Tim McManus is a freelance writer living in South Philly, where the food is even better than you’ve heard and the people are only half as scary as their reputation. These days, Tim is mostly interested in food and travel writing, but he spent 15 years in his past life as a sports writer and editor in Philadelphia and New York.
In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality. And that, in our eyes, is what makes a neighbourhood truly cool. From formerly overlooked sub
Head to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Extend your arm in any direction. You're bound to be pointing toward one of Philadelphia's world-class museums—which would be the envy of any city. But it would be a mistake to end your journey there. Sure, the Parkway may be the city’s epicenter of fine art and culture, but Philly has many more stories to tell: its Mummers and firefighters, its seafarers and scientists, its revolutionaries and entertainers. And of course, its special place in American history. For each of Philly’s many identities, there’s a museum that lovingly preserves that history and is just waiting to be discovered for the first time, or all over again. So go ahead, start on the Parkway and then use this list as inspiration to uncover the best museums in Philadelphia. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in PhiladelphiaThe best restaurants in Philadelphia This guide was updated by Philly-based writer Tim McManus. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Let’s be honest. When you think of Philadelphia, hiking probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. And if it does, then you likely don’t need this list. But that’s not to say there aren’t many amazing opportunities to experience nature in and around the city. Philly is filled with unexpected urban oases, from the lush Wissahickon Valley Park and Schuylkill Center in the northwest to the teeming wetlands of the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at the city’s extreme southern tip. Even more tantalizing, Philly sits just a short drive away from Pennsylvania’s many mountains and its vast state forest system. (Those are places where hiking is definitely one of the first things to come to mind.) There’s even a 229-mile swath of the Appalachian trail that cuts across the eastern part of the state. Here are 12 easy-to-reach spots to go hiking near Philadelphia. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Philadelphia
In the era of the $5 iced coffee, the $18 cocktail, and the don’t-even-ask beer at the stadium, we’re all looking for a few activities that let us leave our wallets at home. Good news: Philly has plenty to do that won’t have you dreading opening next month’s credit card bill. Whether you’re into high culture, history, or hiking, we have you covered with the best free things to do in Philadelphia. Many of the city’s world-class museums offer free admission, either completely or on certain days. The historic district will transfer you in time without ever costing a dollar. Philly’s rivers and parks are a recreational paradise. And the thousands of murals splashed throughout are public art treasures. Skip the ATM and get started with these ideas of free things to do in Philly. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Philadelphia
Recognized as the most walkable city in America, The City of Brotherly Love is where you can walk the same cobblestone streets as the founding founders in the morning and spend your night fine dining at a James Beard Award-winning chef’s counter without stepping too far. We’ve got die-hard sports fans and large-scale venues to match our teams’ energy, 30+ stunning gardens and arboretums that gave us the title of “America's Garden Capital,” and a tight-knit community of culinary talent making national headlines. Supremely affordable, delightfully unpretentious, and a little gritty, Philly is a world-class city masquerading as a small town. Come for the history, stay for the food, and fall in love with the characters that make Philly unique. Here are 30 of the best things to do to kick off your visit. RECOMMENDED:The best Philadelphia hotels with hot tubsThe best hotels in PhiladelphiaThe best cabins in PhiladelphiaThe best Airbnbs in PhiladelphiaThe best attractions in Philadelphia This guide was updated by Philadelphia-based writer Alisha Miranda. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
What makes a city great? Some would say it’s all about buzzing neighbourhoods, affordable food and drink and a mighty selection of things to do, from art galleries and museums to live music and theatre. Others might highlight things like the happiness of its locals, access to green space and strong community vibes. We factor in all that and more in our annual survey, which asks city-dwellers around the world to tell us what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns right now. Thanks to the opinions and insights of locals on the ground and our global network of city experts, we’re able to create a global ranking of the world’s best cities – and the 2024 results are in. As in previous years, the basis of the ranking remains our global survey of the people who know their city best: the locals. Working with research company Potentia Insight, we surveyed thousands of city-dwellers about the quality and affordability of food, culture and nightlife in their city. We also asked locals how their city makes them feel: are they happy there? Is it a beautiful place? Is it easy to make social connections? Their thousands of responses gave us a unique insight into the reality of living in the world’s greatest cities right now. Now that international travel is forecast to bounce back to the highest levels since 2019, many travellers will be planning a city break this year – so in 2024, we added a little extra weight to a city’s global appeal. Each survey respondent was asked which
Talk to any Philadelphian of a certain age—let’s say, elder millennial and above—about their first tattoo and you’re likely to hear a story that starts in the same place: on South Street. It makes sense that the long-time home of Philly’s counter-culture would also be the place to get your first, or fiftieth, piece of ink. Many of those classic tattooing institutions remain and are worth your visit. But they’re hardly your only choice. From Fishtown to South Philly, a new generation of world-class artists has picked up the needle, bringing a wide range of styles and experiences. Whether you’re a walk-in going on an impulse or if you prefer to spend months combing through an artist’s Instagram page, there’s a place for you on this list. Here, the best tattoo shops in Philadelphia. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Philadelphia
The kind of steak Philly is best known for is usually served on a roll instead of a plate. That’s a tough perception to shake in the home of the cheesesteak. But the sweeping restaurant renaissance that hit the city over the last decade has also lifted a new generation of steakhouse standard-bearers. With fresh blood added to a roster of long-beloved neighborhood staples, the result is a surprisingly complete scene. Whether your wish is to live like the Rat Pack for an evening or to know where your steak lived before it reached your plate, or if you just have a good old-fashioned expense account to burn, we’ve got a steakhouse in Philadelphia for you. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Philadelphia