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Holmesburg, Philadelphia — Area Guide & Where to Stay
Holmesburg is a neighbourhood in Northeast Philadelphia, named for surveyor general Thomas Holme.
About Holmesburg
Where to stay in Holmesburg
The right area depends on your trip — here's what each neighbourhood is best for.
Lodging is thin on the ground in Holmesburg. Most visitors stay in central Philadelphia and travel out to Holmesburg for the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion and old churches such as Holmesburg Presbyterian Church. This corner lies in Northeast Philadelphia.
If you would rather wake among the quiet streets near Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church than in the centre, a calm base here suits you.
About Holmesburg
What are the main landmarks in Holmesburg?
Holmesburg has a handful of landmarks. The Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion draws families to the neighbourhood, while Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church and Holmesburg Presbyterian Church anchor its older streets. Each marks a corner of the district's older fabric.
What is the history of Holmesburg?
Holmesburg began in Lower Dublin Township. The village that formed there took its name from Thomas Holme, the surveyor general and cartographer, before it was drawn into Northeast Philadelphia. Holmesburg Presbyterian Church carries that early record.
The old name endures.
Where is Holmesburg?
Holmesburg lies in Northeast Philadelphia. Once part of Lower Dublin Township, its streets gather around Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Church and the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion in the north-eastern reach of the city. Holmesburg Presbyterian Church stands among them.
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Updated July 2026