Hyperlocal Neighborhood Guides to 5 Great Philadelphia Neighborhoods
If you’ve got a day to spend exploring a neighborhood, these itineraries will get you started.
Clark Park in West Philly / Photograph by Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
When was the last time you went exploring in a neighborhood that wasn’t your own? Here, five ways to take in five different parts of town.
West Philly
Parks, civil rights landmarks, jambalaya and jazz
It’s known for its surrounding eds and meds, but there’s an underrated eclectic vibe to West Philly, which is light on retail chains and touristy spots while heavy on character. Here’s how to spend a great day there. Keep reading here.
Cliveden / Photograph by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
Germantown & Mount Airy
A three-mile stroll of history and culture
Tree-lined Germantown Avenue — Northwest Philly’s “Great Road” — might be the most historic single street in the city, and it makes for a pleasant three-mile walk through Germantown and Mount Airy. Keep reading here.
Bob & Barbara’s / Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia
Graduate Hospital
Shop, eat, and play at these GradHo hot spots
Graduate Hospital, named in the 1970s for — you guessed it — a hospital in the ’hood, is more charming than it sounds, though it’s often overshadowed (in a touristy sense, anyway) by ritzy neighbor Rittenhouse. But GradHo has its own draws. Keep reading here.
Johnny Brenda’s in Fishtown / Photography courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Fishtown and Northern Liberties
Famous shrines, historic stairs and endless beer
The pizza at Beddia, the kebabs at Suraya, the jollof platters at Suya Suya … You could fill the page with all the destination-eats in these much-hyped food ’hoods, but there are other noteworthy draws in Fishtown and Northern Liberties. Keep reading here.
Khinkali at Georgian Bread in Northeast Philly / Photograph by Michael Persico
Northeast Philly
Eat your way through the great Northeast at these five must-visit restaurants
Of course, there are sights/sites worth experiencing in the Northeast, but if you’re not going first and foremost for an eating tour of the vibrant, varied food neighborhoods up here — Colombian bakeries, Middle Eastern grills, Russian markets, German butchers, the original Chickie’s & Pete’s — you’re doing it wrong. Keep reading here.
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Published as “150 Ways to Do Philly Like a Tourist: Your Hyperlocal Bucket List” in the July 2022 issue of Philadelphia magazine.