Penn Walking Program: Sample Routes
University City District has created a detailed illustrated map of University City that offers a wonderful overview of the area.
University City and West Philadelphia have a lot to offer the interested walker. However, “Where should I walk?” can be a surprisingly difficult question if you’re not very familiar with the area. Fortunately, the Penn Walking Program offers you some tools to help choose a route that’s right for you.
» Sample Routes
» How to Plan Your Own Walking Routes
These walking tours, based around specific themes and areas of the city, can help you learn about Philadelphia even as you enjoy a pleasant walk:
- Cultural Walking Tour (courtesy of University City District)
This roughly two-mile walking tour will take you to some of the many interesting cultural sites on and around Penn’s campus, including art galleries, churches and museums.
- West Philadelphia Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks and Poor Richard’s Walking Tours)
West Philadelphia is home to some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city, thanks to the abundance of greenery and Italianate, Victorian and Queen Anne-style architecture. This tour will take you through some of those neighborhoods while pointing out some of the restaurants and other cultural attractions that are well worth checking out.
- Art Museum Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks and Poor Richard’s Walking Tours)
Sometimes, the fact that Penn lies on the other side of a river from the world-renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art makes it easy to forget that the Art Museum District is well within walking distance! This tour will take you from the Penn bookstore, through Powelton Village and Drexel University, down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and finally into the heart of Center City next to City Hall.
- Avenue of the Arts Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks and Poor Richard’s Walking Tours)
The aptly-named Avenue of the Arts is home to numerous playhouses, dance companies, music halls and other artistic attractions. This tour starts at City Hall and showcases several major venues before bringing you to historic Reading Terminal Market.
- Chinatown Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks and Poor Richard’s Walking Tours)
Although it is commonly referred to as Chinatown, this district in the north of Center City is actually home to restaurants featuring the cuisine of nearly every country in Asia. Churches, temples, works of art and a concert hall round out the list of reasons to make an on-foot visit (as if you needed more).
- Historic Philadelphia Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks and Poor Richard’s Walking Tours)
It’s no secret that Philadelphia is one of the country’s oldest and most historically significant cities. But when was the last time you explored some of our less well-known historical neighborhoods and sites? This tour goes beyond Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell and also shows you sites such as the city’s oldest tavern and residential street, former factory buildings that have become hip art galleries, and more.
- South Philadelphia Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks and Poor Richard’s Walking Tours)
No one can claim to “know” Philadelphia without also knowing South Philly! This tour will take you into the heart of this vibrant, distinctive section of the city. South Philly’s is home to attractions including the famous Italian Market, the city’s oldest neighborhood, and the exciting and eclectic South Street.
- Rittenhouse Square Walking Tour (courtesy of PennTracks)
Stroll through the Victorian neighborhoods that surround Rittenhouse Square and into some of the finest shopping and dining spots in the city. Along the way you'll see parks, sites from movies, countless restaurants, churches, and many of the features that make Philadelphia one of the most beautiful cities in the country!
- University City Walking Tours (courtesy of the University City District)
Creating your own walking route can be as simple as putting on your walking shoes, stepping outside, and seeing where your feet take you. Of course, that’s not always the best plan of action—especially if you’re trying to see a specific site, or to figure out exactly how far you’ll be walking. If you’d prefer to plan out your walking routes ahead of time, the Penn Walking Program recommends that you visit www.WalkJogRun.net, an easy-to-use website that lets you create routes to walk, jog or run. WalkJogRun uses a version of the Google Maps interface with which many people are already familiar, but adds tools that tell you the distance of your route, the length of time it will take you based on your estimated speed, and the number of calories you are likely to burn.
Here are some pre-made walking routes for beginning and intermediate walkers. Using these routes will not only provide you with a great walk, but will also help you become familiar with the WalkJogRun site so that you can create your own routes:
- Beginner Route—Map #1
This roughly half-mile route is a simple circle starting on the corner of Walnut and 34th Streets and extending two blocks north and two blocks west.
- Beginner Route—Map #2
This mile-long walking route starts at the intersection of Chestnut and 36th Streets, then heads south and east to historic Franklin Field, and finally loops back.
- Beginner Route—Map #3
Walking west down Locust Walk and back East on Spruce Street, this trip is almost exacly a mile long.
- Beginner/Intermediate Route—Map #4
Clocking in at just over a mile and a quarter, this route will take you west from the heart of Penn’s campus into the commercial district located near Locust and 40th Streets, then back along beautiful Locust Walk.
- Intermediate Route—Map #5
Slightly more challenging than the routes above, this walk lasts more than a mile and a half, and consists of a slightly winding route from the intersection of Walnut and 33rd Streets to the intersection of Spruce and 40th Streets and back.