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Travel to Philly

Travel to Philly

Please note that the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square is located in the downtown area of Philadelphia, which is known as Center City.

Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square
120 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 569-8300
sofitelphiladelphia@sofitel.com
https://www.sofitel-philadelphia.com/

The information below is adapted from Visit Philadelphia, the City’s official visitor and tourism site.

TRANSPORTATION

By Plane

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the City’s primary airport, is located 8 miles from the Sofitel Philadelphia. It is typically a 20- to 35-minute drive between the airport and the hotel.

Public transportation options to and from Philadelphia International Airport include SEPTA’s Airport Regional Rail Line, which leaves passengers three blocks from the Sofitel Philadelphia. Taxis charge a flat rate of $28.50 for travel between Center City and the airport. Ride share is also available at Philadelphia International Airport with both Lyft and Uber.

By Train

Amtrak

Philadelphia is served by Amtrak. Amtrak’s 30th Street Station is located 1.1. miles from the Sofitel Philadelphia.

Local Trains

Local train service is provided by SEPTA, which also connects to NJ Transit trains in Trenton en route to New York.

By Car

By car, Philadelphia is just two hours from New York City, 90 minutes from Baltimore, three hours from Washington D.C., and about an hour from Lancaster County, Atlantic City, and the New Jersey shore via major highways. Philadelphia is served by the PA Turnpike (I-276), I-76, I-476, I-95, US-1 and the New Jersey Turnpike.

By Bus

The following bus lines serve Philadelphia and offer frequent service to and from the City:

ATTRACTIONS

Below are some of the City’s best-known attractions located near Center City. Please go to Visit Philadelphia for more information on area attractions.

Reading Terminal Market (51 N. 12th St.)

Reading Terminal Market is the city’s famous indoor food paradise that’s a one-stop shop for local produce, delicious sandwiches, fresh-baked pastries, and artisanal cheeses available from dozens of vendors.

Independence National Historic Park (1 N. Independence Mall, by 6th & Market Sts.)

Known as the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park sits on the site where many of the seminal events that formed the fledgling nation took place. The Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, and the Independence Visitor Center are just some of the highlights that make up Independence National Historical Park — most of which are free for visitors to explore.

Museum of the American Revolution (101 S. 3rd St.)

This museum tells of the dramatic founding of the United States through historic artifacts, immersive galleries, theaters and re-created historic environments. Although several hundred Revolutionary-era artifacts are on display, one of the most significant is George Washington’s Headquarters Tent, which served as Washington’s office and sleeping quarters throughout the war.

The Franklin Institute (222 N. 20th St.)

The Franklin Institute, one of the leading science centers in the country, showcases the science involved in every aspect of life. In addition to the 11 hands-on permanent exhibits like the highly interactive Your Brain, the newly reimagined SportsZone, and the Giant Heart, a rotating roster of special exhibitions add to the museum’s appeal. The educational space is also home to the Fels Planetarium, the Tuttleman IMAX Theater and the Joel N. Bloom Observatory.

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.)

At more than 200 years old, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is America’s oldest natural history museum. Those of all ages can get face-to-face with towering dinosaurs, wander through a tropical garden filled with live butterflies, meet live animals, and see three continents of wildlife in their natural habitats.

Philadelphia Museum of Art (2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art and its “Rocky Steps” may have been immortalized in the classic Rocky film franchise, but the cultural institution is even more impressive inside. The astounding collection here comprises art from across the globe and through the ages — including Renaissance, American, Asian, impressionist and contemporary masterpieces —to make the museum one of the most important art destinations in the country.

Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.)

Located on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Barnes Foundation houses one of the finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern paintings in the world, with a jaw-dropping 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses and 46 Picassos, along with works by Van Gogh, Seurat, Modigliani and more. The captivating collection also includes American paintings and decorative arts, metalwork, African sculpture and Native American textiles, jewelry and ceramics — all presented in Albert C. Barnes’ distinctive arrangements.

Penn Museum (3260 South St.)

The Penn Museum is one of the world’s finest archaeological and anthropological museums, with its collection of a million objects from across the globe. The renovated Middle East Galleries feature 1,200 fascinating objects, including one of the world’s oldest wine jars and the 4,500-year-old crowning jewelry of a Mesopotamian queen. The museum, currently undergoing a major building transformation, reopens its refreshed Mexico & Central America and Africa galleries in November 2019.

Eastern State Penitentiary (2027 Fairmount Ave.)

This former prison introduced Americans to a new form of housing inmates: solitary confinement. Al Capone and Willie Sutton were among the 75,000 inmates who spent time at Eastern State Penitentiary. Self-guided tours and a Halloween haunted house, along with exhibitions and special events, make the massive prison a favorite among those who dare to enter.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (1020 South St.)

Mosaics bloom at this fantasy-like art showplace, presenting and preserving the work of artist Isaiah Zagar. Visitors can take a tour or attend a mosaic workshop led by the artist himself, a player in the South Street community since the 1960s.