Philadelphia is a great city with great sports, super restaurants, good museums and theaters and easy access to seashore and mountain resorts.It really is a city of neighborhoods, with lots of different characteristics, If go to to the far Northeast, it doesn t even look like the same city as South Philadelphia. Completely different architecture, character, demographics and geography. The hills in Manayunk make you think you are driving in San Francisco. It s great city.It is as safe as any other big US city. Yes there is a high Murder rate, but reading beyond the statistics, if you aren t a drug dealer, drug buyer or hanging out in the thug life you are in no real danger. Tourists are generally treated warmly, and the places that tourists want to go are well patrolled and safe.There are really no reasons for a visitor to go into any of those so-called bad neighborhoods. You see there is poverty, ignorance and crime in every city of the world. I grew up in Philadelphia, and have always felt safer in some bad neighborhoods than I do in the down town areas of lots of other US cities.It is a city with great history, culture, tradition and great ethnic cultural attractions. The city suburbs are great too, and easily accessible by public transportation. Don t listen to the critics, they really don t know the city. I grew up in Philadelphia and have spent almost 60 years living in and around it.Big universities and excellent hospitals round out the hit parade
First thing to do is ask a couple cab driver dispatchers, if the area your going to has any bad reports.In the past I ve heard going to North Philadelphia can be a bad idea depending on the address.West Philadelphia has sections which can be bad (or good depending). Philadelphia is a hard city to judge because sometimes let s say downtown is great from 7am - 6pm monday-friday (only). Other times it can almost be a combat zone depending on how many drugheads are slipping around different corners. In general Philadelphia can be a fantastic adventure into American History (if you follow the advise of let s say a travel agent) or someone who lives in or near some special event. I want to give you a brief report on what I do when taking friends to my home city (Philadelphia). We begin the tour at the Liberty Bell (near 5th and Market). While there, ask the guard where they recommend you go next (because some locations may be closed for repair etc.). The guard will also tell you some good spots for your lunch break. Here s the situation: You could spend 1 year seeing all there is to see in and around Pennsylvania. Trust me, I ve spent 25 years as a TWA (airline reservations agent) booking tours around the world!!
It is generally bad. Even the good sections have their bad spots. Center city and the historic sites are nice, but I would still travel with friends. I would also be careful going into the evening, even in the nicest part of town. In a way Philly is no different than any other major city. Definitely stay out of north and west Philly, and be careful in the other parts. Just use common sense. If you stray a block or two in the wrong direction, it could be costly. I ve live in and around Philly all of my life. Please be careful!
Well since you didn t use the American spelling of neighborhood, I ll guess that you re not from this country.Any areas geared toward tourists will be safe.