Study Reveals World’s Most Walkable Cities

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Quixote

How does Paris not "hold up well" against Manhattan? Paris is twice the size of Manhattan (a sizable chunk of which is Central Park, so not all of the 23 square miles are urban landscape), has much better rapid transit coverage, and combines the grandeur + intensity of Manhattan and the intimacy + spontaneity of Central London... all over an enormously contiguous 42-square-mile expanse (Central London only covers about 10 square miles) uninterrupted by highways or wide railway ROWs.

Exactly my point. Manhattan has 75% the population of Paris in half the land area. Manhattan is built to house people at a higher density than Paris.

[Skintreesnail]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

My biggest problem wth Philly(I know people were talking about this city pages back) is the lack of greenery in much of the denser rowhouse neighborhoods. So much of it comes across as banal and lacking life. Philly is one city that I think can use a two or three decade tree planting initiative....the trees don't even have to be big, but something that sort of breaks up the monotony. Trees only seem to exist in the most posh neighborhoods hugging the Center City area. I can't imagine what walking through a lot of city is like when a summer heatwave comes through.

I feel like folks usually mean south philly when they talk about philly and lack of trees. While south philly does have a treeless problem, it's mainly due to its very dense built environment. It possible but kind of difficult in a lot of cases to have/maintain street trees in these areas, mostly because of the space available. Lots of trees get planted but many don't make it.

Also, philly is more than south philly and center city. There are many tree-lined streets around west philly:
powelton

cedar park

spruce hill

overbrook

wynnfield

Northwest philly:

chestnut hill

mt airy

germantown

east falls

greater CC:

spring garden

fairmount

NoLibs

Graduate hospital, Queen village and bella vista in south philly also have trees, so it's possible, just harder on the narrower side-streets:
queen village

bella vista

graduate hospital

[summersm343]

London is by far the most walkable city I've been to yet. It's amazing. I only spent 24-hours in Paris, and it's obviously uber walkable, but the large blocks are a big monotonous. Manhattan is amazingly walkable too of course, as are surrounding neighborhoods (Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Hoboken, etc.)... but it's just so overbearing, overwhelming and headache inducing throughout much of Manhattan. It's just not human scale at all throughout most of Manhattan.

The combination and string of neighborhoods in Central London all connected and interwoven together - City of London, Westminster, South Bank, Mayfair, St. James, Covent Garden, Soho, Belgravia, South Kensington, Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, Paddington, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Holborn, Southwark, Spitafields, Shoreditch, White Chapel, Hackney, Camden Town, Kings Cross, etc. etc... it's just an epic collection of neighborhoods all interwoven and extremely walkable. It's frankly unbeatable from my experience.

[JManc]

Aren't we getting a but hair splitting with which of these cities is the most 'walkable'? Kinda like which nano brewery has the hoppiest IPA?

[dc_denizen]

Originally Posted by summersm343

London is by far the most walkable city I've been to yet. It's amazing. I only spent 24-hours in Paris, and it's obviously uber walkable, but the large blocks are a big monotonous. Manhattan is amazingly walkable too of course, as are surrounding neighborhoods (Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Hoboken, etc.)... but it's just so overbearing, overwhelming and headache inducing throughout much of Manhattan. It's just not human scale at all throughout most of Manhattan.

The combination and string of neighborhoods in Central London all connected and interwoven together - City of London, Westminster, South Bank, Mayfair, St. James, Covent Garden, Soho, Belgravia, South Kensington, Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, Paddington, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Holborn, Southwark, Spitafields, Shoreditch, White Chapel, Hackney, Camden Town, Kings Cross, etc. etc... it's just an epic collection of neighborhoods all interwoven and extremely walkable. It's frankly unbeatable from my experience.

Exactly . Each neighborhood in London has different architecture , character , etc

You’d be hard pressed to say the same about Paris . It’s so uniform in comparison

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by Quixote

Paris is 42 square miles of mostly fine-grained urbanism. Almost all narrow streets, no setbacks, very few curb cuts, and a Metro station within a 6-7-minute (certainly 10) walk of anywhere you want to drop the Google Street View guy/gal. It's dense, beautiful, and vibrant throughout, with nowhere that I can find feeling like a lonely, sparse "no-man's land."

