With plenty of history, cheesesteaks and pop culture to go around, why wouldn’t you want to head to the City of Brotherly Love this summer for a weekend getaway? Keep your trip within your budget with our guide to enjoying Philadelphia on the cheap.
Stay
Philly’s Midtown Village district is where you’ll find a thriving mix of locally owned shops, restaurants and bars, and if you want to be within walking distance of this lively cultural hub, book a stay at The Independent. This boutique hotel is housed in a historic and fully restored Georgian-Revival building, and you’ll enjoy perks like free WiFi, in-room continental breakfast and wine and cheese receptions throughout the week.
No matter where you stay, you can save some cash on parking by taking advantage of the city’s Visit Philly Overnight hotel package. Participating hotels offer free parking with a two-night stay, and guests receive a special Philly-themed welcome amenity and two free bus passes.
Eat
You can’t go to Philly without trying a cheesesteak. Luckily, the city’s signature sandwich is easy on the wallet, so you can sample a few — after all, every cheesesteak joint does it a little differently, and every local has their own take on which restaurant serves the best cheesesteak. Check out our guide to Philadelphia’s top spots for a cheesesteak fix, and don’t miss classics like Tony Luke’s or Dalessandro’s Steaks.
For another hearty but cheap meal, you can head to Fountain Porter on East Passyunk for a $5 cheeseburger.
Do
Philadelphia is one of the nation’s most historic cities, and if you want to take a look into the country’s past, you can do it for free with trips to The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the United States Mint and Carpenter Hall. You can also check out the Betsy Ross House for $5.
On Wednesday evenings and the first Sunday of every month, you can pay what you want to enter the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And even if you don’t go in, you can still walk in Rocky Balboa’s footsteps with a climb up the museum’s 72 stone steps.
(Main image: daverose259)
