Photo: Kevin Burkett · CC BY-SA 2.04 Days in Philadelphia and New York City: Colonial Past, City Lights
Two days in colonial Philadelphia — Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Old City's cobblestones, the museum district — then the Amtrak ride to New York for two days of Midtown icons, the 9/11 Memorial, and Central Park. Answer a few questions about how you travel and the plan re-plans itself around you — your pace, your budget, your stops.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
12 stops · 8 meals · 2 hotels · 1 transferThis is the editor’s pick.
4 days, 2 cities
From Philadelphia to New York City, with 1 move between cities. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
Philadelphia
Old City & Independence · Museum District & Fairmount
- Day 1Old City & Independence: Independence Hall & the Liberty Bell
- Day 2Museum District & Fairmount: The Philadelphia Museum of Art & Boathouse Row
- Rental car to New York City · 2h
New York City
Midtown Manhattan · Lower Manhattan
- Day 3Midtown Manhattan: The Empire State Building & the New York Public Library
- Day 4Lower Manhattan: The Statue of Liberty & the 9/11 Memorial
The 2,000-pound bell with the famous crack sits in a glass pavilion you can see from the sidewalk. Walk up for the close look and the exhibits on abolition and civil rights.
- Arrive before the 9am opening to beat the longest lines.
The room where the Declaration and the Constitution were signed. Book the timed ranger tour — the $1 handling fee through recreation.gov is the cheapest ticket in American history. Go in the morning, when the Assembly Room is at its quietest.
- Entry is free but timed tours need a $1 handling fee booked through recreation.gov.
- The Hall and the Bell are one stop — the glass pavilion is steps from the Assembly Room. Do the ranger tour first, then walk to the Bell.
Family-run Old City cheesesteak shop since 1947 — classic cheesesteaks, hoagies, roast pork, plus vegan and gluten-free options and local beers on tap.
Early-1910s-style ice cream saloon on Market — elaborate sundaes, phosphates, homemade ice cream in a lovingly recreated period room.
A cobblestone 1720s lane, America's oldest continuously inhabited street. Walk it end to end — 32 houses, 29 still private — then pop into the museum at #124–126 for everyday colonial life.
Old City farm-to-table from the White Dog and Metropolitan Bakery folks — local and organic, a lively Farm Bar, and half-price happy hour Tuesday–Friday, 5–7pm.
Tech-savvy boutique on Spring Garden in the Art Museum District — smart mirrors, phone-based check-in, 24/7 front desk, Maj Cafe. About 0.3 miles from the Art Museum.
- 0.3 miles from the Philadelphia Museum of Art; check-in from 4pm.
The 1829 Gothic ruin — Al Capone's plush cell, Death Row, and the Steve Buscemi–narrated audio tour. The history of mass incarceration, impossible to ignore. Book Halloween Nights if you're here in fall.
- Daytime admission includes 'The Voices of Eastern State' audio tour narrated by Steve Buscemi.
Neighborhood Fairmount coffeehouse — specialty coffee, homemade baked goods, a full lunch menu with takeout.
240,000 works and the famous Rocky Steps. Run the 72 steps for the skyline view, then see the art. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday — plan a Thursday-to-Monday visit.
- Your $30 ticket is valid two consecutive days and includes the Rodin Museum.
A stretch
The Frank Gehry-designed restaurant inside the Art Museum — seasonal New American under a sculptural Douglas-fir ceiling. Lunch Tuesday–Saturday, brunch Sunday; reserve.
- Open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday and brunch on Sunday (reservations recommended).
- The Gehry restaurant is inside the museum — lunch under the Douglas-fir ceiling between galleries.
The Schuylkill Navy's historic boathouses — best seen at night, when 6,400 LEDs outline them from sunset to sunrise. A great end to a museum-district day.
- The 6,400-light LED system runs from sunset to sunrise.
Pan-Asian BYOB a block from the Art Museum — sushi and Asian-influenced plates, dinner nightly. Bring your own bottle.
- Dinner served daily; kitchen closes 9:30pm Mon–Thu, 10:30pm Fri–Sat.
Stay put: 18 min walk back from Boathouse Row tonight, 8 min walk to Eastern State Penitentiary in the morning.
Philadelphia to New York City
135 km, rated for speed and cost. For a first-timer trip on a comfortable budget at a balanced pace, take the Drive via I-95 / NJ Turnpike. It's the quickest way across, 2h door to door.
The Art Deco icon — an open-air 86th-floor deck and a glass 102nd-floor observatory with 360-degree views. Open 9am–midnight, 365 days; book online in advance. On clear days, six states.
- Tickets from $44 — book online in advance; it opens 365 days a year, 9am–midnight.