What about any of that do you disagree with, other than the fact that I don't believe the same can be said for your city?

Re-read your previous post. It displayed a fundamental ignorance of Paris (and NYC, and London). Basically you had everything reversed.

Paris has two massive parks, both multiples larger than Central Park. And both are outside the Périphérique, so not really contiguous, and added in the 20th century. Paris also has large railyards. Just go to any of the major rail terminals and head outward. There are huge railyards north of, say, the Gare du Nord, and the surrounding neighborhoods are gritty and don't feel anything like the core neighborhoods.

And yeah, there are no "lonely, sparse" areas, but there no such areas in London or NYC equivalents either, obviously.

[badrunner]

I think most European cities are pretty monochromatic, but what makes Paris great is that everything is mixed-use by default. Probably a majority of buildings are mixed-use. It's more functionally walkable for that reason. At the macro level the long straight boulevards and grand public spaces gives it a monumentality that London wishes it had. London is very intimate and fussy in comparison, which some might prefer.

But NYC is better than both, maybe not in functional walkability, but certainly in its grand and monumental built form. Plus a grid is much easier to navigate on foot. It's almost impossible to get lost in Manhattan.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by JManc

Aren't we getting a but hair splitting with which of these cities is the most 'walkable'? Kinda like which nano brewery has the hoppiest IPA?

LOL!

For real.

Next topic: which Illinois county has the best cornfields?

FIGHT!

[Stay Stoked Brah]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

LOL!

For real.

Next topic: which Illinois county has the best cornfields?

FIGHT!

Best, most or most per capita?
shot in the dark, lee county?

[ChiSoxRox]

I'm intrigued at the Roman boulevards comment above. I was in Rome in February and found its core eminently walkable, including several long jaunts like the Quirinal Palace to the Vatican, or San Paolo Outside the Walls to the Forum.

[nito]

One of the key points as to why London is so walkable is that the road footprint in the city core and further afield is more constricted from the start. London broadly sticks to its Roman and Medieval urban form in the core, lacking the broad avenues and boulevards of Paris and New York. Had plans after the Great Fire of 1666 been adopted (ranging from the creation of grand avenues and piazzas to grids which in turn became the inspiration for grids in Philadelphia: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35418272) London would have looked very different. Various elements and ideas were adopted across parts of the West End during various slum clearances (e.g. Regent Street) or as part of transport and civil works (e.g. Embankment), but as a whole, vehicle access across the core is limited compared to other world cities.

Private vehicle use has been further impaired with the introduction of the Congestion Charge, the Low Emissions Zone and capacity being reallocated to bus lanes and segregated cycle lanes.

Another key move towards enhancing walking and cycling across the city in the past decade has been the positive action on more shared spaces or closing roads off to vehicle traffic altogether or with heavy restrictions. Converting streets into parks such as Alfred Place (below) in the West End is a positive development that I can see spreading to other parts of the city. One of the popular outcomes from Covid-19 has been the creation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods to create pedestrian and cycling friendly environment.


Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-a3421186.html

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Skintreesnail

mt airy

Two words: Leaf blower. Mt. Airy needs an army of them...

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by JManc

Two words: Leaf blower. Mt. Airy needs an army of them...

Ha. And street cleaning. I thought Philadelphia has weekly street cleaning like NYC?

[Crawford]

Yeah, Philly is quite leafy and green. South Philly, no, but that's a working class neighborhood of tiny rowhouses and narrow sidewalks. But most of the Philly area is lush and leafy.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by badrunner

A few of the nicer parts of Philly can pass for NYC or DC, but most of it looks more like Baltimore. Its built form is totally forgettable, certainly not anybody's idea of posh urban living.

