For higher or worse, Philadelphians, prepare for extra vacationers at your favourite eating places, historic websites, and tailgates as a result of the Metropolis of Brotherly Love was simply named one of many Prime 10 must-visit cities worldwide.
Lonely Planet, an industry-leading journey guidebook writer, listed Philadelphia in fifth place for one of the best world cities to journey to subsequent yr, making it the top-ranked U.S. metropolis on the journey information’s listing. The annual Greatest in Journey information is an annual have a look at nations, areas, and cities throughout the globe which are must-visit locations primarily based on relevancy, uniqueness, and the “wow” issue that makes them unmissable, stated Lonely Planet’s govt editor, Nitya Chambers.
“Philadelphia is the right mix of old fashioned and trendy metropolis, a metropolis marked by wealthy historical past however with an ever-evolving cultural core,” Chambers stated. “We have been excited by the stability of outdated and new — museums, historical past, meals, and iconic cultural references — that make it the sort of place that feels immediately acquainted however embedded with distinctive and private moments of discovery.”
The journey information depends on the experience of on-the-ground native contributors who uncover, consider, and craft strategies for Lonely Planet, who then nominate must-visit cities reviewed by a panel of journey consultants. Out of a whole lot of nominations, Philly made it excessive on the listing.
Time-honored classics equivalent to Studying Terminal Market and the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork assist bolster Philly’s worldwide attraction, however mainstays equivalent to FDR Park’s Southeast Asian Market present how native communities can deliver thrilling new experiences to town.
Philly’s tourism {industry} isn’t meager, both. It’s a multibillion-dollar endeavor with greater than 40 million guests strolling by means of town’s streets yearly, stated Alethia Calbeck, chief communications officer at Go to Philly. “These guests spent over $7 billion in our area in 2022,” she stated. The tourism and hospitality enterprise throughout the five-county Philly area at present employs practically 200,000 individuals, in keeping with the most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“We’re thrilled and we really feel prefer it’s well-deserved. Philadelphia is an excellent metropolis. It’s an East Coast gateway into the U.S. for worldwide vacationers,” stated Robin Bloom, director of content material at Philadelphia’s world tourism company, the Conference and Guests Bureau. “We’ve got a thriving arts and tradition scene, the world’s largest outside artwork gallery. To not point out the walkability and accessibility on the East Coast. Additionally, town’s inclusivity and variety are a very huge promoting characteristic internationally. It’s additionally one of the crucial reasonably priced top-tier cities within the nation.”
In addition to the ever-growing culinary scene in Philadelphia, which continues to get nods from the New York Instances, James Beard awards, and the Michelin Information (which referred to as us the “Frenchest American metropolis”), Philly will quickly host a plethora of occasions that deliver widespread attraction, such because the FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Recreation coming to town in 2026.
“It’s a very huge deal as a result of [Lonely Planet] acknowledges 10 cities yearly, and this yr there have been solely two U.S. cities,” Calbeck stated. “We stand on an inventory with unbelievable worldwide cities like Paris, Nairobi, and Prague — it’s a giant feather in our cap as a result of it simply helps individuals perceive the standard and the cachet of our vacation spot.”
