-Brenda Hillegas
photo by J Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Now in its 29th season, Philly’s PHLASH bus (an award-winning transportation service from Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation) is still an affordable and fun way for visitors- and locals!- to explore the city. The PHLASH route takes people on a downtown loop with stops at many must-see destinations, from Penn’s Landing to the Art Museum (including a stop for the Rocky Steps) and everywhere in between. You can start out anywhere you see a PHLASH sign in the city. There’s also a transfer stop (just after the Eastern State Penitentiary stop) so you can get on a bus to the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, and The Penn Museum. All attractions are pay as you go.
We started out at the Independence Visitor Center (599 Market Street), aka stop #3 on the PHLASH loop. Here, you can buy tickets for the day. At only $5 all day, or $2 per ride, this is a great, budget friendly idea for getting around and enjoying all that Philly has to offer. Tickets can be purchased on the bus (exact change needed) or online at PHLvisitorcenter.com/PHLASH. An exclusive $9 two-day pass is available for purchase online only. SEPTA Key card and pass holders, children age four and under, and seniors ride FREE for the entire season. PHLASH is wheelchair-accessible, and service animals are welcome.
The first attraction we visited yesterday is located just about a block behind the Visitor’s Center- Christ Church Burial Ground. Here, you can see Ben Franklin’s grave and put a penny on it. The cost is $10 for an adult guided tour / $5 youth (5-12 years) guided tour, $5 adult self-guided tour / $2 youth (5-12 years) self-guided tour. Then we headed back over to the Visitor’s Center to pick up a PHLASH bus!
For anyone who isn’t familiar with Philly, the Independence Visitor’s Center is a great place to grab a coffee or snack, do some shopping, learn more about the history of the city, and speak to the helpful employees about your trip. PHLASH maps are also available on the buses.
New this year is a stop (#13) at the Comcast Center Campus. The Universal Sphere is a free, fun experience and located next to the Vernick Coffee Bar. The presentation inside the Sphere is quick, but this is a good stop to add to your itinerary. At the Comcast Center, you can use the bathroom, and grab lunch at one of the many restaurants on site. Next door at the Concourse, you’ll find a dining hall concept with casual, grab-and-go offerings.
Our final PHLASH stop of the day was the Franklin Institute where we spent a lot of time exploring every floor and the current Disney100 exhibit (which ends on August 27th). PHLASH also makes stops at the nearby Rodin Museum and Barnes Museum on the Parkway.
After our visit, we could easily hop on a SEPTA bus back home. But we decided on one more PHLASH ride. We got back on in front of the Franklin Institute and rode to #14- the 12th and Market stop. At this stop, you can easily get to City Hall or Reading Terminal Market. We were able to catch SEPTA home just a block away.
If you want to ride PHLASH around the city, a daily service (10am to 6pm) is available April 28 to September 4. Weekend only service (Friday to Sunday, same hours) occur from September 8 to December 24. From December 26 to December 30, daily service resumes for one week only.
PHLASH also offers discounted daily parking rates at five PPA garages. To redeem, present your valid PHLASH pass from the current day to the garage management office before exiting. You must enter the garage after 9 a.m. and exit by 7 p.m. to receive the discount.
AutoPark at 2nd and Sansom Streets; $11
AutoPark at Independence Mall, 5th & Market Streets; $14
Parkade on 8th Street, 801 Filbert Street; $11
AutoPark at Jefferson, 10th & Ludlow Streets; $11
AutoPark at The Fashion District, 10th & Filbert Streets; $11
For the PHLASH guide, must-see attractions and more info, visit here.
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