Originally Posted by yuriandrade

As I mentioned the "posh urban living", just to clarify, I live in a very vibrant, diverse, and a bit rough district in Central São Paulo, just a couple blocks away from the wealthy, a bit sterile, Jewish district and I wouldn't move there for nothing. Leave my tens of bars and the alternative scene for cafes where old ladies steal sugar and are rude with waitresses?

What I meant was Philadelphia lacks (or at least we have this perception) of wealthy urban districts like those in New York or Boston.

Plenty of hip, posh and happening areas in Philadelphia

While it certainly has it's greater share of rundown areas than Boston, San Francisco or DC, it definitely has a slew of well established, hip, and posh urban neighborhoods as well, not even including the up and coming ones...Philadelphia is also a much larger city than any of those cities, and is a larger metropolitan area than San Fran and Boston. Therefore, if you took out the more rundown parts of the city of Philadelphia, it would likely still be the same size of, if not still larger than Boston, San Fran and DC... therefore, yes, I do believe Philly just gets a bad rep, and it's more perception than reality at this point. Philly was also a more industrial city than either of those cities, so fell harder during the post industrial decline, and didn't really start it's turnaround and comeback until the early 2000s...

By Land Area

Philadelphia - 134 sq miles

DC - 61 sq miles

Boston - 48 sq miles

San Fran - 47 sq miles


By City Population

Philadelphia - 1,584,064

San Fran - 881,549

DC - 705,749

Boston - 692,600


By Metropolitan Area Population

DC - 6,280,487

Philadelphia - 6,102,434

Boston - 4,873,019

San Fran - 4,731,803


Here are the most popular neighborhoods/areas that are entirely walkable, and have public transit accessibility:

Rittenhouse Square - arguably the best neighborhood in Philly, and one of the best urban neighborhoods in the United States. Directly next to the main office district (Market West) in Philadelphia. Also, directly next to the main Theater district (Avenue of the Arts - South Broad) in Philadelphia. This is the neighborhood to see and be seen if you have money in Philadelphia. This is where luxury cars (ferraris, lambos, mclaren, you name it) will line up along 18th Street as wealthy business execs meet for business lunches. This is where the poshest highrise condos, apartment buildings, and a slew of multi-million dollar townhomes are located. This neighborhood is packed to the brim with restaurants, nightlife, historical sites, museums, shopping, hotels, theaters, cafes, parks, etc.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Some street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9500...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9487...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9497...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9507...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9471...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9475...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9484...7i16384!8i8192


Avenue of the Arts - South Broad Street - Main Theater district in Philadelphia. Lined with office buildings, hotels, theaters, museums, nightlife, and luxury apartments and multi-million dollar condo buildings. Home to the University of the Arts.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...ch/19107/sby-2

Street Scenes:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9491...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9481...7i16384!8i8192


Queen Village - posh and hip upper middle to upper class neighborhood in South Philly. Packed to the brim with boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, nightlife, historical sites, theaters/venues, parks and more. Multi-million dollar townhomes are not uncommon here. Within walking distance to Downtown/Center City.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9405...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9407...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9394...7i16384!8i8192


Passyunk Square and East Passyunk - Passyunk Square is the northern part of the area, and East Passyunk normally refers to the lower half of the neighborhood. Middle class to Upper middle class neighborhood in South Philly. Plenty of great restaurants, cafes, a theater, a brewery, and boutique shops, as well as part of the Italian Market, and tourist attractions Pat's and Geno's cheesesteaks (though, far from the best cheesesteaks or sandwiches in Philly). Also home to the popular Miracle on 13th Street around the holidays. Easy access into Downtown via the Broad Street subway line.

