Your Complete Guide to Philadelphia

How to Get There

Philadelphia has one major airport in the aptly named Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), serving the 6th largest city in the US.

Located just 7 miles from downtown, you can easily get from the airport to your accommodation in the following ways:

Philadelphia is also located within two hours of multiple other regional and international airports (as below), making it incredibly easy to access:

Scheduling your trip from Montreal? Use your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card to book your flights and hotels; you’ll earn Scene+ points on every purchase with no foreign transaction fees once you land in the US.

From Montreal, the easiest way to reach Philadelphia is by direct flight: Air Canada and other carriers connect YUL to PHL year-round in about 2 hours. Driving is also an option at roughly 6 to 7 hours via I-87 South.

Where to Stay

Philadelphia has many wonderful neighbourhoods to explore, with a few standout ones that would make a great base for your visit to the city.

If you’re looking to dive into the history of the area, you may enjoy staying in the Old City on the banks of the Delaware River. From this location, you can easily explore the main historical sights like the Independence National Historical Park, the Liberty Bell, and tons more to do with colonial and revolutionary times.

Another great area to lay your head is the Rittenhouse Square neighbourhood which puts you close to excellent museums and activities during the day, and bars and restaurants for the evenings.

If you’re coming to town specifically for some sports action, you could also consider a stay in South Philadelphia to be close to the events. This neighbourhood is home to the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and many more notable events.

Conveniently, all of these areas have popular hotel options like Marriott and Hilton, so you can use some hotel points to save on your accommodations regardless of what type of trip you have planned. If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors member, Philadelphia has strong options in all three neighbourhoods, a great opportunity to redeem your points for free or discounted nights.

What to Do

Philadelphia is a well-known and historically famous city dating back over 3 centuries, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty to do and see when you’re in town.

Below we’ve put together a few highlights to help you get inspired and fill in your upcoming itinerary for this dynamic destination.

Try the local delicacies

It wouldn’t be a trip to Philadelphia without trying some of the city’s iconic foods likes a Philly cheesesteak, classic hoagie, soft pretzel, and water ice.

The city also has a growing food scene that’s certain to satisfy every type of appetite. From the multiple Michelin-starred restaurants to the diverse foods available at the Reading Terminal Market (a famous indoor farmer’s market), you definitely won’t go hungry.

In fact, there’s so many good choices, that you may want to book a food tour with GetYourGuide or Civitatis to easily try a lot of tasty treats.

Take a walk through history

Founded in 1682, Philadelphia has experienced many years and many major historical events.

For the US history buff, this city is a dream come true, offering the chance to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was signed), the original President’s House location, the Museum of the American Revolution, the Betsy Ross House, and much more.

Philadelphia is also home to Elfreth’s Alley, one of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the US. Overall, the city is brimming with enough historical sites and information for multiple days of exploration.

Explore the arts

Philadelphia punches well above its weight when it comes to arts and culture. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, famous worldwide for the « Rocky Steps, » houses over 240,000 works spanning centuries and continents. The Barnes Foundation is another must-visit, with one of the finest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. And, sure, don’t miss the Magic Gardens, a sprawling mosaic art environment on South Street that’s unlike anything else in the US.

Step outside

For travellers looking to spend time in the fresh air, Philadelphia offers several wonderful outdoor spaces to explore.

There are trails for hiking, walking, biking, and more, as well as beautiful spaces like Spruce Street Harbour Park, where you can relax in the sunshine, rent a hammock, enjoy some live music, and grab a bite to eat by the riverside.

Cherry Street Pier is another incredible semi-outdoor space that offers a re-imagined take on urban public spaces, combining artist and performance areas, markets, food and drink options, and much more to bring visitors and the local community together.

Catch a game

Another great activity for visitors to Philadelphia is to take in a sports event held by any of the many professional sports leagues in the city.

Whether you’re in town for the 2026 FIFA World Cup or just looking to catch a Phillies, 76ers, or Eagles game while enjoying a beer and hot dog, there are lots of athletic festivities to choose from.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Philadelphia is one of the top ten most populous cities in the US, so it makes sense that it hosts many large events, like concerts, professional sports teams, and a number of matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The city is set to present 6 matches throughout the tournament, including 5 in June and 1 in July, as part of the Round of 16.

The games will take place at Lincoln Financial Field (home of the Philadelphia Eagles) in South Philadelphia, not too far from the international airport. Since the city is well-versed in hosting large sports events, you can expect good transit access to the matches and lots of pre- and post-match festivities.

If you’d like to learn more on how to secure World Cup tickets, save on accommodations, or use your points to find affordable flights and save in general, we recommend you read through our guides.

Tips for Your Visit

Book early

When planning a trip to Philadelphia (or anywhere for that matter), it can be valuable to book early for your accommodations, activities, events, and even restaurants.

While not always necessary, booking early can be really important during popular travel times and if you’re visiting the city during a big event (like the World Cup or during a big festival weekend).

During these busy times, hotels will fill up, popular restaurants may be fully booked, and companies like GetYourGuide will start to sell out of their popular tours.

Of course, you’ll also want to buy any event tickets early to make sure you can access and enjoy everything you’ve got planned during your trip!

The best time to visit Philadelphia is spring (April–May) or fall (September–October), when the weather is mild, and the city is at its most walkable. Summers can be hot and humid, while winters are cold but manageable.

Check out our ultimate checklist for travellers to make sure you don’t forget any important steps in your planning.

Get around the city

Philadelphia is very walkable in its central neighbourhoods, but SEPTA (the local transit network) makes it easy to get further afield. The subway, bus, and regional rail network covers the city well, with a base fare of $2.00–$2.50 with a SEPTA Key card. For the World Cup matches, SEPTA’s Broad Street Line runs directly to Lincoln Financial Field.

Bring the right credit card

If you’re travelling from Canada to the US, you’ll definitely want to consider bringing a credit card that doesn’t charge FX fees, like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card. Not only will this card save you the 2.5% fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, but you also get to earn Scene+ points on your purchases.

These points can then be redeemed for eligible travel expenses that you made on the card during your trip (or at home) as well as for groceries, entertainment, and more.

Additionally, this card offers other valuable travel perks like complimentary airport lounge access, travel insurance, delayed and lost luggage coverage, car rental collision and loss damage insurance, and more.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re visiting Philadelphia for the history, the food and culture, or for a big event like football, baseball, soccer, or a concert, you’re certain to enjoy the wide array of activities that the city has to offer.

Philadelphia is one of those rare cities that delivers on every front, history, food, sport, and culture, without the crowds or costs of New York. It’s an easy city to love, and an even easier one to reach from most points in Canada and the US.

Hopefully, our guide has given you some inspiration for your visit and shown you a few clever ways to save on travel expenses with rewards programs and points.

Also, if you’re a soccer fan but can’t make any of the World Cup matches in Philadelphia, consider one of the many other great cities where the World Cup ambience will be incredible.

Foire aux questions