Philadelphia, United States

Getting around Philadelphia

How to travel around Philadelphia — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. SEPTA

Subway, trolleys, buses and regional rail on one system.

Cost: USD 2.50

2. Airport regional rail

Twenty-five minutes to Center City.

Cost: USD 6.75

3. Walking

Penn's original grid is flat and compact; most of the historic core is fifteen minutes across.

4. Indego bike share

Docked bikes, with the Schuylkill River trail as the main route.

5. Amtrak from 30th Street

New York in about ninety minutes, Washington in two hours.

Booking apps in United States

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

Nationwide ride-hailing with the fare shown before booking.

Coverage: Nationwide, including airport pickup zones.
Why it helps: Avoids the unofficial drivers who tout inside airport terminals at several times the licensed rate.

Lyft

The main US alternative to Uber, often cheaper on the same route.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Transit

Real-time transit planning across most US city networks.

Coverage: Most metropolitan areas.

Amtrak

Official booking for the national intercity rail network.

Coverage: Nationwide corridors.