The Times Square location of the 1975 original — classic thin-crust New York slices, big enough to fold. Cash and card.
The lion-guarded Beaux-Arts library — the stunning Rose Main Reading Room is the must-see. Free entry.
- The Rose Reading Room is a must-see; entry is free.
The Beaux-Arts train station — celestial ceiling, whispering gallery, dining concourse. Free to enter; stand at the gallery's corners and whisper across the arches.
- The whispering gallery carries sound across the arches — try it from opposite corners.
The Italian food hall at the World Trade Center — restaurants, markets, a rooftop with harbor views. Multiple counters; eat as you wander.
Business hotel by the World Trade Center — steps from the 9/11 Memorial.
- Steps from the 9/11 Memorial.
The twin reflecting pools in the tower footprints, and a museum that chronicles September 11. The Memorial is free; the Museum needs timed tickets. Go early for the quietest hours.
- The Memorial is free; the Museum requires timed tickets — go early for the quietest hours.
The 100th–102nd floors of One World Trade Center — panoramic harbor views. The Sky Pod climbs 102 floors in 47 seconds; book timed tickets.
- The Sky Pod elevators climb 102 floors in 47 seconds.
- Four minutes apart — the Memorial's reflecting pools, then the 102nd-floor Sky Pod. Do the pools first.
The historic 1762 tavern where Washington bid farewell to his officers — now a restaurant and museum. The museum upstairs covers Revolutionary War history.
The ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island and Ellis Island — crown and museum access. Crown tickets sell out months ahead; book the moment you know your dates. Go in the morning to beat the crowds.
- Crown tickets sell out months ahead — book early, and go in the morning to beat crowds.
A stretch
The 60th-floor New American restaurant with sweeping skyline views. Book for sunset; the dining room faces the harbor.
Stay put: 13 min walk back from the Statue of Liberty tonight, 3 min walk to the 9/11 Memorial in the morning.
Where to stay in Philadelphia & New York City
Ranked for first-timer travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Philadelphia
The Maj Hotel
Tech-savvy boutique on Spring Garden in the Art Museum District — smart mirrors, phone-based check-in, 24/7 front desk, Maj Cafe. About 0.3 miles from the Art Museum.
Lokal Hotel
Design-forward Old City aparthotel — apartment-style suites with full kitchens and laundry, self check-in, no front desk ('invisible service'). Check-in 3pm; child-friendly, no pets.
HI Philadelphia Hostel at City House
Budget hostel in a historic 19th-century building two blocks from the Liberty Bell — shared or private rooms over four floors, open kitchen, chill area, nightly guided events. 18+, no curfew.
New York City
Club Quarters Hotel World Trade Center
Business hotel by the World Trade Center — steps from the 9/11 Memorial.
The Jane Hotel
The 1908 sailors' hotel with tiny cabin rooms in the West Village. Verify current operating status for 2026 before booking.
The Lucerne
Upper West Side boutique near the Natural History Museum — steps from the 79th St subway and the park.
Flights to Philadelphia & New York City
Fly into PHL (PHL)
Flight results via Travelpayouts — we may earn a commission on bookings.
Getting around Philadelphia & New York City
How to actually move around each city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Philadelphia
Public transit
SEPTA runs Philadelphia's buses, trolleys, two subway lines (the Market-Frankford L and Broad Street B) and Regional Rail. Everything is tap-to-pay: a contactless credit/debit card, phone or watch works on all modes, with the same fares as the SEPTA Key card.
- SEPTA contactless pay
Tap a contactless bank card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay on buses, the L and B subways, trolleys and Regional Rail. Base fare is $2.90; bus and subway rides include two free transfers within 120 minutes when you use the same payment method.
Tip: For Regional Rail, tap in before boarding and tap out at your destination so you're charged the right zone fare.
- SEPTA Key card
The reloadable SEPTA Key card ($4.95) holds Travel Wallet funds and weekly ($31) or monthly ($116) TransPasses for unlimited bus, subway and trolley rides. Buy one at station fare kiosks, SEPTA sales locations or retailers.
Tip: Register the card at SEPTAKey.org so you can recover your balance if it's lost.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate across Philadelphia and are the easiest way to reach the airport or late-night destinations. At PHL, follow the signs to the designated TNC/rideshare pickup area on the arrivals roadway.
- Uber
Uber operates citywide in Philadelphia, including UberX, Comfort and XL. At Philadelphia International Airport, request your ride after collecting luggage and meet the driver at the marked rideshare pickup zone; airport pickups carry a small surcharge.
Tip: Center City to PHL typically runs $25–40 depending on traffic and surge.
