Best Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has a diverse culture and a rich history reflected differently by its neighborhoods. Its best neighborhoods are described below.

Center City is the downtown and central location for business in Philadelphia. It also has major tourist attractions like the Independence National Park, Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The place houses the Pennsylvania Convention Center. There are many luxury high rises and upscale townhouses in this area. Center city is one of the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for active night life and great shopping with unique shops, boutiques and national retailing outlets. There are many restaurants and sidewalk cafes. It is can be hard to find street parking - most people prefer to walk, bike or take the public transport (SEPTA). There are public, private and parochial schools for residents of Center City, Philadelphia.

Northwest Philadelphia includes Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Manayunk. Chestnut Hill is amongst Philadelphia's oldest settlements. It is home to many of the city's historic homes. Morris Arboretum located nearby is a natural attraction. Housing is expensive in this area. There are good private schools and art museums in this neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Mt. Airy has a culturally and economically diverse population. A wide range of housing from apartments to mansions is available in this place. There are many unique stores, boutiques and eateries in this place. Mount Airy is one of the best gay-friendly neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

Manayunk is located close to the Schuylkill River. It has many bars, restaurants and active night life - it is an attraction for students from temple University and University of Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Fairmount Park are the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for for recreational and cultural activities. They have many museums - Franklin Institute, Museum of Natural History, Rodin Museum, etc. They form an upper middle class neighborhood.

Northeast Philadelphia is a largely residential area and one of the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for middle-class families. It has numerous strip malls, shopping centers and eateries. It is also home to small businesses and big industries. There are several public and private schools in the area. In close proximity is the Pennypack Creek which is several hundred acres of woodlands and is a recreation area.

South Philadelphia has a huge Italian-American and Irish-American population. It houses the Philadelphia Sports Complex where many major sports events are held. There are many mom-and-pop stores in this area. This is one of the best neighborhoods of Philadelphia for Italian cuisine. The area has many narrow streets and row houses and gives the feel of a European town. It is connected by a good public transportation system to Center City and other areas.

University City is where the campuses of University if Philadelphia are. It is in the western section of Philadelphia. The area boasts of some of the best medical centers in the country - Children's hospital of Philadelphia, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, etc. The renowned universities - University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, University of sciences in PA, Lincoln University, etc. give the area its name. There are many public and private schools and science and cultural institutes in the area. Public transportation efficiently connects the region to its adjacent neighborhoods.