Philly's Making Its Biggest Summer Yet Easier to Experience Than You Think

Getting around is a (relative) breeze

One of your best bets for navigating the city is the Philly PHLASH, a seasonal transit program with expanded service during FIFA World Cup 26 and the FIFA Fan Festival.

With stops near Penn’s Landing, the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market and the FIFA Fan Festival, you’ll be able to hit all the major attractions and event locations. A single all-day pass is $5 or $15 for a family of two adults and two children. Or, if you’re a SEPTA Key cardholder, you ride free.

Philly Phlash outside of Independence Hall   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

SEPTA bus routes 32 and 48, both of which have stops near the FIFA Fan Festival, have expanded service in the evenings.

The city is restricting parking near the FIFA Fan Festival, which means you’ll want to avoid driving. Residents in Fairmount and Brewerytown who live near the FIFA Fan Festival can apply for a free parking permit, so they don’t get ticketed or towed. These residential permits come with two visitor day passes too. Some local businesses offer visitor passes for employees and patrons as well (varies by location, inquire inside).

If you are driving around the city, fret not. Local lane closures along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, allowing greater foot and bike access to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and FIFA Fan Festival, have not proven to be an issue.

FIFA Fan Festival entrance   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Of course, one of the best ways to get around the city is on foot. For three years running, voters of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named Philadelphia the Most Walkable City in the U.S. Lace up your shoes and take advantage of the closed lanes on the Parkway or the scenic stroll down the newly renovated stretch of Market Street in Old City.

For cyclists, getting around Philly by bike has never been better. Indego bike rental stations can be found all throughout Philly. Plus, at the Fan Festival, cyclists can look for bike valets to secure their ride while celebrating, with additional bike parking available at Lloyd Hall Recreation Center and at the festival’s Indego Station Hub.

Get the full scoop on biking and more with our comprehensive guide to getting around.

Nine visitor centers have all the info you could ever need

Philly is home to nine permanent and temporary visitor centers throughout Center City and the Parkway, including the Independence Visitor Center in Independence National Historical Park, the Parkway Visitor Center at the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, and the Lloyd Hall Recreation Center pop-up hub near the FIFA Fan Festival.

Not only can visitors get information and resources on where to go, attraction hours of operation and tickets, but they can also use the bathrooms and water refill stations.

Read more about these visitor centers and hospitality hubs here.

Independence Visitor Center   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Save these public restrooms for when you gotta go

Don’t let nature’s call throw a wrench in your plans. The city’s cultural hotspots are fully equipped with public bathrooms for your comfort.

The Independence Visitor Center and Franklin Square are home to public restrooms for those hanging out in Old City, while Lloyd Hall Recreation Center and the Center City Philly Phlush public restroom are perfect for attendees of the events on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and FIFA Fan Festival.

Check out our full guide to public restrooms in Philly here.

Philly Phlush in Center City   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Look for neon green-clad volunteers if you get lost

Nearly 3,000 volunteers — all in distinctive uniforms of neon green shirts and blue track pants — are tasked with helping FIFA World Cup 26 fans find their way during the tournament.

If you need help with language translation, directions to the Philadelphia Stadium (aka Lincoln Financial Field), assistance navigating the Philly PHLASH or knowing where the beer tent is at the FIFA Fan Festival, they’re your helpers.

Even more helpers are stationed around the city at pop-up visitor centers. Dubbed Phambassadors, these volunteers will be on hand at popular events like the Red, White & Blue To-Do and the parade on July Third.

Free events aplenty won’t break the bank

Adding to the relative ease and accessibility of this summer is the sheer number of free events, which is good news for your wallet and your social calendar.

Sure, ticket prices for FIFA World Cup 26 are a bit pricey, but SEPTA is helping out attendees heading to the matches by offering free transportation fares from the games. (You’ll still have to pay the standard $2.90 fare to get to Philadelphia Stadium.)

Of course, for more free football, the FIFA Fan Festival is your spot to watch games, live musical performances and do some shopping. All you need to do is register (for free).

FIFA Fan Festival   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

One of Philadelphia’s most storied Fourth of July traditions, Wawa Welcome America, returns yet again — and is bigger than ever for the semiquincentennial. With weeks of free events, including the One Philly Unity Concert for America Fireworks Display, free admission to museums like the Mütter Museum and the National Constitution Center, and the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, there’s absolutely no shortage of things to do.

As if the summer couldn’t get any better, a slew of free concerts are scheduled for the coming weeks. There’s the Salute to Service: The United States Army Field Band at Independence National Historical Park on July 2, the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival on July 18, and Worldtown Soundsystem Collective at The Lawn at uCity Square on July 30. And that just barely scratches the surface.

The United States Army Field Band at Independence National Historical Park   — Photo courtesy Wawa Welcome America