United States · Pennsylvania · Philadelphia
Old City, Philadelphia — Area Guide & Where to Stay
Old City is the historic heart of Philadelphia, the colonial-era quarter around Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, in Pennsylvania.
Hotel links are affiliate links: booking through them may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects how places are ranked. How this works
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Where to stay in Old City
Where visitors usually base themselves, and why.
Old City is the obvious base for a first visit to Philadelphia. You wake within walking distance of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Museum of the American Revolution, with the Independence Seaport Museum and USS Becuna moored at the waterfront a few blocks east. The quarter fills at weekends around its galleries and old brick warehouses.
Stay here to put the founding-era sights at your doorstep and skip the commute. It suits history-minded travelers above all.
Things to do in and around Philadelphia
Ranked by global recognition; descriptions from Wikidata (CC0).
Museums & Galleries
5- Independence National Historical Park Heritage
- Carpenters' Hall Heritage
- USS Becuna Heritage
- Athenaeum of Philadelphia Heritage
- Philadelphia History Museum Heritage
Churches & Religious Sites
6- Christ Church Heritage
- Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church Heritage
- Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church Heritage
- St. Augustine Church, Philadelphia Heritage
- St. Peter's Episcopal Church Heritage
Show 1 more →
- Free Quaker Meetinghouse Heritage
Castles & Historic Sites
1- Independence Hall UNESCO
Landmarks & Notable Places
1- Betsy Ross House
worth knowingacross 4 categories in and around Philadelphia
About Old City
What are the main landmarks in Old City?
Old City holds the founding landmarks of the United States. Independence Hall anchors Independence National Historical Park, with the Liberty Bell displayed across the street and the National Constitution Center closing the green to the north, all within a few blocks. Carpenters' Hall, Christ Church, and the Betsy Ross House fill the surrounding streets, while the Museum of the American Revolution and the Free Quaker Meetinghouse add to the cluster.
Few districts anywhere carry so much. This is Philadelphia's oldest ground.
What is the history of Old City?
Old City is the oldest quarter of Philadelphia, the ground where the colonial town first took shape. Its founding-era heritage still stands in place: Independence Hall, Carpenters' Hall, Christ Church, and the Free Quaker Meetinghouse all survive within a few blocks of one another. Gloria Dei, known as the Old Swedes' Church, belongs to the same fabric.
Layers accumulated here. The result is a dense survival of early-American building in the heart of Philadelphia.
Where is Old City?
Old City takes in the old riverfront blocks of central Philadelphia, gathered around Independence National Historical Park, in the state of Pennsylvania.
Good for
More areas in Philadelphia
Updated October 2026