j_999_9

So, pb, when one disagrees that something can be done, that's being negative?
Holy sanctimony!

michelle1018

Thanks for all the tip! We get into Phily (hopefully!) at 10:00 am and don't leave until 4:00. All this happens on a Sunday, so I'm hoping for little or no traffic- is that crazy? I just want to try not to have to sit in the airport for 6 hours. And before you ask me why I got a flight with a 6 hour layover- I didn't! Our original flight was to only be about 2 hours, but that one no longer exists.

pb_and_j

The bottom line is that Independence mall is 20 minutes from the airport by taxi. You can get a cheesesteak and walk around a pretty and historic area and quite possibly have time for some site-seeing too.

j999 suggusts you sit in the airport because your plane will be hours late, your luggage lost, security lines will be miles long and the city will be completely snarled in traffic, on a Sunday. Oh and it will take you an hour to order and eat a cheesesteak.

EricH

You sound like you've never been in Philadelphia.

j_999_9

pb: Holy exaggeration!

ckwald

michelle-- it's not at all crazy. For some reason, a few people on this thread seem to be a bit cranky. Ignore them. The point is, if your plane comes in relatively on time, and you do have, say, around 4 actual hours to devote to a fast Philly tour (the other 2 hours being for going back through security at the airport), you can absolutely take a cab to the historic area and at least see a bunch of historic places from the outside-- the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross's house, more if you care to. Then take another cab to Tony Luke's, or Pat's, or Geno's and have that cheesesteak you covet without wolfing it down (blech-- I can't stand them, but don't tell anybody I said that!) , and then cab back to the airport. You're right-- traffic in the city on a Sunday should be fine-- so long as you don't run into a Phillies home game. Best to check that out in advance, then just keep an eye on your watch as you go.

Have a great time!

Fairway

Hi Michelle,
Should you find yourself landing relatively ontime with about 4 hours, I think you will have time to:

- grab a taxi and get to Geno's or Pat's for a cheesesteak. Have the taxi wait as suggested by EricH. We've never waited more than 1/2 hour in line and one was during dinner time before Phillies game. Make sure you check out their websites so you know how to order before you get to the window. I've seen them actually Yell at people who didn't order correctly. Welcome to Philadelphia! Don't forget the cheese fries! I think it's also just Cash Only.

- have the taxi take you to Liberty Bell/Independence Hall area. You can see them from the outside but a timed ticket could be a problem. Eat your cheesesteak in the park area outside in the Independence Park area near the Libery Bell.

- grab a taxi back to the airport - but do allow at least 2 hours for clearing security for the international terminal on a Sunday afternoon. We just recently did this and it took f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

SEPTA trains run from the airport to Market East station. From there you could walk down Market Street to Liberty Bell/Independence Hall area. Don't get a cheesesteak at the Bourse - stick to one of the fun local places. SEPTA is not close to Pat's or Geno's.

Sounds like you will just have to make a return trip to Phila to see everything that's offered here.

jent103

Michelle - I'm not sure if you've taken your trip yet, but we just did ours. We took SEPTA from the airport to the Market Street East station and back and walked around the historic district for a few hours. One of the staff at the visitor center recommend Campo's for a cheesesteak, and it was fabulous (cash only, no-nonsense staff). We ate and walked around most everything in the historic district, including seeing the Liberty Bell, and had a great time. We had plenty of time with our 8-hour layover, so I'm sure you could do it in six.

Barkinpark

Depending on when your departure time is, be prepared to use SEPTA trains to get back to the airport. During rush hours, taxis can take way more than 30 to arrive at the airport. I once was late for my plane because I was stuck in commute traffic.

BlueSwimmer

Not tyring to be negative, but my concern is...I'm just not sure I would want to eat a cheesesteak before getting on a plane for a long flight.

Consider how cast iron your digestive system is and how prone you are to motion sickness before you bite into that greasy, lucious concoction.

I went to college in Philly and LOVE cheesesteaks (and cheesefries! esp. waffle cut with whiz from Abner's), but would never eat one before flying.

BlueSwimmer

Oops- trying, not tyring AND luscious, not lucious. Der.

anoushig104

SEPTA trains are constantly leaving from the airport to center city. Why take a cab when you can save money by taking the $5.50 SEPTA train? Check the septa schedules, but i'm pretty sure all the trains that leave from PHL stop in center city first, then branch off from there. If you're looking for some good food hit up Reading Terminal Market at 11th and Arch. (Arch is just one street above Market, which is the main street in Phila).

Now i don't mean to be rude, but why would you even want to see the liberty bell? First of all, you can see the thing by walking by it... the building is pretty much all glass. Why pay the extra to go inside to see a bell that broke the first time it rang? That's just my opinion, I don't have much interest in that darn bell.

jent103

There's no admission charge for the Liberty Bell, or at least wasn't a month ago. Just a security checkpoint.

schmerl

There is NO CHARGE to see the Liberty Bell and by going inside you can see and read all the displays explaining the history of our country!

sundown

Just got back from a trip to Philly. The carriages that line up right in front of the Liberty Bell pavillion are great. It's a nice ride and the driver tells you lots of history. It can also be done quickly, as the shortest ride is only 20 minutes, as I recall.