Philadelphia is a beautiful city rich in American history. While it has many intriguing places to live, moving to a new city is always a little stressful. In Philadelphia, you can run into small streets, busy city traffic, or just not knowing which neighborhood is for you.
If you’re moving to Philadelphia for a short corporate stint or making it your home, here are four ways to make your move a smooth one.
1. Find the Right Neighborhood for You
One of the hardest parts of moving to a new city is figuring out where you might fit in. Every neighborhood has its own identity and there might be some that you enjoy more than others.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular neighborhoods in Philadelphia to help you figure out which one to call home.
- Center City
Center City is the business and retail hub of the city. In Center City, you’ll find the beautiful City Hall with William Penn’s statue standing tall on top. This is the center of Philadelphia where you can find tall skyscraper apartments and any retailer you’d ever need to visit.
One of the best parts of the center city is how close you are to everything you may need. Its metropolitan vibe is well suited for those staying for business or anyone that wants a short commute to a financial office.
- Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is located right next to Center City. It’s still incredibly close to the city center if you need to meet up for lunch or shopping, but out of the way enough that it has a more quiet feel to it. Rittenhouse Square Park is at the center of the Rittenhouse neighborhood. It’s surrounded by top-tier restaurants and holds its own farmers market every Saturday morning.
If you work in the medical field, the Rittenhouse square neighborhood is located directly between Jefferson Hospital, Penn Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. You’ll find a mix of young professionals and families enjoying the historic architecture up and down the streets of the Rittenhouse neighborhood.
- Fishtown
If you’re looking for the next up-and-coming place to live in Philadelphia, look no further than Fishtown. This neighborhood is known for its cool factor and plethora of young residents. If you’re looking to live in a spot that has something going on every night of the week, then Fishtown is for you. It’s filled with art, culture, and plenty of live shows with up-and-coming artists. It’s not too far out of the way to easily be in Center City for an office commute. If you work in the arts or entertainment industry, this is a great spot to call home as there is no shortage of galleries or live music venues on every corner.
- University City
This neighborhood may sound self-explanatory, but you don’t have to be a University student to enjoy this West Philly neighborhood. University City houses a number of students from Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. But it is also the home to the bustling biotech and medical industries of Philadelphia.
There are smaller, more suburban-feel homes on the outskirts of this neighborhood. You can enjoy the nature of Clark Park while getting your morning coffee. If you find yourself traveling often, University City is home to the 30th street train station making it easy to get in and out of the city when you need to.
2. Hire a Moving Company
Moving to Philadelphia can be difficult with its many narrow streets, cobblestone alleys, and winding walk-up apartments. While you may be moving into a large apartment building or corporate housing, working with a moving company will make your move much easier.
If you’re looking for corporate housing make sure you’re looking at Traveler’s Haven guide to moving to Philadelphia. They’ll help you find housing that fits your exact need. There are a couple of different housing options you need to consider when moving to Philadelphia.
Traveler’s Haven can help you find fully furnished apartments, short-term or temporary housing, or even a bedroom in an apartment with other young professionals. It’s all about what works for you, they’ll just fill in all the gaps and hand you the keys when you’ve decided on the perfect spot.
3. Get Around in Philadelphia
After you work with a moving company to figure out your neighborhood and apartment, it’s time to get settled in the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia is luckily a pretty city to navigate compared to its larger counterparts like New York and D.C. Its public transportation system includes a simple subway and trolley system. Be sure to look out for the Christmas-themed trolley on the 34th street line in the wintertime! It also has an extensive bus system. All public transportation can be paid for with a Septa Key card.
Philadelphia may be best navigated on foot and is easily accessible by bike as well. You can rent bikes from the city’s Indego bike share program. Philadelphia is also a driveable city but beware of parking. With narrow streets and many one-way streets, it can be difficult to find street parking if you don’t want to pay for a parking lot.
4. Experiencing Philadelphia
Once you start to get your bearings when you move, it’s time to explore and experience all that Philadelphia has to offer. Be sure to check out the Schuylkill Riverwalk for a beautiful run or bike ride. Or even just to meet up with friends and enjoy the sights of the river.
Philadelphia is also filled with arts and culture. Be sure to check out a concert from the Philadelphia Orchestra or take advantage of pay what you wish on the first Sunday of every month at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
You also can’t miss out on the eclectic food scene in Philadelphia. You can sample all of the classic foods like cheesesteaks, roast pork sandwiches, and water ice for dessert at Reading Terminal Market. Philly also has tons of vegan options with restaurants like Bar Bombon or quick eats like Dottie’s Donuts.
If you’re a sports lover you’ll quickly find yourself routing for all the great teams Philly has to offer. Make sure to check out an Eagles game or give Gritty a quick wave at a Flyer’s hockey game this winter.
Conclusion
Philadelphia is a wonderful city to live in for any period of time. Whether it’s a short corporate relocation or you’re staying for good, Philadelphia has a vibrant community for every type of person. Now that you know how to make your move to Philly smooth, take the time to explore the city and make it a home.
