State · Washington e o Meio-Atlântico

Pensilvânia

In Pennsylvania the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed: Philadelphia and the Liberty Bell, Bethlehem and the Amish farms of Lancaster.

In the photo: Independence Hall, Philadelphia

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Pensilvânia

Pennsylvania is in the northeastern United States, between New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Lake Erie. The capital is Harrisburg; the largest city is Philadelphia, in the east, about 150 km from New York and 225 km from Washington.

In Philadelphia, Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the building where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787; opposite it, in a pavilion, is the Liberty Bell. The Philadelphia Museum of Art has the staircase made famous by the film Rocky, and the Reading Terminal Market is the city's best-known covered market.

Bethlehem, about 90 km to the north, was founded by Moravians in the 18th century, and its historic center is part of the UNESCO heritage of the Moravian Church Settlements. In December the town is decorated for Christmas, with a market and lights.

In the southern part of the state, Lancaster County has Amish communities who live without cars and travel by buggy, and Gettysburg preserves the battlefield of the 1863 Civil War. In the west, Pittsburgh sits where three rivers meet, and nearby is Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s house over a waterfall. On the table, Philadelphia cheesesteak and soft pretzels.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are usually the nicest seasons, with colorful leaves in October. Summer tends to be hot and humid. Winter is cold, with snow on some days, and December features Bethlehem’s Christmas festivities.

Getting there

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is about 15 km from downtown, with train service to the city. Connections from Brazil are usually via another U.S. city. Confirm before booking. Amtrak trains link Philadelphia to New York in about an hour and a half and to Washington in about two hours. Bethlehem is served by Lehigh Valley Airport (ABE) and by buses from New York and Philadelphia.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Pensilvânia

Can you see Philadelphia on a day trip from New York?

Yes: the train takes about an hour and a half, and the historic center, with Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, can be explored on foot. With only one day there's little time for museums; with an overnight stay you can fit in the Museum of Art and the Reading Terminal Market.

How to visit Independence Hall?

Visits are guided and there is no admission fee, but a timed ticket is required, either reserved in advance or picked up at the visitor center depending on the season. The Liberty Bell is in a pavilion opposite the building, with its own line.

Where to see Amish communities?

In Lancaster County, about an hour and a half by car from Philadelphia, in towns such as Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand and Strasburg. Farms and buggies are part of family life: residents ask not to be photographed up close.

How many days for Philadelphia?

Two days are enough for the historic center, the Museum of Art and the neighborhoods of Old City and Society Hill. A third day allows a visit to Bethlehem or the Lancaster farms.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.