Pennsylvania travel guide: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Gettysburg & Amish Country

E By Emma · Updated 21 October 2026 · 2 min read

Airports

Philadelphia (PHL), direct from London and other UK airports; Pittsburgh (PIT), seasonal direct flights from London in some years

Best time to go

April-June and September-October

Type

State

Pennsylvania is where modern America began. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed in Philadelphia, and the state's battlefields, from Valley Forge to Gettysburg, shaped the nation's history. It is also a state of rolling farmland, forested mountains and post-industrial cities that have found new life.

Philadelphia in the east and Pittsburgh in the west are two of America's most underrated cities, and the countryside between them holds Amish farms, scenic railways and architectural treasures. For the wider picture, see our USA guide.

Things to do

1. Philadelphia – Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its "Rocky steps", and Reading Terminal Market. See our Philadelphia guide.
2. Gettysburg – the battlefield of July 1863 and the site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, best explored with a licensed guide.
3. Lancaster County – Amish and Mennonite farmland, markets, quilts and horse-drawn buggies.
4. Pittsburgh – the inclines up Mount Washington, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie museums and a lively food scene.
5. Fallingwater – Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, a house built over a waterfall; tours must be booked in advance.
6. Valley Forge – where Washington's army wintered in 1777-78, now a national historical park.
7. The Poconos – lakes, forests and family resorts, popular for autumn breaks.
8. Hershey – the chocolate town with a theme park and Chocolate World.

Where to stay

• Philadelphia – Old City for history, Center City and Rittenhouse Square for restaurants.
• Pittsburgh – downtown, the Strip District or Lawrenceville.
• Lancaster – inns and farm stays in Amish Country.
• Gettysburg – historic inns close to the battlefield.
• Laurel Highlands – lodges and resorts near Fallingwater.

Getting there

American Airlines and British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Philadelphia, a flight of around eight hours, and there have been direct flights from other UK airports too. British Airways has operated seasonal direct flights to Pittsburgh. Philadelphia is also a short Amtrak ride from New York City and Washington DC. A car is useful for the countryside. You will need an approved ESTA.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are mild and comfortable for sightseeing, with superb foliage across the state in October. Summer is warm and humid, but good for festivals and the Poconos. Winters are cold, with snow likely in the mountains and the west.

Top attractions in Pennsylvania

Nature

Central Park

Manhattan's 843-acre green heart, with lakes, meadows, bridges and woodland stretching for 51 blocks between Midtown…

Landmark

Statue of Liberty

The copper colossus in New York Harbor, a gift from France in 1886, visited by ferry with Ellis Island on the same trip.

Pennsylvania on the map

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