Homes for sale in Passyunk Square:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Homes for sale in East Passyunk:
https://www.zillow.com/east-passyunk...oom%22%3A16%7D

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9298...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9306...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9319...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9326...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9284...7i16384!8i8192


Bella Vista - Upper middle class area of South Philly. Home to the famous Italian Market and the Magic Gardens. Loaded with restaurants and cafes. Within walking distance of Downtown/Center City.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9411...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9382...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9405...7i16384!8i8192


Graduate Hospital - Also called GHo, South of South or SoSo, or Southwest Center City. Upper middle to upper class area of South Philly. Loaded with restaurants, cafes and boutique shops. Popular neighborhood within walking distance of Downtown/Center City/Rittenhouse Square. Graduate Hospital is about to get even better as both South Broad Street and Washington Avenue through Graduate Hospital are experience a mid-rise mixed-use apartment and condo building boom, which will bring even more walkability and commercial/retail to the area.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9437...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9441...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9429...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9431...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9454...7i16384!8i8192


Society Hill - Upper class neighborhood in Center City. Second in "posh-ness" in Philadelphia only to Rittenhouse. This neighborhood is certainly quieter, and tends to be a favorite of wealthy suburbanites moving into the city, who don't want to be in the hustle and bustle of Rittenhouse. Mostly multi-million dollar rowhomes/townhomes, but some nice condo and luxury apartment towers as well. The neighborhood is absolutely packed with historical sites. Some nice restaurants and cafes and shops, especially along South Street (southern border of the neighborhood), and 2nd Street/Headhouse Square, but within walking distance to Washington Square/ Old City and the rest of Center City as well. Being in Society Hill is the perfect time to pop over to Penn's Landing as well, and check out the area along the Delaware River, some war memorials/parks/plazas, the Spruce Street Harbor Park, Independence Seaport Museum, the USS Olympia, etc.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/society-hill-...oom%22%3A16%7D

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9431...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9443...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9438...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9420...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9416...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9415...7i16384!8i8192


Old City - Upper middle class to upper class area of Center City. The second best neighborhood in Philadelphia after Rittenhouse. The majority of Philadelphia's historic sites are here, including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Carpenter's Hall, Elfreth's Alley, Ben Franklin's Grave, Constitution Center, Betsy Ross House, Museum of the American Revolution, First Bank of the United States, Second Bank of the United States, First US Stock Exchange, and so many more. The United States as we know it today was literally formed, shaped, started and established in this neighborhood. The first US Capitol was here, the first meetings of Congress, the first presidents, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, etc. Loaded to the brim with historic sites, hotels, restaurants, cafes, nightlife, parks, boutique shops, museums, a brewery, so on and so forth.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/Old-Cit...elphia,-PA_rb/

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9500...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9489...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9494...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9498...7i16384!8i8192


Washington Square - Upper middle class to Upper class area of Center City. Part of the "Gayborhood" is in Washington Square. Also called Washington Square West or Wash West. Thomas Jefferson University and hospital is in this neighborhood, as well as the historic Pennsylvania Hospital - first hospital in the US. Jeweler's Row is located in this neighborhood as well - one of the last remaining diamond districts in the US. Loaded to the brim with historical sites, restaurants, cafes, theaters, boutique shops, nightlife, parks, so on and so forth.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/Washing...elphia,-PA_rb/

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9472...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9478...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/place/NC...6!4d-75.153282

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9450...7i16384!8i8192


Midtown Village - Also known as the Gayborhood. Upper middle to Upper class area. Some people refer to this area as Washington Square West as well. Small neighborhood in Center City, but maybe the 3rd best neighborhood after Rittenhouse and Old City in Philadelphia? Loaded with restaurants and nightlife, boutique shops, cafes, hotels, theaters and more.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/Washing...elphia,-PA_rb/

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9500...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9470...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9459...7i16384!8i8192


Fitler Square - Upper class area - posh but quieter area of Center City. Close to Rittenhouse. Some nice restaurants and cafes, and charming historic streets. Some great small parks. Also, directly next to the Schuylkill River with easy access to the Schuylkill River park and trails.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street Scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9474...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9475...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9507...!7i5504!8i2752


