Scenic and Leisurely Transportation
Get out your sneakers, because Philadelphia truly is a walkable city! Well-maintained sidewalks combined with the close proximity of many amenities makes Philadelphia a great place for pedestrians. If you are making an inner-city commute, bikes are also a marvelous way to navigate the region. Bike lanes already exist in Philadelphia, and the city has a master Bicycle Network Plan that includes the creation of more bicycle routes along 300 miles of city streets, as well as the installation of hundreds of additional bike racks. Remember: walking or bicycling equate to good exercise, cheap parking and pollution-free travel.
What better way to move through historic Philadelphia than in an old-fashioned, horse-drawn carriage? Carriages line up at 5th and Chestnut streets, next to Independence Hall, and tour sections of Old City, Society Hill and National Historic Park. Or perhaps take a trolley to get around the city. Philadelphia Trolley Works takes travelers on tours throughout Philadelphia on Victorian-style trolley buses. Your all-day ticket allows you to board the trolley at any of 20 locations and lets you move throughout the city at a leisurely pace. For more information, visit www.phillytour.com
From May through September, ride the PHLASH trolley to get around Philadelphia. Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., the bright purple and yellow PHLASH makes stops at 19 destinations throughout the city. It stops near many Center City hotels, not to mention direct connections to all SEPTA and PATCO rail lines. You can visit www.gophila.com/phlash for routes and schedule information. It's just $1 to board this tour bus, but keep in mind that exact change is required.
Can't decide if you want to travel by land or water? The answer is simple: Ride the Ducks! The Ducks tour vehicle takes you on a land tour of Philadelphia before becoming waterborne on the Delaware River. How do they do this? In amphibious vehicles that were manufactured for use in World War II as ship-to-shore transports. They have since been converted to carry sightseers. Head over to 6th and Chestnut streets in spring and summer months and Ride the Ducks, or visit www.PhillyDucks.com for information.
You can also get a great look at the city from atop authentic London double-decker buses. Ride the BIG BUS and hear commentary about the city. The bus makes 20 stops throughout Philadelphia, including City Hall, The Philadelphia Zoo, the Art Museum and 30th Street Station; you may disembark or stay along for the ride. Tickets are good for 24 hours so move along at your own pace. It's an easy way to get around while also learning a little bit of the city's history. Check out www.bigbus.co.uk, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Philadelphia.”
Whether you're traveling to, from or around Greater Philadelphia, you'll find that our excellent transportation networks make it easy as can be.