- Lyft
Lyft runs throughout Philadelphia with standard, XL and scheduled rides. Works the same as Uber for airport and downtown trips; compare both apps at peak times since surge pricing differs.
Tip: Schedule airport pickups in the app the night before an early flight.
Bikes
Philadelphia's city-owned bikeshare is Indego, with stations across Center City, University City, South Philly and along the Schuylkill River Trail. The Schuylkill River Trail and Kelly Drive are the best car-free rides in the city.
- Indego bikeshare
City-owned bikeshare with classic and electric bikes at hundreds of stations. A single ride costs $4.50 for 30 minutes on a classic bike; a 24-hour guest pass is $15, monthly Indego30 is $20 and annual Indego365 is $156. E-bikes add 30¢ per minute on single rides. Unlock and pay in the Indego app.
Tip: Dock the bike firmly at the end of every ride to avoid extra 30-minute charges.
Taxis
Philadelphia's roughly 1,500 medallion taxis are regulated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Hail one on the street in Center City, find them at hotel and station taxi stands, or summon one with the Curb app.
- Curb taxi app
The Curb app hails licensed Philadelphia taxis with upfront pricing shown before you book, plus in-app payment and no surge pricing. It covers the city's medallion fleet regulated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Tip: Upfront fares are distance- and time-based, so they're often cheaper than rideshare during surge.
- Street-hail taxis
Metered taxis can be hailed on the street, especially in Center City, Old City and around 30th Street Station. Fares are set by the Philadelphia Parking Authority; tipping 15–20% is the norm.
Tip: Cabs take cards, but confirm the card reader works before the ride starts.
New York City
Public transit
The subway runs 24/7 and is the fastest way across town; buses fill the gaps. Tap to pay with OMNY.
- OMNY tap-to-go on the subway
Subway and local buses cost $3.00 per ride; tap a contactless card, phone, or OMNY card at the turnstile. Transfers between subway and bus are free. After 12 paid rides within 7 days using the same payment method, the rest of the week's rides are free (7-day fare cap, $35).
Tip: Use the same card or phone every tap so the 12-ride fare cap tracks you; single-ride tickets cost $3.50 and don't count.
- JFK AirTrain
From JFK, the AirTrain ($8.75) connects all terminals to Jamaica station (E/J/Z trains and LIRR to Penn Station or Grand Central) and to Howard Beach (A train). Pay with any contactless card, phone, or OMNY card; the subway leg onward costs $3.00.
Tip: For the fastest airport-to-Manhattan trip, take the AirTrain to Jamaica and switch to the LIRR (about 20 minutes to Grand Central).
- LaGuardia via the free Q70 bus
LaGuardia has no rail link; the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus runs free between all LGA terminals and the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av subway station (7/E/F/M/R), about 30-45 minutes to Midtown for one $3.00 subway fare.
Tip: The planned AirTrain to LaGuardia was cancelled, so plan on the Q70 + subway; it's luggage-rack equipped.
Rideshare
App-based cars are everywhere and usually faster than a cab outside Manhattan. Expect surge pricing at rush hour and late nights.
- Uber
Uber operates citywide across all five boroughs with upfront pricing shown before you book. Expect surge pricing at rush hour and late nights, when the subway is usually cheaper for short hops.
Tip: Tipping 15-20% in the app is the expected norm; drivers rate riders, and cash isn't needed.
- Lyft
Lyft operates citywide across all five boroughs with upfront pricing, and its app can also hail yellow taxis through the Curb partnership. Like Uber, prices rise at peak times.
Tip: You can hail a yellow cab inside the Lyft app via its Curb partnership and still get Lyft's upfront pricing and in-app tipping.
Bikes
The city is flat and the densest sights sit within a few miles; bikeshare beats a cab for short hops below Central Park.
- Citi Bike
Lyft-operated bikeshare with stations across all five boroughs, 24/7. A day pass ($25) buys unlimited 30-minute classic-bike rides for 24 hours; e-bikes cost extra per minute (27 cents/min for members, more for pass holders). Get the pass in the Citi Bike or Lyft app.
Tip: E-bike overage racks up fast: dock within 30 minutes or grab another bike.
Taxis
Iconic and plentiful in Manhattan; elsewhere you'll usually wait less for an app car.
- Yellow cabs and the Curb app
Yellow cabs are the only cars allowed to pick up street hails anywhere in the city; hail by raising a hand or book through the Curb app for upfront pricing. Street hails run on the meter. Green boro taxis serve northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs at the same metered fares.
Tip: Tip 15-20% on the metered fare at the back-seat touchscreen; cards are accepted in every cab.
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- Photo: Kevin Burkett · CC BY-SA 2.04 days
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