Market West - Central business district in Philadelphia. Mostly office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings. Not a ton of for sale condos except Two Liberty Place, the Residences at the Ritz, and some others. Busy transit/train hub of Suburban Station is located here. This area is Upper class for anyone that does live here. Packed with shopping, restaurants, nightlife, nice parks/plazas and more. The very popular Christmas Village at Love Park & Dilworth Plaza is located here around the holidays. Most of Philadelphia's tallest buildings are here.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...y_11t4o6%22%7D

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9527...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9527...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9540...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9516...7i16384!8i8192


Market East - Philadelphia's second largest business district after Market West. Upper middle class area. Practically no homes/condos in this area. All luxury rental apartments, packed with hotels, tourist spots, and office buildings. Loaded with restaurants, cafes, nightlife and a very up and coming area for shopping due to the newly renovated Philadelphia Fashion District. Also home to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and the famous Reading Terminal Market. The busy transit/train hub of Market East/Jefferson Station is located here.

Apartments for rent since no for sale homes/condos in this area:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_ren...22%3A%7B%7D%7D

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9519...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9523...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9537...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9511...!7i5760!8i2880


Chinatown - Small neighborhood in Center City. One of the largest Chinatown's in the United States. Mostly working class and middle class immigrants from China and other Eastern Asian countries. Chinatown is packed to the brim with cultural restaurants, shops, cafes and nightlife.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/Chinato...elphia,-PA_rb/

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9535...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9537...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9545...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9553...7i16384!8i8192


Logan Square - Museum District - The main Museum District in Philadelphia. The popular Ben Franklin Parkway runs through Logan Square. This neighborhood is an Upper Class area of Center City, and loaded with Museums from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum, the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences and more. There are a lot of great restaurants, nightlife options, cafes, parks, tourist attractions and more here. Home to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Moore College of Art and Design, and Community College of Philadelphia. The neighborhood encompasses some of Philadelphia's main business district as well, and has some taller office buildings along the western edge of the neighborhood. This neighborhood also abuts the Schuylkill River and the popular Schuylkill River trail.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9561...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9575...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9587...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9577...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9583...7i16384!8i8192


Fairmount & Spring Garden - Upper middle to upper class area of North Philadelphia. Within walking distance to Center City, but has transit access to Center City via the Broad Street subway line. Also within walking distance to the massive Fairmount Park - one of the largest urban parks in the US. These neighborhoods sit just to the north of the Museum District/Ben Franklin Parkway as well, and are home to the famous Eastern State Penitentiary, and they're loaded with restaurants, cafes, nightlife, parks, historical sites and more.

Homes/condos for sale in Spring Garden:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Homes for sale in Fairmount:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9650...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9653...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9654...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9658...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9672...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9673...7i16384!8i8192


University City - Also abbreviated to UCity. Upper middle to Upper class area of Philadelphia. The name speaks for itself. Majority students live here, but has become an increasingly desirable area for businessmen, doctors, nurses, tech workers, etc. This neighborhood is home to the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League School), and Drexel University. Wharton business school is one of the premiere business schools in the world. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are also in this area and are among the best hospitals in the US. 30th Street Station, one of the busiest rail stations in the United States, is located here, which services both SEPTA and Amtrak. The neighborhood has several other transit lines directly into Center City, but you can walk there from UCity as well. University City is Philadelphia's 3rd largest business district, and is a burgeoning neighborhood of tech, medical, bio, and more. The neighborhood has a few museums including the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and is loaded with restaurants, cafes, nightlife, theaters/venues, shops, hotels, historical sites and parks.

Since there are no for sale homes/condos in University City, here are the apartments currently for rent:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/Univers...elphia,-PA_rb/

Street scenes:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9510...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9534...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9536...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9486...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9560...7i16384!8i8192


Northern Liberties - Also called NoLibs. Upper middle to upper class neighborhood in North Philadelphia. The neighborhood is packed with restaurants, nightlife, cafes, breweries, boutique shops, parks and more. The neighborhood also has direct transit access into Center City via the Market-Frankford Line.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/northern-libe...oom%22%3A15%7D

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9621...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9672...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9647...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9627...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9642...7i16384!8i8192


