Old City, Philadelphia

Old City Philadelphia is the nation’s most historic square mile. This vibrant ‘old world’ neighborhood is the home to many shops, galleries, restaurants, and historic sites.

Shopping wise, visit 3rd Street Corridor from Chestnut Street to Vine to enjoy art, design, and fashion hosted by the regions most exciting independently owned shops. It’s a style HAVEN with stellar clothing and tax free shopping!

Philadelphia’s most popular historic attractions; The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, Betsy Ross House, Penn’s Landing, and much more are all just minutes from each other. Of special note is the proximity to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, several nationally renowned hospitals, and high quality hotels.

Making this area even more attractive is the easy access to all major transportation arteries and is just a ten minute taxi or SEPTA ride from the Philadelphia International Airport and Amtrak’s 30th Street Station. Major bus lines to and from NYC and Washington DC are a snap to use! If you choose to drive, there are plenty of Old City parking options available.

Residents enjoy this engaging neighborhood with delightful sidewalk cafes, trees and parks, clean streets, and friendly conversation. Its a neighborhood ideal for professionals who prefer urban life as individuals, without the hustle and bustle of more densely populated areas.

Old City District: http://www.oldcitydistrict.org

The area known as Old City sits alongside the Delaware River and was the first neighborhood in the city. Elfreth’s Alley was the first block of homes. Many of the tiny streets such as Quince and the alleys are built of cobblestone and Belgian block. Numerous bars and restaurants line Market Street and set the stage for a lively night scene.

First Friday’s originated here bringing attention to the art galleries that are housed on the side streets. The famous October Gallery moved to Old City and set up shop amongst the vacant iron cast buildings. Many other galleries followed and October’s international exhibit in the month of the same name is now its 26 year.

It is a thriving community with numerous historic sites in its midst. Philadelphia’s diplomatic corps has also found a home here.

Public transportation reaching the entire city is accessable and frequent.

McCall School services children from K – 8 while Furness High School picks up the students after middle school.

Nearby are Christ Church, The Philadelphia Mint, Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center.

Old City, sometimes spelled “Olde City,” is a neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia. It is bound by Front Street to the east, 6th Street to the West, Vine Street to the north and Walnut Street to the south.
Old City is a very appealing area to live in because it is the heart of Philadelphia. It offers some of the oldest and more beautiful sites in the city, including Elfreth’s Alley, which is the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the country.
Old City is one of the most popular nightlife destinations in Philadelphia. Many people from the surrounding suburbs, including New Jersey, flock here for the numerous night clubs, dive bars and lounges. The main drag for these runs along Market Street between Front and 3rd Streets. On the weekends, this area tends to get very busy and extremely noisy.
Old City is a great place to live if you have lots of money and patience. Parking can be difficult to find in this area due to so many people living here and there is almost always traffic jams. It is a great place to live if you are a young professional who wants to be part of the fast and exciting city lifestyle.

If you are looking for a neighborhood with a rich history Old City is by far the richest. If you cannot tell by the cobblestone streets or the breath taking architecture then perhaps visiting Independence Hall or the Betsy Ross House will help fill you in.
The narrow streets were originally designed for horse drawn carriages and can be a little frustrating for motorists. Parking, which is time limited, can be slightly difficult as well depending on what time of day you are in the area. Weekend nights you are better off taking public transportation, the shops and restaurants are all within walking distance from each other so it makes it easy. Not interested in walking? You can travel bike in time on horse drawn carriage ride down the cobblestone streets.
Not only is Old City popular with tourists seeking history lessons but it is also popular with those looking for an active night out on the town. There are a plethora of dive bars and clubs in the neighborhood whose crowds fill the streets after last call. First Fridays, in which galleries in Old City showcase the work of local artists also draws huge crowds. The sidewalks can get claustrophobic at times, so if crowds are not your thing, you may want to stay away.

Olde city is a very connected place and offers various opportunities for everyone. It is a nice neighborhood for families as it has two parks in the vicinity. It has specifically great great restaurants and night life. The clubs are happening all night long and you can find everything from great to drinks to great music to great company. There are two theaters near by in center city that have shows running all through the year. It is also very close to the Philadelphia Art Museum if you are an art lover. Personally, I love to run and it is a great place to run. There are also hospitals and pharmacies in the area so there is no worry in emergencies. Thy have movie theaters close by as well, so all entertainment is taken care of.

At the end of the day Olde city is ideal because of its proximity to everything you need. Its also a pretty and friendly area with old style architecture.

I had a great walk-up with a ton of space. It was so wonderful to use my feet to get everywhere instead of a car. I had access to restaurants, cafes, shopping and work. I really enjoyed my walks there. It's not too far from South Street where all the hip shopping can be found. The waterfront is just down from there for even more to do. I had a small park right across the street, so I could enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature right in the heart of the city. There were red brick brownstones around one edge of the park that were just lovely. It's a great place to live if you are single.