PHL · Layover Guide
Philadelphia
Stop in Philadelphia.
Best layover: 3–36h
LayoverScore™
Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.
Exit realism
Comfortable window
Enough room in Philadelphia for a real stop. Keep the buffer at the end anyway.
Landside playbook
If time slips
- Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
- Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
- One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.
Worth knowing
- Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
- Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.
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Places to stay
Search hotelsLayoverScore™ breakdown
Score 65 · Discover 50 · Ease 29
Why Philadelphia scores 65
Getting there
SEPTA Airport Line $8 · Uber/Lyft $30
min to center
train- 01SEPTA Regional Rail (25 min to Center City, $8)
- 02Taxi/Uber (20-35 min, $25-40)
- 03Lyft (20-35 min, $22-38)
- 01Run the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- 02Explore Reading Terminal Market for Philly cheesesteaks and Amish pretzels
- 03Walk through Independence Hall and see the Liberty Bell
- 04Stroll the murals of the Magic Gardens on South Street
- 05Wander historic Elfreth's Alley, America's oldest residential street
Experiences in Philadelphia
Timed tours and tickets for Philadelphia are listed on our partner site.
Open listingsOpens in a new tab.
Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.
Where to stay →Drop your luggage. Don't drag it around the city.
Bounce Luggage Storage - 30th Street Station
30th Street Station
$6/bag
5 min walk
LuggageHero - Center City locations
Various Center City shops
$8/bag
0 min walk
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown - Day Use
Market Street, Center City
$89/day
10 min walk
From the terminal to the good part.
SEPTA Airport Line
to Center City
Runs every 30 min, stops at all terminals
25 min
$8.00
Uber/Lyft
to Center City
Can be 45+ min during rush hour
25 min
$30.00
Taxi
to Center City
Flat rate to Center City
25 min
$35.00
Philadelphia CityPASS
4 attractions including Adventure Aquarium and Philadelphia Zoo
Better for longer stays; skip for short layovers
$56
per day
Getting there
Get an Uber from the airportAt the airport
- 01Chickie's & Pete's crab fries in multiple terminals
- 02Local craft beer at Yards Brewing Company tap room
- 03Philadelphia Museum of Art gift shop in Terminal B
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