Old City

Old City sits along the Delaware River on the eastern edge of Center City, where Philadelphia’s colonial core meets a lively mix of galleries, bars, restaurants, and cobblestone side streets. It is home to Independence National Historical Park and some of the country’s most important landmarks, including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, Betsy Ross House, Elfreth’s Alley, and the museums and plazas around Independence Mall and Penn’s Landing. Traffic here is consistently busy, especially along Market, Chestnut, 2nd, and 3rd Streets, where historic sites, nightlife, and waterfront events all converge, so drivers should be prepared for slow-moving cars and frequent pedestrian crossings.

Because street spaces near the historic core and along the waterfront fill up quickly, visitors usually rely on a mix of metered street parking, neighborhood surface lots, and multi-level garages tucked just off the main corridors, which makes planning ahead essential for stress-free parking in Old City. Booking a spot in advance is particularly helpful if you are heading to high-demand blocks around Independence Mall, Race Street Pier, or the restaurant and nightlife cluster near 2nd and Market Streets, since these are often the toughest places to find an open space. Always review the latest posted regulations, meter hours, time limits, and residential or loading restrictions when you arrive, and check current official city and park resources before your trip so you can match your parking reservation to your itinerary and make getting around Old City as simple as possible.