Destination

Center City

Center City is Philadelphia's busiest and most densely packed cultural, historical and entertaining neighborhoods. Geographically located east/west from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River, and north/south from Spring Garden Street to South Street — features Philly’s premier downtown area as well as an ever-expanding skyline.

It’s also home to the city’s most historic neighborhoods — including Old City and Society Hill — as well as many tourist attractions, on Independence Mall and elsewhere.

As a primary destination for travelers, Center City boasts a majority of the biggest and toniest hotels in the region, and more restaurants, bars and cafes than any other part of the city. Sparkling nightlife and dining options under the Center City umbrella include Chinatown, Rittenhouse Square and Old City.

At its nexis point, where Broad Street crosses Market Street, resides Philly’s historic and beautiful City Hall, with its 37-foot-tall statue of William Penn presiding 548 feet over the city proper. Penn was the tallest point in the city up until the building of One Liberty Place in 1986.

How to get there

Serviced by a number of different lines and buses, it's so easy to get to Center City on SEPTA. Take the Market-Frankford Line to 8th, 11th, 13th, or 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to Race-Vine, City Hall, or Walnut-Locust, Regional Rail to Jefferson or Suburban, Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, or 36 to 13th, 15th, or 19th Street, or Bus Routes 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 23, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 42, 44, 45, 47, 47M, 48, 49, 61, 62, 124, or 125.

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Fare

There are many ways to get here on SEPTA, there are also many ways to pay. Click here to learn which fare is best for you.

Connecting Services

It's easy to go from Philadelphia International Airport to Center City via SEPTA's Airport Line. Airport Line service runs seven days a week, between 5:00 a.m. and 12 midnight. Stops on the Airport Line include:

Terminal E + Terminal F

The end point of all Airport Line trains. Terminal F is a short, indoor walk from the station platform.E Airlines: JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit AirlinesF Airlines: American Eagle (formerly US Airways Express)

Terminal C + Terminal D

Visit Terminal D featuring a renovated shopping plaza of modern retailers.Airlines: American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, United Airlines

Terminal B

The Marriot Hotel is a short walk from the station platform.Airlines: American Airlines Domestic Service

Terminal A (East and West Gates)

The station platform connects to the east portion of the terminal. Access to west gates may require customers to walk outside.East Gate: Aer Lingus, American Airlines, American Airlines including all flights to Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW) and Miami (MIA)West Gate: Icelandair, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, American Airlines International & Caribbean service

Eastwick

Nearby to SEPTA bus routes, PNC Operations Center, and more Airport hotels.

Penn Medicine Station

Walking distance to University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, University of the Sciences, CHOP, shopping and restaurants.

William H. Gray III 30th Street Station

Convenient connections to Amtrak and NJ Transit rail services; BoltBus and MegaBus services. Nearby other SEPTA transit services including the Market-Frankford Line, Trolley lines and Center City destined bus routes.

Suburban Station

Located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, nearby to a number of major corporations, the Art Museum area and Ben Franklin Parkway. Major transfer point for other SEPTA Regional Rail services.

Jefferson Station

Underneath the famous Reading Terminal Market and adjacent to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Convenient connections to Greyhound and NJ Transit bus services at 10th & Filbert Station. Steps away from major downtown hotels.

Temple University

The main campus of the famed Philadelphia institution, near the corner of Broad & Cecil B. Moore.

Upcoming Local Happenings

Free Museum Days: Masonic Temple, Library and Museum

Masonic Temple

Philadelphia’s Masonic Temple is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year on 6/24 with a series of special events and free tours from 10AM to 3PM. The Masonic Temple opened in 1873 and contains artwork, frescos, stained glass, murals and sculptures which connect Freemasons and non-Freemasons to an inspirational world of art, architecture and history. There is also an exhibit hall featuring a wide assortment of artifacts related to the 150th anniversary and the history of the Masonic fraternity in Philadelphia and beyond.