Fishtown - Middle class to upper middle class area of North Philadelphia. This is the current hipster mecca of Philadelphia as well. Direct transit access into Center City via the Market-Frankford line, or the Girard Ave Trolley/Light rail line. Jam packed with restaurants, nightlife, cafes, parks, boutique shops, breweries, theaters/venues, a casino, and more.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9690...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9710...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9704...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9734...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9651...7i16384!8i8192


Spruce Hill - Middle to Upper middle class neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Directly next to University City. Not many homes for sale here, as they get snatched up in the blink of an eye. Quieter, leafy green Victorian neighborhood known for it's beauty. Some great restaurants, cafes and parks in this neighborhood. Great to just walk around and enjoy the beautiful architecture. Direct transit access into Center City via the Market-Frankford line, or the Baltimore Ave trolley/light rail line.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9513...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9529...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9495...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9492...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9498...7i16384!8i8192


Cedar Park - Split into two sections: Cedar Park and Southwest Cedar Park. Middle class area of West Philadelphia. Heavy hipster area. Also very culturally and racially diverse and economically diverse area of the city. Beautiful leafy green area with a lot of beautiful architecture. Good restaurants and cafes and parks, as well as a brewery. Home to the University of the Sciences. Direct transit access into Center City via the Baltimore Avenue Trolley/Light rail line, the Chester Avenue Trolley/Light Rail line, the Woodland Avenue Trolley/Light rail line, and the 49th Street Station of the SEPTA commuter rail line.

Homes for sale:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/Cedar-P...elphia,-PA_rb/

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9486...i16384!8i8192\

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9483...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9480...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9501...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9515...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9477...7i16384!8i8192


Manayunk - Upper middle to upper class area of Northwest Philadelphia. Very hip and chic neighborhood with rolling hills and a post-industrial vibe that would make you feel like you're somewhere in Pittsburgh. Packed to the brim with restaurants, nightlife, cafes, multiple breweries, boutique shops, theaters, parks and more. The neighborhood also sits on the Schuylkill River, has the Manayunk Canal, access to the Schuylkill River Trail, and is close to the Wissahickon Valley Park - one of the most beautiful natural environments/parks I've yet to see within the city limits of a major US city. Manayunk also has direct transit access into Center City via the Manayunk or Ivy Ridge train stations of a SEPTA regional rail commuter line.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0256...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0250...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0288...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0279...7i16384!8i8192


Mount Airy - Large neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia. One of the most culturally, racially and economically diverse sections in all of Philadelphia, and in all of the country. Mount Airy is split into two main sections - East Mount Airy ranges from working class, to middle class, to upper middle class. West Mount Airy is further broken up into a couple of sections including Blue Bell Hill, Upsal, Carpenter and Allen Lane, and West Mount Airy ranges from middle class, to upper middle class, to upper class. Germantown Avenue is the main thoroughfare here with restaurants, cafes, nightlife, a theater and boutique shops, and it is surround by tightly pack urban residential streets, which give way to larger homes, and palatial historic mansions and estates. The area is mostly stunningly beautiful, leafy green, charming, with historic architecture. The area is also filled with parks and is close to the Wissahickon Valley Park as well. Mount Airy has two direct transit lines into Center City via two SEPTA regional rail commuter lines, servicing the Upsal, Allen Lane, Stenton, Sedgwick, and Mt. Airy stations.

Homes for sale in West Mount Airy:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Homes for sale in East Mount Airy:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0592...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0598...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0647...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0623...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0544...7i16384!8i8192


Chestnut Hill - the mother of all Northwest Philly neighborhoods. Chestnut Hill is still to this day the most beautiful neighborhood within the city limits of any US city I've been to. Chestnut Hill is a large neighborhood, and is stunningly beautiful, and is a highly desirable, upper class area. Germantown Avenue is also the main thoroughfare through Chestnut Hill and is packed with restaurants, cafes, nightlife, a brewery, boutique shops, theaters, the Woodmere Art Museum, etc. The area is also home to the beautiful Morris Arboretum, Chestnut Hill College, and so much more. Chestnut Hill is the closest neighborhood to the heart of the gorgeous Wissahickon Valley Park. Germantown Ave is surrounded by densely packed residential streets, which slowly give way to larger and larger homes until you reach some of the most beautiful, ornately designed historic palatial mansions and estates anywhere in the United States. The neighborhood has direct transit access into Philadelphia via two SEPTA regional rail commuter lines servicing 6 different train stations - St. Martins, Highland, Chestnut Hill West, Wyndmoor, Gravers, Chestnut Hill East.

