Why Live & Study in Philadelphia?

Avenue of the Arts

More than 20 performing arts venues such as The Academy of Music, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Merriam, Prince and Wilma Theatres (covering opera, ballet, jazz, plays, and orchestral music) are located along this 3-mile stretch, where theater, music, and the arts come together to form a cluster of cultural attractions that rivals any city in the world.

Rittenhouse Square

AVA is located one block south of Rittenhouse Square, the city’s most desirable neighborhood. The square’s many great restaurants, sidewalk cafés, and bookstores are a big attraction.

Fairmount Park

The nation’s largest landscaped city park is a mecca for students, athletes and art lovers. With 8,900 acres and 100 miles of jogging trails, you’ll find works by Remington, Rodin and other artists throughout the park. Many students come here to rent bikes, boats, or rollerblades. Others just sit along the river, catch some rays and read.

Italian Market & South Philly

Dubbed “the world’s largest outdoor market,” this one-of-a-kind experience dates back to the mid-1800s. Students often venture here for a real Italian meal, a “water ice,” or to soak up the South Philly atmosphere. Head over to 9th and Passyunk at any hour for the most famous of Philly foods: a cheesesteak. South Philly is also the home of Philadelphia’s great sports teams—The Phillies’ Citizen’s Bank Park, the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field, and the Flyers and 76ers’ Wachovia Center. All are easily accessible by public transportation.

Old City/Historic District

Philly students don’t just read about American history—they go see it firsthand. “America’s Most Historic Mile” is a great experience at any age. Nearby is also where Philly’s art scene ignites on the “First Friday” of each month. Not to be missed.

South Street/Penn’s Landing

South Street’s 11 blocks of funky shops, galleries, restaurants, and clubs are where Philly’s student population merges and mingles all week long. Referred to in song as “the hippest street in town,” South Street leads right to Penn’s Landing, a waterfront park that, among other things, hosts more than 70 outdoor events and concerts each year, and most events are free.

University City

With over 40,000 students from the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, students definitely rule. This neighborhood mixes urban life with tree-lined streets and historic Victorian homes, and it’s quickly becoming the Harvard Square of the Mid-Atlantic. Located just across the Schuylkill River from downtown, University City is home to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Annenberg Performance Center, and Penn’s Archaeology Museum. U City also boasts top restaurants, like Pod, Rx, and The White Dog Café, as well as a dizzying array of ethnic eateries offering up the true flavors of India, Africa, and Southeast Asia.