Get there on SEPTA! Hop the Broad Street Line or the Market-Frankford Line to get there.

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Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink

Dilworth Park

Lace up! This spring until 7/16, the Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink at Dilworth Park paints the town rainbow with colorful springtime skate sessions. Vibrant overhead art and the checkerboard rink floor bring good times and retro vibes. For more fun, chow down at the Dilworth Park Café, fuel up at the Air Grille pop-up beer garden or hop your way through the Dilworth Park dancing fountain. Advance reservations for hour-long skating sessions are strongly recommended, and discounted matinee skate sessions are offered Mondays and Tuesdays. Get here on SEPTA! Hop the Market-Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

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Center City SIPS

Center City

1Great reason to catch a later train! Center City District SIPS is back EVERY WEDNESDAY beginning 6/7 thru 8/31 from 5PM to 7PM. Participating locations offer $7 cocktails including specialty drinks made with Hornitos Tequila, $6 wine, $5 beer and half-price appetizers. This unique happy hour tradition is a perfect opportunity for returning office workers to explore all that Center City has to offer once the workday ends.

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Rocky Movie Night

Philadelphia Film Center

Join us for a free screening of the fan-favorite, Rocky on 6/26! Doors open at 6:30PM. Capacity is limited and pre-registration is required.

Get there on SEPTA! Hop the Broad Street Line to City Hall, the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley to 15th Street, Regional Rail to Suburban Station or Routes 4, 9, 21, 27, 21 or 42.

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Our America Now: A Celebration of World Refugee Day

Love Park

Visit Love Park between 12PM and 8PM on 6/20 to travel through a day of live music, dance, free dance lessons, storytelling, videos, and interactive art making. Learn about the special ways that Philadelphia welcomes refugees into the country and helps them make the difficult transition to their new home while providing opportunities for them to build a life through the culture, stories, art, and music. Learn popular regional dances from Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan.

Get there on SEPTA! Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

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BEETLEJUICE

Academy of Music

It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s cult classic film, BEETLEJUICE follows the darkly humorous story of a ghost couple trying to haunt the strange inhabitants of their former home — of course, not without the help of a certain stripes-loving demon. Equal parts funny, heartwarming and indecent, “the ghost with the most” puts on a performance that’ll knock you dead. (Just don’t say his name three times.) See it now thru 6/11! Get to there on SEPTA. Take Regional Rail to Suburban Station, the Broad Street Line to Walnut-Locust, the Market-Frankford Line to 15th Street, or Routes 4, 9, 12, 21, 27, 32 or 42. Get up to $10 off tickets with this Perk!

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Rittenhouse Farmers Market

Rittenhouse Square

Head to Rittenhouse Square every Tuesday and Saturday from 9AM-3PM for their Farmers Market! Leave the driving to SEPTA. Short walk from Suburban Station, hop a Trolley to 19th Street or ride Routes 2, 9, 12, 17, 21 or 42.

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Free Museum Days: The Print Center

The Print Center

The Print Center, a nonprofit gallery located in Philadelphia’s historic Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, encourages the growth and understanding of photography and printmaking as vital contemporary arts through exhibitions, publications and educational programs. Visit The Print Center anytime between 11AM and 6PM on 6/20 for free admission!

Leave the driving to SEPTA. Short walk from Suburban Station, hop a Trolley to 19th or ride Routes 2, 9, 17, 21 or 42.

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Free Museum Days: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Come see the oldest natural history museum in the Americas and one of the country’s leading scientific institutions, with over 200 years of experience in curation, cutting-edge research and education. The Academy has more than 19 million specimens, all carefully documented and well-preserved for future generations. They serve as the foundation for an active research program that continues to focus on the critical environmental issues of our time, ranging from evolution and biodiversity to human health and climate change. Visit on 6/27 between 10AM and 4:30PM for free admission!

You can get there on SEPTA! Short walk from Suburban Station or hop Bus Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43 or 48.

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