Where to stay in Philadelphia
There are basically four areas where we suggest you stay for your trip to Philadelphia: in South Philly by the stadiums, Center City, Old City, or by the airport. When I reference these areas, I’m referencing the areas mapped out below, which may be a little bigger and more broad than what you may find on Google; that’s because a lot of the areas are broken down into smaller neighborhoods on Google Maps.
South Philly is recommended because it’s right near the stadiums and makes getting to Citizens Bank Park very easy. Center City and Old City are recommended because they offer plenty of things to do and see while you stay in Philadelphia, while still making it an easy commute to the stadium. The airport is recommended if you’re going to be tight on time with your flight schedule, or, perhaps, you’re looking to save money and can find a less expensive hotel rate at an airport property.
South Philadelphia
If your top priority is to be near Citizens Bank Park for a short, quick and easy commute to and from the stadium, then South Philadelphia is where you should be staying.
The reality is that there are very few hotels in South Philadelphia, so if this is your choice, your options will be very limited—the same holds true for vacation rentals. But there are two hotel options that are located within walking distance of the ballpark that we would recommend: Live! Casino and Hotel, and the Courtyard by Marriott in the Navy Yard.
Live! opened in 2021 and is on the other side of the stadium parking lot from center field. The Courtyard by Marriott is located in the Navy Yard, about a mile from Citizens Bank Park. The former is literally just a walk across a parking lot to the stadium, while the latter is easily walkable to/from the stadium complex.
Both options offer plenty of things to do. Live! features a full casino, sports book, live entertainment offerings, and multiple restaurants. The Navy Yard is primarily an office park, so it’s going to be quieter on weekends. However, there are plenty of nearby parks, sculptures and some dining options that are available on weekends.
The benefit to staying in this part of Philadelphia is that it will provide you with the simplest and easiest access to the ballpark. You won’t need to worry about commuting to and from the game, because walking will do. They’re also the closest to the airport without actually staying at an airport hotel. The tradeoff is that you will be more limited in non-baseball activities such as sightseeing, food options and nightlife, which are more abundant in other areas of the city. So when baseball or other events at the stadium complex aren’t happening, these areas will be much quieter than other downtown spots.
One thing to note about these hotels: they have a tendency to be on the expensive side—especially Live!. Because these are the only two hotels within walking distance of the ballpark, they will often charge a significant premium for that convenience. If you don’t mind paying that premium, these are really convenient places to stay. But if the price tag seems prohibitive, then look to alternatives in Center City, Old City, and at the airport.
Pros
- Easy access to the ballpark (within walking distance)
- Good entertainment options at Live!
Cons
- Often a more expensive option
- Limited things to do beyond going to the ballpark
Center City
In Center City, as you can probably guess by the name, you’re in the middle of all the action. Here is where you’ll find the most hotels, restaurants, shopping, and people. It’s also easy to get to most of the places visitors would want to go in Philadelphia, as you’re only a 10-15 minute ride to the Philadelphia Zoo, Old City, and both the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.
This option presents plenty of options to suit everyone’s preferences, whether you want to walk around one of the riverfronts, hang out in Rittenhouse Square (or another park), see the historic attractions in Old City, or walk down the parkway to the Art Museum. And from this area you’re just a 10-15 minute car or subway ride to the ballpark.
If you’re looking at this trip as a way to see Philadelphia on top of experiencing a game or two at Citizens Bank Park, then Center City is a great way to go.
Pros
- Easy access to tourist attractions (Philadelphia Zoo, Art Museum, etc.)
- Lots of lodging and entertainment options
Cons
- Constant hustle and bustle
Old City
Old City is the non-imaginative name for where the majority of the historical attractions are located. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Constitution Center, and all of the places you learned about in history class are here. This is one of the nicest, most expensive places to live in Philadelphia and a short walk around some of the small parks, brick roads and quiet neighborhoods will show you why.
If you’re a history buff and you’ve never been to Philadelphia, this should be an easy choice. However, there’s more to this area than old stuff. There are plenty of hotels (maybe not quite as many as Center City), and some of the best bars and restaurants in the city are located in Old City. It’s a short walk over the Market Street Bridge to Penns Landing and the Delaware River and it’s conveniently located right next to I-95, which makes it about a 10 minute ride down to Citizens Bank Park.
Pros
- Plenty of historic Philadelphia attractions nearby
- Close to some of the city’s best bars and restaurants
Cons
- Fewer lodging options than Center City
Philadelphia Airport (PHL)
Staying at the airport is a viable option if you find it necessary. You’re still not far from all of the attractions Philadelphia has to offer, and if you’re on a tight schedule, it will help facilitate a quick get-away after a Sunday afternoon game. The drawback to staying at PHL is that you’ll have to travel to do any sightseeing. Is the airport the most exciting option? No. But it would serve its purpose and not hinder you from having a great experience.
If you’re going to be particularly short on time, you may want to consider staying at the Airport Marriott, which is connected to Terminal B at PHL. Literally staying at the airport could save you 30-60 minutes when it comes to retrieving luggage, and could make the difference between making or missing an early evening flight following an afternoon game.
Pros
- Best for those with tight timelines flying in or out
Cons
- Not much of anything to see or do nearby
Bottom Line
None of these options are a bad choice for your trip to Philadelphia, and it’s going to depend on personal preference, but our recommendation for where to stay for a Citizens Bank Park visit is, in this order:
- Old City
- Center City
- South Philly
- Philadelphia Airport
When I travel to different cities for my teams’ games, I try to see and do as much in that city as I can. While I’m there for the game(s), I try to maximize my experience outside of the stadium. For that reason, I’d stay in Old City. The historical attractions are one-of-a-kind, it’s clean, safe, has plenty of food and nightlife options, and is a good place to get to and from Citizens Bank Park.
For similar reasons, minus the volume of top-tier historical attractions, Center City would also be a great spot to stay.
South Philly is going to provide the fewest experiential options over the course of a weekend, so it comes in third, but could certainly be first if your one and only goal is going to the ballpark.
Finally, the airport is a practical, convenient option, without many frills. None of these are more than a short rideshare from one another so you can move around between them, but Old City would be my top suggestion.
