Philadelphia City Guide

Declare your independence from the obligatory history lessons—and tap into the city's more playful side.

By Jane Margolies

NeighborhoodsFairmount
South Philly
Old City

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It's where our founding fathers hammered out the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. But the key to any Philadelphia trip is balancing the education—and the crush of tourists clamoring for a glimpse of the famous crack in the Liberty Bell—with the cheesesteaks, the carousels, and, of course, a sprint up the Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs while humming the Rocky soundtrack. America's first planned city fans out from the Victorian-era City Hall at Broad and Market streets into several distinct and alluring neighborhoods. We've zeroed in on artsy Fairmount, food-centric South Philly, and historic Old City to create an easy road map to the City of Brotherly Love—hold all the ye-olde stuff.


Next Page: Fairmount

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