Philadelphia flights and travel guide

There is so much to do and see when your flight to Philadelphia lands; it’s hard to know where to start. For most visitors on flights to Philadelphia, it’s best to start at the beginning. After all, this is where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written and signed, thus signaling the beginning of American freedom and civil liberties.

Today, travelers on Philadelphia flights gear up for a whirlwind history lesson. Sure, there’s the Liberty Bell, the signing of the Constitution and Independence Place, but if you look closely you’ll find that history runs deep within the Philadelphia limits. Pay close attention to Philadelphia hotels – look closely and you’ll see a combination of old Philadelphia combined with the new world. Philadelphia is packed full of cobblestone streets, grand halls and historic homes, but there’s a lot more to do and see that doesn’t include our forefathers.

Movie lovers booking flights to Philadelphia can run up the stairs of the Capitol building – a la Sylvester Stallone in Rocky – and then stand in line for cheese steak at one of the city’s famous stands. Sports lovers book flights to Philadelphia to cheer on the Eagles, the Phillies, the Flyers and the 76ers.

No matter what the reason is for booking Philadelphia flights and accommodations, you’ll leave the city with a renewed sense of passion for American history.

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Philadelphia climate

Icy cold winters and extremely humid summers make spring and fall the best time to take flights to Philadelphia. If you can handle the crowds, Philadelphia goes wild every 4th of July (Independence Day) with fireworks and city-wide celebrations.

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Best Time to Fly to Philadelphia

Peak Season:

Spring and fall are the best times to book flights to Philadelphia. Be aware, however, that Philadelphia is home to 300,000 students and 80 regional colleges and universities so plan your trip to avoid the fall arrival and spring exodus of all those students.

Off Peak Season

Winter is cold in Philadelphia, but if you can brave the weather you're likely to find cheap hotels and flights to Philadelphia.

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Getting downtown Philadelphia

The airport is easily accessible from I-76, I-95, and I-476. The Ground Transportation System at the Airport provides taxicab, car rental, shuttle-bus, limousine, and van operations. In addition, the Airport also offers SEPTA bus and regional rail service to Downtown Philadelphia and points in between.

Information phones are available at all baggage claim areas for each of the on-airport car rental agencies.

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Getting around Philadelphia

A quick and easy way to get between your downtown hotel and the Center City is hopping aboard the Phlash, Philadelphia’s gas-engine trolley. It’s a convenient way to get to Independence Visitor Center, Penn’s Landing and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The trolley runs every day and can be boarded every 12 minutes at very affordable rates. It also provides direct connections to rail lines.

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Philadelphia Travel Information

• National Park Service rangers invite you to the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site which commemorates Poe’s mysterious death on October 7, 1849. A series of special programs leading up to Halloween explore the famous author’s themes of madness, revenge, premature burial and death.
• Wireless Philadelphia™ provides free high-speed public Internet access for the residents, visitors, and businesses of Philadelphia. You can use your wireless/Wi-Fi enabled laptop or PDA to connect to the broadband connection and then check your e-mail, surf the web, log on to your corporate network using a VPN connection, instant message friends and colleagues, play online games, or make a free Voice-over IP phone call.
• Located across from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Independence National Historical Park, the Independence Visitor Center provides a free orientation to the culture, history, shopping and dining throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
• Plan a visit to the National Constitution Center where you can explore the Interactive Constitution, a clause-by-clause explanation of the Constitution, providing easy access to basic constitutional facts and interpretation, and searchable by key words and Supreme Court cases.
• Be sure to visit the Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) which is the oldest stock exchange in the United States. The Exchange currently handles trades for approximately 2000 stocks, 1700 equity options, 25 index options, and a number of currency options.
• Celebrating more than 100 years of Gilbert and Sullivan and located in Philadelphia, the Savoy Company is the oldest amateur theater company in the world dedicated solely to the production of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

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Philadelphia airports

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Alternative airports (distances in miles):
Newark (81); Baltimore (90)

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