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Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · USA

12-Hour Layover in Philadelphia: What To Do

By AirConnect Editorial

Things to do in Philadelphia

Tours, tickets & day trips

Browse Philadelphia

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Quick answer

Can you leave the airport on a 12-hour layover in Philadelphia?

Entry

Same USA rules — ESTA or visa required. American Airlines hub — international at Terminal A.

Into town

SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street): 25 min, USD 6.75.

Time outside

6–8 hours exploring

Times from PHL arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.

Top Philadelphia: Where to Go

The sights in Philadelphia worth leaving the airport for.

Independence Hall + Liberty Bell (Liberty Bell)1

Independence Hall + Liberty Bell

Where the Declaration of Independence + Constitution were signed. Free entry + timed tickets (National Park Service). The Liberty Bell is across the street.

Photo: William Zhang, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Reading Terminal Market2

Reading Terminal Market

Iconic 1893 indoor food market — 80+ vendors. Cheesesteak at Carmen's, Amish pretzel at Beiler's. Free entry.

Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky steps) (Philadelphia Museum of Art)3

Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky steps)

Iconic art museum + the steps Rocky Balboa ran up in the films. Free to climb steps + statue (entry to museum USD 30).

Photo: Meihe Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

neighbourhood

South Street + Italian Market

9th Street Italian Market (oldest US outdoor market). Adjacent South Street has eclectic shops + restaurants. Free walking.

Itinerary ideas for Philadelphia

Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.

A spacious airport terminal with travellers waiting by the windows

3 hours in Philadelphia

Stay airside — 3h is too tight

See the 3-hour plan

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6 hours

6 hours in Philadelphia

4–5 hours in the city (stay close)

See the 6-hour plan
12 hours
You are here

12 hours in Philadelphia

6–8 hours exploring

24 hours

24 hours in Philadelphia

18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip

See the 24-hour plan

Insider tip

PHL is 11km from Center City — SEPTA Regional Rail (USD 6.75, 25 min) is the smart choice. Departs every 30 min from baggage claim level. For 4+ hour layovers: train + Reading Terminal Market cheesesteak + Liberty Bell quick visit is achievable.

Into Philadelphia

Getting to Philadelphia City Centre

ModeCostTime
SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street)USD 6.7525 min
Taxi / Uber / LyftUSD 30–5020–40 min
Eat like a local

Eat Like a Local in Philadelphia

Philly cheesesteak at Pat's or Geno's (the rival shops face each other on 9th + Passyunk — debate which is better). Soft pretzel at Center City Pretzel Co. Roast pork sandwich at John's Roast Pork.

12 hours in Philadelphia

12-Hour Itinerary

1234560h1h2h3h4h5h6h7h8h9h10h11h12h
1. Clear passport control and head into Philadelphia2. Independence Hall + Liberty Bell3. Reading Terminal Market4. Eat like a local5. Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky steps)6. Back to Philadelphia International Airport
1

0–60 min

Clear passport control and head into Philadelphia

Take SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street) (25 min, USD 6.75).

2

1–4 hrs

Independence Hall + Liberty Bell

Where the Declaration of Independence + Constitution were signed. Free entry + timed tickets (National Park Service). The Liberty Bell is across the street.

3

4–6 hrs

Reading Terminal Market

Iconic 1893 indoor food market — 80+ vendors. Cheesesteak at Carmen's, Amish pretzel at Beiler's. Free entry.

4

6–8 hrs

Eat like a local

Philly cheesesteak at Pat's or Geno's (the rival shops face each other on 9th + Passyunk — debate which is better). Soft pretzel at Center City Pretzel Co. Roast pork sandwich at John's Roast Pork.

5

8–10 hrs

Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky steps)

Iconic art museum + the steps Rocky Balboa ran up in the films. Free to climb steps + statue (entry to museum USD 30).

6

10–12 hrs

Back to Philadelphia International Airport

Head back to Philadelphia International Airport by SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street) (25 min, USD 6.75). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

Your questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for a 12-hour layover in Philadelphia?

Same USA rules — ESTA or visa required. American Airlines hub — international at Terminal A. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.

Is 12 hours enough to leave Philadelphia International Airport?

6–8 hours exploring. Getting into Philadelphia by SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street) takes 25 min each way.

How do I get from Philadelphia International Airport to Philadelphia centre?

SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street): 25 min, USD 6.75. Taxi / Uber / Lyft: 20–40 min, USD 30–50.

Where can I leave my bags in Philadelphia?

Luggage storage near Philadelphia International Airport and in Philadelphia is listed in our Philadelphia luggage storage guide.

A made-up hotel bed with white pillows and warm bedside lamps

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Hotels near Philadelphia Airport

With 12 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.

Find hotels in Philadelphia

Hotels, hostels & more · Expedia

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Also useful for your Philadelphia trip

USA Visa Checker

Do you need a visa to enter?

Luggage Storage

Store bags near Philadelphia airport

Airlines that fly to Philadelphia

See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from PHL.

American Airlines route mapFrontier Airlines route mapAer Lingus route mapAeromexico route mapAir Canada route mapAlaska Airlines route mapAllegiant Air route mapBritish Airways route mapCommuteAir route mapDelta Air Lines route mapGoJet Airlines route mapJetBlue Airways route mapQatar Airways route mapSouthwest Airlines route mapSun Country Airlines route mapUnited Airlines route mapVolaris route map

Airport lounges at Philadelphia Airport

Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.

Philadelphia travel deals

Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.

How a layover in Philadelphia works

Passport and a phone with a booking on a red suitcase

01

Check you can leave

Same USA rules — ESTA or visa required. American Airlines hub — international at Terminal A.

Photo: Jacob on Pexels.

A car on a country road heading towards the mountains

02

Head into town

SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street): 25 min, USD 6.75.

Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.

03

Back in time for your flight

Head back to Philadelphia International Airport by SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line (to 30th Street) (25 min, USD 6.75). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

Ready for Philadelphia?

Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.

Browse Philadelphia

Daylight on the ground

Daylight in Philadelphia runs from about 9.2 hours in Dec to 14.8 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.

Other connection lengths in Philadelphia