When you're set to visit one of America's most historic cities, here's your guide to the best family hotels in each district. When you're set to visit one of America's most historic cities, here's your guide to the best family hotels in each district.

So you’ve decided to visit one of America’s most historic cities. You know you want to see the Liberty Bell, the new National Constitution Center, City Hall, the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art that were forever memorialized in the film Rocky. You’ve got your list, you’re ready to go. But wait, what about hotels? Choosing a hotel in a convenient, central location can sometimes be challenging. So, here we provide you with a district-by-district guide to some of the best hotels in Philadelphia.

Old City & Historic District Hotels

Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing
201 South Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215/928-1234

This hotel is situated on the Delaware River waterfront on the edge of downtown and has great views. This location allows for easy access to Philadelphia’s historic area, shopping, and entertainment but is a long walk if you are pushing a stroller. However, the Independence Seaport Museum is only steps away. This hotel also boasts that it is the only waterfront hotel with access to sites in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ.

Comfort Inn Downtown/Historic Area
100 N Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215/627-7900
This hotel is easily accessible from Philadelphia International Airport and all major roadways. All of the spacious rooms have a view of either the Delaware River or the city skyline. On-site parking, complimentary continental breakfast, and shuttle bus are only part of the amenities this hotel offers. Among the others, children under 18 stay free with parents, allowing this hotel to call itself “family friendly.” The RiverLink Ferry, Mum Puppettheatre, and Elfreth’s Alley are all less than ¼ mile away.

Best Western Independence Park Inn
235 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215/922-4443
This hotel is one of the pricier options due to its 36 designer-decorated rooms housed in a historically certified Victorian building (pictured here). It’s just steps from the major Philadelphia sigts located in the historic square mile. Nearby attractions include everything from the Liberty Bell to Amada, one of the hottest and best restaurants in Philadelphia.

Holiday Inn- Historic District
400 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215/923-8660
This hotel features 364 guest rooms including several suites and is in a great location, especially if you have toddlers. It’s located in the heart of the historic square mile and is very close to the Double Decker Bus Tours and Horse Drawn Carriage Tours. It has many amenities in each guest room, as well as a fitness room, gift shop, and Benton’s Grill, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner for welcome guests.

Museum/Parkway District

Crowne Plaza Philadelphia Center City Hotel
1800 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215/561-7500
This hotel often offers a package that includes added features like tickets to nearby museums or exhibitions. This Center City hotel is close to virtually anything more contemporary you could want to visit in Philadelphia, from many of the city’s famous museums along Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts to some of the finest dining on Rittenhouse Square. The hotel’s accommodations include luxury rooms, an outdoor rooftop pool, and Elephant & Castle, an English-style pub and restaurant. Not to mention that the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is just steps away.

The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
18th and Race Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215/963-1500
This gorgeous hotel is the pinnacle of luxury with its five diamond, award-winning features (pictured here). Among those features are guest rooms with a private bar and twice-daily maid service, as well as a health spa with an indoor pool and whirlpool. They also allow small pets and provide a complimentary town car within the business district. For fine dining in this fine hotel, go to the nationally acclaimed Fountain Restaurant and Swann Lounge/Café. If you’re in the mood for theatre while in Philadelphia, you’re also in luck staying at this hotel because the Philadelphia Theatre Company is less than .07 mile away.

Avenue of the Arts / Rittenhouse Square Areas

Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel
1701 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215/735-6000
This historic hotel is located in trendy Rittenhouse Square. The Rittenhouse Square location is excellent for trendy retail lovers and fine restaurant connoisseurs. The hotel offers large guest rooms at your request and is reputed to have great room service. It’s also near Capriccio Café & Espresso bar, which features the four cranberry special in the form of Cranberry Nut Latte, Cranberry Gelato, Cranberry Pie, or Cranberry Yogurt Loaf, which you can take to enjoy in Rittenhouse Square Park, a quiet oasis in the city.  Relax at Rescue Rittenhouse Spa Lounge, where you’ll receive some five-star treatment, including a menu of male-friendly treatments.

Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel
120 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215/569-8300
This hotel is on the cornerstone of the new French Quarter, steps from Rittenhouse Square. This building used to be the Philadelphia Stock Exchange building but is now a beautiful hotel infused with French flavor and American style. As you may have guessed, the hotel features a French restaurant, Chez Colette (pictured here), and even has many French staff members. Enjoy this 4½ star hotel with 400 square feet per room, large desks, high speed internet access, and French chocolates on the pillow each night. It’s steps away from delicious food such as the top-quality sushi you’ll find at Genji Japanese restaurant or the delicious desserts at “Franklin Royale” at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse.

Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia
237 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215/893-1600
This hotel features 434 spacious guest rooms with panoramic views of the city in this high rise hotel located right on the Avenue of the Arts. It’s also across the street from three theatres: Wilma Theater, Merriam Theater, and the Academy of Music and the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Ballet, which makes it an ideal location for performance arts lovers. Its featured amenities include a lounge, restaurant, and health club with an indoor pool. It’s great with kids in the summer.

Convention Center Area

Hilton Garden Inn
1100 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215/923-0100
This hotel is just mere steps away from the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The hotel features spacious guestrooms and suites that come with high-speed internet access, refrigerators, and microwave ovens. The hotel also has the Pavillion Lounge on the 10th floor, which overlooks the beautiful Philadelphia skyline. It’s main restaurant also presides on the 10th floor, The Tenth Floor Grill. Guests also have full access to the fitness center, indoor pool, and whirlpool spa. (Hotel is pictured here.)

Philadelphia also features many Boutique Hotels, such as the Rittenhouse Square Bed and Breakfast and the Alexander Inn, and hotels in the University and Airport areas, such as Holiday Inn-Airport and Sheraton University City. However, if you want to be in the center of things, any one of the hotels in the more popular tourist districts are the best choice.

Now that you know what hotel you'll be staying at, maybe you want some help on how to get there. Here, we've provided an extra guide on how to get to Philadelphia.

Getting There

By Plane
Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines provide cheap alternative flights. Frontier connects many destinations on the West Coast to many destinations on the East Coast. The flight always connects in Denver, Colorado, and each plane’s tail features a picture of one of 50 wild animals (pictured here), something that will surely delight your children. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines is celebrating over 38 years of service and is still one of the nation’s cheapest airlines.

By Car
If you’re planning to drive to Philadelphia, you should know that it’s just two hours from New York City, three hours from Washington, D.C., ninety minutes from Baltimore, and a little bit less than an hour from Lancaster County, the New Jersey shore, and Atlantic City. For directions on how to get from your home to your hotel destination, simply go to MapQuest. Just don’t forget to book a hotel that offers parking for its customers.

By Train
Amtrak provides train service from the Northeast to the West and South of the country. Promotions for travel with children are often available.

By Bus
Greyhound operates bus service all across the country. Online fares are cheaper with their eSavers deal, so log on to their website to see available rates and services for the days you plan to go. They also offer 50% off if you bring a companion with their Companion Fare deal.