Boston or Philadelphia?

easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 14:15

I am travelling to America in late June - July. I will be spending 6 days in NYC, and end in Washington DC before flying to Canada. So between NYC and Washington I am planning to visit either Philly or Boston. Has anyone been to these 2 cities?

Logistically speaking Philly is so much closer than Boston from NYC and it's sort of on the way to Washington DC. However I am just not sure whether it would be a double up with DC since they are all about museums and history. If I go to Boston, would it be a very different feel to NYC and DC? If it's you, where would you go? I am travelling with my parents in their 60s and my 5yo son. Thanks.

Travel North America United States

Comments

  • spackbace on 04/04/2019 - 14:27
    +3

    That depends, how bad do you want to run up the steps like Rocky…?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Steps

    • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 15:41

      I certainly will if I go to Philly, but that's not the deal breaker lol

  • Fergy1987 on 04/04/2019 - 14:32
    +1

    I haven't been to either - But I don't think anything compares to New York or even Washington DC. New York is all hustle and bustle and awesome. And Washington DC is pretty relaxed and most of it is all about the monuments and stuff.

    I would just go to Philly because its not out of the way - That and I am a 76ers fan. I don't think you are going to miss much going to one instead of the other. Plus you can see the Rocky stairs in Philly :P

  • beeawwb on 04/04/2019 - 14:46

    I was born just north of Boston and visited Boston last year. I've never been to Philly, however if you're thinking that Philly is about museums and history… I'd say Boston is a lot of this as well. They take great pride in their revolutionary heritage (e.g. Tea Party Museum) and there's a lot of historic sites around the city. Both cities are going to be just as easy to get to and from NYC/D.C. if you're planning on flying.

    • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 15:41

      Was originally planning to bus to Boston from NYC and then fly to DC from Boston…. flights are so exxy.

      • beeawwb on 04/04/2019 - 16:56

        Yeah, I realised after I posted that there's probably more efficient ways of travelling. Originally my partner and I were planning on taking the train to/from Boston (we landed in NYC and then flew to Boston where we started a 10 day road trip around New England) but the timetables didn't align with our arrival flights so we flew to Boston and took the train back to NYC.

      • Donaldhump on 04/04/2019 - 17:51

        amtrak is cheap between boston and nyc

        • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 17:59

          I must be on the wrong website… last time I checked it's over US$100 one way? which website do you use?

  • sydneybargainer on 04/04/2019 - 14:59

    I recommend Philly and i have been there last year. I stayed in old town and i was surprised overall vibe of the city.
    Independence hall is must to visit - very good guided tour. it was worth it. there are other museums too.
    I took megabus - from dc to philly and philly to nyc. i think it was $5-10 each.

    • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 15:42

      that's cheap, how long is the ride between philly and DC?

      • sydneybargainer on 04/04/2019 - 17:42

        Bus took around 3 hrs.

      • jjjaar on 04/04/2019 - 17:57

        Train was about 2. Book in advance it’s super cheap.

        • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 17:59

          I must be on the wrong website… last time I checked it's over US$100 one way? which website do you use?

          • meowmeowmeow on 04/04/2019 - 18:47

            @easoweno: The Amtrak website will give you the price for all of you, so if booking for 4 people it will show about $150 one way. That's not per person. Although I suppose $150 is still a little expensive for a 2 hr trip…

            https://m.amtrak.com/h5/booking

            Bonus is the trains leave and arrive in the middle of the city, compared to airports which have transfer time etc. You only really need to be there 15 mins before your train leaves, although arrive earlier to make sure you find where to go!

          • jjjaar on 05/04/2019 - 03:50

            @easoweno: Washington to philly cost me about $35USD four years ago and I just checked a random day and the cheapest I can get now is $44 per person. (But when I said super cheap I meant in comparison to booking the same time train for today which could be as much as $120 per person).

            Yes the bus is cheaper than the train but you may also notice it. I went at the same time as some friends and they took the bus and said it was very cramped. This also may have changed.

            Ps if you do go to philly be sure to go to the Reading Terminal Market for lunch and dessert, it’s amazing.

  • Nalar on 04/04/2019 - 15:02
    +1

    Boston: it's main attractions is schools, American civil war history and Americans thinking they are Irish

    • 87percent on 04/04/2019 - 15:06

      don't forget the sporting heritage in Boston (Celtics, Redsocks, Bruins, Sort of Patriots) but i guess Philly has 76ers, Eagles, Flyers)

  • GG57 on 04/04/2019 - 15:06

    I would go to Boston.
    But that is my opinion, based on my likes / dislikes, and not having any real connection or want to see Philly. I decided this by viewing what each city had to offer on Trip Adviser and a couple of other sites.
    If I was travelling with others, I would discuss it with them and come to some agreement about which to visit.

    • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 15:44

      My parents say go with your guts, but my guts not giving me a clear yay or nay.

      • Cliche Guevara on 05/04/2019 - 10:07
        +2

        Boston Bun or Philly Cheesesteaks - your gut can decide…

  • branners on 04/04/2019 - 15:08
    +1

    If you are just going to the cities, I would recommend Boston. Lots to see, great pubs and friendly people, but keep your eyes open for traffic. For some reason, people tend to drive aggressively, and I know people from nearby who refer to them as 'Massholes'.
    Philly is interesting too, but for some reason, I never quite felt safe there. The suburb of North Philly is somewhere to stay clear of, so do not find yourself there. Even commuting through it to one of the better burbs, like Germantown, takes some planning.
    But if you are taking in some countryside, I would stick with the trip to Philly. Amish country is really worth seeing IMO, so if you can arrange transport that is flexible, do it.

