The Philadelphia International Airport is about a 20-minute drive from downtown Philadelphia. Once you arrive at the airport, head to ground transportation, where you can either:

• Take the SEPTA Regional Rail Airport (AIR) line. Rides cost $8.75 ($11 if you buy a ticket on-board), and trains run every 30 minutes. If you’re headed to the Loews Hotel or Holiday Inn Express, get off at Jefferson Station.

• Get a taxi, Uber, or Lyft. We like taking taxis; there are taxi stands outside baggage claim. There’s a flat taxi rate of $32 from the airport to downtown.

Another option is to fly into Newark’s Liberty International Airport and then take Amtrak from the Newark airport to Philly’s 30th Street Station. The train ride is about an hour.

Unless you plan to make a trip outside the city, we don’t recommend renting a car; parking in the city can be tricky.

Philly’s Amtrak station is 30th Street Station. From there, you can get a taxi; there’s a taxi stand on the east (29th Street) side of the building.

If you’re headed to Center City, another option is to take SEPTA’s Market-Frankford (or L) subway line. You can get on at the Drexel Station at 30th Street. Rides are $2.90 each, and SEPTA offers contactless payment (credit/debit card or Apple/Google/Samsung Pay). For the Loews Hotel and Holiday Inn Express, get off at 13th Street.

If you’re driving, the Loews Hotel offers valet parking for $60.02/night. The Holiday Inn Express has a garage available to guests for $39/night. (We looked up these rates in October 2025; they may change.)

There are many other garages and lots within walking distance of the hotels. Some spots that may be cheaper are the Wanamaker Garage (84 S 13th St) and the Convention Center Parking Facility (56 N Juniper St). To check rates and see if a garage has in/out privileges, SpotHero is a useful resource.

Philly is a very walkable city. It’s mostly flat, with a lot of things in close proximity.

We also use public transit a lot. SEPTA, the local transit system, runs buses, subways, trolleys, and regional trains. Most rides within the city are $2.90, and you can pay using a credit card, debit card, Apple pay, or Google pay. We find the Transit app is useful to see when buses are coming, see possible routes, etc. Sometimes Google will tell you to get on PATCO, which runs between Philly and New Jersey. Unless you’re going to Jersey, don’t do this!

Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are also an easy way to get around. You can use the Curb app to call taxis—it works well!