Homes/condos for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...lphia_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0750...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0763...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0766...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0768...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0676...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0739...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0706...7i16384!8i8192


Ardmore - technically a Philadelphia suburb, but only on the technicality of not being within Philadelphia city limits. Ardmore is located just outside of Philadelphia, and is really just an eastern extension of Philadelphia's western urban sprawl. Ardmore is located in the most densely built up part of the Main Line, an uber wealthy collection of posh, upper class, old money and extreme wealth suburbs just outside of Philly. Leaving Philly and getting to Ardmore whether by car or train, you would never know you left the city limits if someone didn't tell you. In fact, Ardmore would absolutely still be considered a city neighborhood in a city like Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, etc... and is more urban/built up than a lot of the neighborhoods within the city limits of those cities. Ardmore is a middle class, to upper middle class, to upper class area. Ardmore is very walkable - the main thoroughfare is Lancaster Avenue through Ardmore, but there are several off shoots as well including Rittenhouse Place, Cricket Avenue, and Coulter Avenue/Suburban Square. The immediate surrounding residential streets are densely packed and urban, but give way to larger homes, gorgeous palatial historic estates and mansions. The neighborhood is packed with shopping, restaurants, cafes, a theater/music venue, a brewery, parks and more. Haverford College is within walking distance. Ardmore has direct public transit access into Center City via two transit lines - Ardmore Station, serviced by a SEPTA commuter regional rail line, and Amtrak. Also, the Norristown High-speed Line has 3 stations on the southern end of the neighborhood which connect to the Market-Frankford line into Center City.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...dmore_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0078...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0084...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0087...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0079...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0052...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0047...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0112...7i16384!8i8192


Media - Middle class to upper middle class to upper class "suburb" of Philadelphia - again, only a suburb by a technicality. Media is a dense, urban, walkable neighborhood, sitting right on the edge of Philadelphia's southwestern urban sprawl coming out of the city limits. Ditto to Ardmore, media would still be consider a city neighborhood, and is more urban than a lot of city neighborhoods of some other major US cities. You would never know you left the city if you weren't told so driving, taking the train or trolley to Media. The neighborhood is packed with restaurants, cafes, nightlife, boutique shops, a theater, breweries, museums, parks and more. The main thoroughfare of State Street is surrounding by densely packed residential streets, which give way to more suburban streets and then larger mansions. Media has 2 transit lines into Center City - a SEPTA regional rail commuter line servicing Media and Moylan-Rose Valley stations, and a trolley/line rail line running along State Street.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...Media_PA/sby-2

Street scenes:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9180...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9179...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9181...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9184...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9220...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9190...7i13312!8i6656


Collingswood - Middle class to upper middle class "suburb" of Philadelphia - again, only a suburb by a technicality. Getting to Collingswood via car or train, you would never know you left the city of Philadelphia if you weren't told. Collingswood is a dense, urban, walkable neighborhood sitting within the Eastern urban sprawl out of Philadelphia. Coming out of Philadelphia over the Ben Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River, you'll hit the small up-and-coming city of Camden first before you reach Collingswood afterwards. There are still some things to do in Camden, including the Philadelphia area's Aquarium - Adventure Aquarium, some music venues, a nice waterfront, the Battleship New Jersey, and an up-and-coming Downtown and Waterfront area, but afterwards, you may want to head to Collingswood for an extremely walkable and charming neighborhood packed with restaurants, cafes, boutique shops, breweries, parks, theaters and more. The main thoroughfare of Haddon Avenue is surrounded by densely packed residential streets in every direction. Collingswood has direct public transit into Camden and into Philadelphia via the PATCO highspeed line at the Collingswood Station. This same rail line also has 2 stops in Downtown Camden, before heading across the side of the Ben Franklin Bridge, back over the river and into Center City.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...swood_NJ/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9161...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9171...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9158...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9154...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9179...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9177...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9178...7i16384!8i8192


