On foot: As is the case with most major cities on the East Coast, Philadelphia is better experienced without a car. In addition to avoiding traffic, you'll be able to get a greater sense of Center City and its residents, of whom almost 40% walk to work every day! Thanks to the easy-to-learn grid, you'll feel like a local in no time. And if you want to know where the locals go and how they get there, check out our downloadable walking tours!

If you get turned around, you're never far from a Walk! Philadelphia map. Located mid-block on light-posts all over Center City, they are always oriented towards whichever direction you are currently facing, which eliminates the need to enact the old tourist cliché of standing on your head to read a fold-out map.

By public transportation:SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) carries half a million people a day on its multi-modal system of subways, buses and trolleys in the city, and its network of suburban rail lines. On city routes, the cash fare is $2, but buying tokens lowers the price to 1.45 per ride. Day Passes are also available for 6.00. You can even order maps, tokens and passes online! Click here for SEPTA station stops for area colleges.

Here are some key routes that you would likely use on a college visit to Philadelphia:

R1 Airport Train : The R1 makes trips every 30 minutes between Center City Philadelphia and Philly International, with a stop for each terminal. In addition to three downtown stops, the train also stops at University City Station. The R1 Airport Train is 1 of 13 regional rail lines, which make stops at several suburban campuses, as well as outlying student zones like Chestnut Hill (R8) and Manayunk (R6). You can find a map of the rail system here.

Market-Frankford Line (MFL or Blue Line): This is Philadelphia's most-used subway line. It travels east-west under Market St, taking riders from hot neighborhoods like Northern Liberties and Old City through the historic district, under City Hall to Amtrak's 30 th st. station and University City. Outside of these central stops, the train comes above ground, which is why many locals refer to it as ‘the El'. For a map of this line, click here.

Subway Surface Lines (SSL or Green Lines): Subway-Surface Trolleys operate underground in Center City, using the same tunnel as the MFL from City Hall to Amtrak's 30 th st station. In University City, they come above-ground to serve five different areas of West Philadelphia (hence the name subway-surface). Take any route except the #10 to reach University City. For a map of this line, click here.

Broad Street Line (BSL or Orange Line): The Broad Street Subway crosses the El at City Hall, acting as the north-south axis of the system. It is most often used to travel southbound to the Sports Complex, where all of Philadelphia's professional sports teams play. To the north, it serves several colleges and the neighborhoods of North Philadelphia. For a map of this line, click here

Route 100 (Purple Line): This light-rail line connects to the Market-Frankford Line at 69 th street station, providing an alternative to regional rail trains for reaching the towns of Philadelphia's famous Main Line (Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, etc).For a map of this line, click here.

By taxi: There are several taxi companies operating in Philadelphia 24 hours a day. They can be hailed from any location, and are easiest to find in front of hotels and in high-traffic tourist areas.

By car: Driving in Philadelphia is relatively straightforward, and most would agree that signage is good. Do keep in mind that most streets go only one-way, with a few rare exceptions such as Broad Street.

Parking is plentiful in Center City, but can fill up in popular tourist areas, especially on nights and weekends. Use the online Parking Locator to find a garage or lot nearest to your destination. If you park on the street, pay close attention to posted time limits and restrictions. Metered spots can be paid for with quarters or SmartCards.

Finally, don't forget to grab directions to all of the schools on your list. For driving times between Philadelphia's colleges and universities, check out the Miles and Minutes Chart!