US · Pennsylvania · 39.95°N 75.16°W

philadelphia

American history, market lunches, row-house streets and a very serious sandwich culture.

Best time
April–June and September–October are comfortable for walking. July–August are hot and humid; winter is cold, with occasional snow.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via London or Doha, about 23–27 hours all in; New York is also about 1.5 hours away by train. Airport trains reach Center City in about 25 minutes. Philadelphia is 12 hours behind KL, 13 from November to early March. Malaysians need a US B1/B2 visitor visa, usually with an interview at the embassy in KL; ESTA isn't open to Malaysian passports.
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US · Pennsylvaniaphiladelphia39.95°N 75.16°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,American history, market lunches, row-house streets and a very serious sandwich culture.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPhiladelphiaUS, Pennsylvania
KLphiladelphia
≈ 15,213 km from KL, as the crow flies
Philadelphia Skyline from ​Schuylkill River

Photo: 颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Philadelphia is where the US declared independence, and the old brick quarter around Independence Hall still feels like it. Beyond the history, it's a lived-in city of markets, row houses and very serious opinions about sandwiches.

Makan

  1. CheesesteakThin-sliced beef and melted cheese in a long roll. Halal versions are easy to find.Map ↗
  2. Soft pretzelTwisted, chewy and salty, from street carts and bakeries.Map ↗
  3. Water iceSmooth Italian-style fruit ice, the city's summer treat.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Independence Hall and the Liberty BellWhere the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, with the cracked bell across the street. Hall tours need a timed ticket for most of the year.Map ↗
  2. Reading Terminal MarketA huge old covered market of lunch counters, bakeries and Pennsylvania Dutch stalls.Map ↗
  3. Philadelphia Museum of ArtA major collection at the top of the steps Rocky ran up in the films.Map ↗
  4. Old City and Elfreth's AlleyNarrow brick streets, including one of the oldest continuously lived-in streets in the country.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Philadelphia has a large Muslim community, so halal is easy: food trucks around the universities in University City, and halal cheesesteak shops across West and North Philadelphia.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.