Haddonfield - the last neighborhood I'll mention here. Haddonfield is an upper middle class to upper class "suburb" of Philadelphia. For risk of sounding repetitive, Haddonfield is only a suburb by technicality, and you wouldn't know you weren't still in Philly if someone didn't tell you. Haddonfield is a dense, walkable urban neighborhood sitting on the edge of Philadelphia's eastern urban sprawl out of the city. Haddonfield is an extremely charming neighborhood packed with restaurants, nightlife, cafes, boutique shops, breweries, parks, a small museum, theaters, historical sites, and more. The main thoroughfare of Kings Highway is surrounded by densely packed residential streets in every direction, which eventually gives way to larger homes, mansions and estates. Haddonfield has direct public transit into Collingswood, Camden and into Philadelphia via the PATCO highspeed line at the Haddonfield station.

Homes for sale:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...field_NJ/sby-2

Street scenes:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8968...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8971...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8978...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9001...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9011...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8974...7i16384!8i8192


I mean, Philadelphia is one of the largest cities and metro areas in the United States, and is one of the best urban experiences in the United States...do you really think there are no posh, hip, desirable urban areas? Just silly.

This doesn't include any of the up-and-coming neighborhoods like Olde Kensington, East Kensington, Olde Richmond, Penn's Landing/Delaware Waterfront, Francisville, Spring Arts, Callowhill, Brewerytown, Templetown & North Broad Street, Point Breeze, Newbold, Pennsport, Powelton Village & West Powelton, Walnut Hill, Germantown, etc. etc... heck, even Camden, New Jersey is up-and-coming - a small city directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, and really just an extension of Philadelphia. There's also some other posh and/or hip, urban towns and small cities throughout the region a little further out from the city that I didn't include, like Phoenixville, Ambler, Wayne, Conshohocken, Bryn Mawr, West Chester, Newtown, Doylestown, New Hope, Bristol, Wilmington, Newark, Moorestown, Woodbury, etc. etc.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

LOL!

For real.

Next topic: which Illinois county has the best cornfields?

FIGHT!

Trick question. Indiana reigns supreme.

Then again, I've been told that there's more to Indiana than corn?

[muppet]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Exactly my point. Manhattan has 75% the population of Paris in half the land area. Manhattan is built to house people at a higher density than Paris.

Actually central Paris (not to be confused with the City of Paris or Commune de Paris) is very comparable -it's 65,226 per sq mile while Manhattan is 72,918 (and Manhattan is 50% smaller than Paris Intramuros).

Normally the Commune of Paris includes two forests outside the intramuros (former city walls) each multiple times larger than Central Park that lowers its density substantially.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by muppet

Actually central Paris (not to be confused with the City of Paris or Commune de Paris) is very comparable -it's 65,226 per sq mile while Manhattan is 72,918 (and Manhattan is 50% smaller than Paris Intramuros).

Normally the Commune of Paris includes two forests outside the intramuros (former city walls) each multiple times larger than Central Park that lowers its density substantially.

manhattan is a third smaller than what is considered central paris, not half.

[JManc]

Ok, we're moving away from the beer talk analogy and dangerously close to nerdy D&D territory. We may have to settle this debate with a roll of the d20 die.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by summersm343

I mean, Philadelphia is one of the largest cities and metro areas in the United States, and is one of the best urban experiences in the United States...do you really think there are no posh, hip, desirable urban areas? Just silly.

Thank you for the extensive tour! Very impressive examples of pleasant, walkable urbanity.

Forgettable? Pfft.