  • meowmeowmeow on 04/04/2019 - 15:09

    How many days will you have in either Boston/Philly? I've been to both, neither need more than about 3 days. Your parents might like Boston as it's a bit more aesthetically pleasing, nicer scenery, has a nice harbour etc, but Philly has the liberty bell and independence hall (and the rocky steps haha)

    • meowmeowmeow on 04/04/2019 - 15:15
      +1

      On further thought, and depending on how many days you have, is there an option to do both? Go to Boston for a few days, and then spend a day in Philly on the way back to DC? In a day you could easily do independence hall/liberty bell and a quick jaunt up the rocky steps.

    • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 15:40

      I have 12 nights in America, so far I have planned 6 nights in NYC, last 3 nights in DC, and 3 nights in either philly or Boston. Won't do both because travelling with young and elderly we can't rush and really don't want to…. do you think 6 nights in NYC is way too long?

      • meowmeowmeow on 04/04/2019 - 16:07
        +4

        There's so much to do in NYC - you could easily just add your extra 3 days to NYC, or add 2 days to NYC and 1 to DC since you are travelling with people who won't want to rush. I've been to NYC 3 times and there's still things i haven't had time to do. Honestly, if there's not something in either Boston or Philly that you are really keen on doing, i would just add the time to NYC and DC.

        • beeawwb on 04/04/2019 - 16:58
          +2

          Seconded, there's so much to do in NYC you could find 6 nights is too short.

          • easoweno on 04/04/2019 - 17:57
            +1

            @beeawwb: Now I am starting to think maybe stay longer in NYC and washington only, then take a day trip to Philly from NYC one day….

            • meowmeowmeow on 04/04/2019 - 18:41

              @easoweno: This would be a lot less hassle…Philly is pretty small. You have to book the independence hall in advance if that's what you plan to do, but you can see the outside without booking from memory. Amtrak train shouldn't be too expensive to get there and back, you can book this in advance also.

            • afoveht on 05/04/2019 - 05:37

              @easoweno: Or take a day trip to the Hamptons for a change of pace.

        • DamonT on 05/04/2019 - 07:50

          Agreed, I spent 11 nights in NYC and I never got bored. There is so much to do and see. DC is great too esp all the Smithsonian museums. 3 nights is rushed but just choose the ones you care more about. Enjoy.

      • branners on 05/04/2019 - 19:29
        -1

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  • EFC94 on 04/04/2019 - 15:25

    I went to Philly a few years ago, without a doubt the most boring city I've ever been to. Not a whole lot to do there and absolutely nothing happening. Go to Boston instead.

  • Ryanek on 04/04/2019 - 15:36
    +2

    I prefer Sixers over Celtics so that's my answer!

    • Donaldhump on 04/04/2019 - 17:52

      charles barkley still playing for them?

  • Nalar on 04/04/2019 - 15:37
    +2

    Watch Always Sunny in Philadelphia, good travel guide for there

  • Skramit on 04/04/2019 - 19:26
    +1

    I went to both a couple years ago. Loved both so you’re good either way. The history stuff in both cities is fantastic and we loved doing the free walking tours in both.

    Philly has heaps of art places and stuff if your into that. Boston and philly both have great food scenes. Philly is really beautiful, but Boston has a vibe of its own.

    Really hard to split. I reckon just pick whichever one suits your itinerary or travel better and you can’t go wrong.

  • Hector on 05/04/2019 - 09:26
    +1

    Been to Philly 3x. Lived in Boston 2 years.

    Philly has Rocky Steps + Food

    Boston has old city, history (Tea Party, etc etc), Back Bay, Cambridge, Harbourfront + better sports + angry sports fans that are fun.

    Would do Boston 10 times out of 10

  • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2019 - 21:28

    Never been to Philly.

    Been to Boston. It's an amazing city.

    Aquarium.

    USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). The oldest warship still in use.

    Museum of Science.

    Amazing old Churches.

    Copley Place Tower virtually every upmarket retailer is there.Tiffanys has a guard at the door with a magnum. There is a lookout on the top floor overlooking the entire city.

    And many many other places to visit.

    If you like Clam Chowder it's the only place to get it.

    A warning…stay away from the "combat zone".

  • irishgal on 08/04/2019 - 09:46

    We went to New York last July, loved it and would go back in a second. We took the greyhound bus to Philly and walked to our hotel We stayed at the Courtyard. We loved Philly and its galleries and food plus it was a bit of a break after all the hustle of New York. There is an excellent food market a cross the road from the Courtyard.We did also travel to Boston and loved that too. Its hard to say which I prefer but if you want a slightly slower pace go with Philly. The bus was so cheap and easy to catch. Either way you will have a super time.

    • easoweno on 08/04/2019 - 22:31

      Thank you. How many days did you stay in Philly? Do you think 2 days enough?

      • irishgal on 09/04/2019 - 00:41

        We stayed two days but could easily have stayed a third. Its smaller than Boston which I think will suit your 5 year old and your parents a bit more after leaving N.York and before heading to D.c. We also went to D.C and loved it there too. No matter where you go you will have an awesome time.Only place I don't need to visit again is Indianapolis.

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