Philadelphia Moving Guide – Must Know Facts & Tips

The new city guide we created is for one of the biggest US cities located on the east coast – Philadelphia. We will shed some light on what to expect if you are about to move to Philadelphia and of course some relocation information.

Philadelphia has transitioned from being a manufacturing powerhouse to an information and service-based economy metropolitan city. Financial activities account for the largest sector of the metro economy, and it is one of the largest health education and research centers in the United States. The Delaware Valley contains the headquarters of thirteen Fortune 500 corporations, five of which are in Philadelphia proper. With a gross domestic product of about $388 billion, Philadelphia ranks ninth among world cities and fourth in the the United States. Read the rest of the Philadelphia moving guide for a summary of the city’s secrets as well as moving information.

Philadelphia is a popular moving destination and is a great place to live. No matter if you are moving from a smaller town or you are moving from cities like Los Angeles, New York City or anywhere in the USA, you will find your perfect home in Philly.

Philadelphia Transportation System

• Philadelphia International Airport – the primary international hub of US Airways and provides services to destinations in the United States, destinations to Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. The Philly airport it is at present the 9th busiest airport in the world in terms of aircraft activity.
• Philadelphia offers horse drawn carriage rides to see its historic sites. So, sit back, relax, and experience Philadelphia’s history. Don’t forget to visit the Philadelphia’s National Historical Park, Society Hill and Old City. Hire a private horse-drawn carriage for 30 minutes or one hour to explore the city.
• The SEPTA System is not to be confused with a septic system. It services roughly 3.8 million people in the Metro Philly area with its subway, bus, regional rail, elevated rail, light rail, and electric trolley bus lines. It moves nearly a million people every day, making it the sixth busiest regional public transport system in the USA. You can catch a bus anywhere in this city. For schedule information visit the SEPTA website.

Philadelphia Moving Guide

The Weather

Philadelphia enjoys a moderate summer climate with ocean breezes. The winter weather is cold, with some snowfalls. Summer weather in the city, June through September, is hot and humid. July and August are the hottest months of the year when daytime temperatures may reach up to 85°F.

Culture and Things to See

Philadelphia is well known for its arts and culture. It’s history attracts many tourists, with the Liberty Bell receiving more than 2 million visitors in 2010 alone. Another must see place in Philly is the Museum of Art. The art and style of the building is breath taking. It was constructed of a golden color stone in the 1920s and recalls the architecture of ancient Greece. Not only is it an iconic symbol of the city, the museum itself always have some spectacular exhibit taking place. Every Friday, after 5PM the Art Museum hosts a different exciting cultural event.

Philly Cuisine

The city is known for its hoagies, water ice, Tastykake, and is home to the cheese-steak. Although most people outside of Philadelphia are familiar with the Philadelphia cheese steak, locals think in terms of steak sandwiches with or without cheese. Without cheese, the sandwich is referred to as a “steak” (not a “steak sandwich”). Beware of any restaurant, even in Philadelphia, that offers a “Philly Cheese Steak”.

Moving to Philadelphia

Philadelphia Moving Tips – Housing

For affordable living you could try Bella Vista or Queen Village. Northern Liberties is hip but still a little sketchy and getting pricey. University City/West Philly seems to have the closest to a West Coast vibe.

Old City is another option with more lounges and restaurants within walking distance as well as tons of funky art galleries and various shopping opportunities. The parking situation makes it near impossible to find a spot, which means you’ll likely have to rent one out if you own a car, but honestly you won’t need one if you are living in the area. If money isn’t an issue, it means you can get a place in downtown Philadelphia where rents start at about $1000. If you are feeling young and want to live in a party area, get a place at Manayunk – located on the banks of the Schuylkill River. A tip from us – if you decide to relocate to the city, make sure you spend several days before the actual move, so you can find a house or apartment closer to the place you want in the right neighborhood. You will definitely need moving help, especially if you are moving to the historic district.

Philadelphia Relocation guide

Here are some Philadelphia moving tips for a smoother relocation. It is always better to hire a professional moving company for the task. Read a lot of Philadelphia moving reviews and contact the best Pennsylvania moving companies. Look for people’s recommendations and comments on movers. Ask friends and relatives about the companies they’ve moved with in the past. Compare movers prices as well. If you are moving to the Philly downtown or in a busy neighborhood, it is important to reserve a parking permit and an elevator in the apartment building (if there is one). This will save you unwanted fines and time, especially if you are paying your movers by the hour. If don’t know how to do that, ask your moving company for help – they should be able to assist. Also ask them for certificate of insurance in case of any damage to the property just to be safe you won’t get in trouble from the first day. Always hire licensed moving companies to avoid moving scam or unwanted additional hidden moving fees no matter if you are moving long distance or locally.

After reading some Philadelphia moving companies reviews, contact the best ones for price quotes. Get your Philadelphia moving estimate so you can plan your budget and expenses in advance. You can now calculate your Philadelphia moving costs faster with the free moving cost estimator. Give it a try and easily calculate your moving budget.

If you are moving to Philadelphia from NYC or Chicago, you will find Philadelphia smaller in size (which is a plus) and with quite rich history to explore. Philly is a very beautiful city you will love.

Philadelphia Must Know Facts

Philadelphia is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States, with a population of 1,526,006 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. It is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Philadelphia is also the commercial, cultural, and educational center of the Delaware Valley, home to 6 million people and the country’s fifth-largest metropolitan area.

Are you considering moving to Philadelphia anytime soon? Have we missed something about the city that everyone should know? Let us know in the comments below. I hope you find our moving tips useful and we wish you a smooth moving experience.

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