To be honest, we didn’t spend a long time in Philadelphia. We flew from Peru to the Netherlands, with a change in Miami and one of 12 hours in Philedelphia. We had purposely chosen a long layover so we could see the city. Historically, Philadelphia is an interesting city. Because you also need an ESTA for a transfer in the U.S., this was easy.
As far as we are concerned, Philadelphia is a delightful city to walk through, with interesting historical elements. However, one day of Philadelphia is sufficient if you are a tourist.
Liberty Bell
The clock itself is not very exciting. Indeed, with Geert van Wou we probably had a better bell-founder in the Netherlands. After all, a crack has developed in the Liberty Bell over the years.
The story goes that this bell was rung in 1776 as a sign to Philadelphia residents that the Declaration of Independence was being read.
To visit the Liberty Bell, no entrance fee needs to be paid.
Independence Hall
This Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776 in the State House of the Province of Pennsylvania, later Independence Hall. For this reason, July 4 is a national holiday for Americans.
For both the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, you don’t have to pay an entrance fee. However, because of Covid, restrictions in the number of visitors do apply. Here, the so-called “first-come, first-served” principle applies. Therefore, for more information, keep an eye on the National Historical Park Pennsylvania website.
From & to the center
From Philadelphia International Airport, the train takes you to the heart of Philadelphia in 30 minutes. From Terminal B, get off at Jefferson Station and from there it’s a short walk to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. In either case, it will take you about 10 minutes, as both sights are practically next to each other.
So to get to downtown Philadelphia, you can easily take the train from the airport. The cost is $8 (one way, per person) and a ticket can be purchased on the train. In the evening and on weekends, the cost is slightly lower: $7.