are on the doorstep, though the Liberty Bell is a subway ride and rooms cost more. It suits couples, food lovers and return visitors.
How much does a hotel in Rittenhouse Square cost?
A typical double is around $175 a night at a budget hotel, $245 mid-range and $580 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Rittenhouse Square?
About 39 minutes door to door: SEPTA Airport Line to Suburban Station, then a short walk.
How far is Rittenhouse Square from the main sights?
Door to door from Rittenhouse Square: Rittenhouse Square 1 minutes on foot, Liberty Bell Center 12 minutes, Reading Terminal Market 12 minutes and Independence Hall 14 minutes.