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So you’ve decided to head to Philly to see Pope Francis. Check out our guide below for road closings, how to navigate public transportation and what restaurants are offering the pope related specials.
Getting in and out
Beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, the following highways will be closed:
• I-76 eastbound from I-476 to I-95.
• I-76 westbound from I-95 to Route 1.
• I-676 will be closed in both directions from I-76 to I-95.
US Route 1 will be closed in both directions from US Route 30 to Belmont Avenue.
• I-95 will be open. However all exists leading into the no-vehicle area will be closed. Ramps leading to Delaware Avenue and Washington Street will only be opened to registered buses.
• The Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed from Friday night until noon Monday to allow for pedestrian crossing. Alternatives to the Ben Franklin include the Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross, Commodore Barry and Tacony-Palmyra Bridges.
• There are over 8,000 waterfront parking spots available in Camden, N.J., available for $43.78 per day. Cars must be registered at in advance at https://gatewaytothepope.clickandpark.com/. From Camden, visitors can walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge, which is closed to vehicles, or hop on the RiverLink Ferry. Tickets are $7 and must be purchased in advance from www.ticketfly.com.
Security perimeter
The Ben Franklin Parkway and Independence Mall, both areas where Pope Francis is expected to speak, will be surrounded by a security perimeter. Anyone going in must pass through a metal detector screening. Bike traffic is not permitted.
Fences will line the areas, with entry points that will not allow vehicular access. Outside of that is the Secure Vehicle Perimeter, where only official vehicles can access. Cars must be removed from the zone ahead of time.
Public transportation
Utilizing public transportation is your best bet for navigating the city.
Regional Rail: Every Regional Rail line has no more than three stations open and will run inbound to 30th St or Jefferson Station from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., trains will run outbound from those stations to whatever stations are open. A Papal Visit Pass is required to board the train. The Airport Line will operate normally, leaving from Jefferson Station every 30 minutes. Special tickets are not needed.
Subway: To use Trolley Routes 101 and 103 and the Norristown High-Speed Line, you will need a $10, three-day Papal Visit Pass, which is good from September 26-28. Within the city, the subway will run in both directions and include both express and local service.
Buses: Most buses will operate, although some routes will follow weekday schedules rather than weekends.
For further details, visit http://www.septa.org/fares/special-papal-visit.html.
Bikes
A bike will give you almost unlimited access to the festival areas, with the exception of ticketed areas at Independence Mall and the parkway.
Don’t have a bike? There are four Indego bike-sharing stations in the city that will be staffed by people who can answer visitor questions. While 15 stations are closed for the visit, there will be bikes available at many of the public stations. Visit http://rideindego.tumblr.com/ for up to date information.
Accommodations
The city warned visitors that hotels would all be booked. But good news, there are still plenty of hotel rooms available throughout the city, most of which do not have a minimum stay requirement.
Some hotels are even offering incentives for guests. If you stay at a city hotel over the weekend, you’ll receive two free tickets to the One Liberty Observation Deck. The tickets can be used from January 1-March 31, 2016.
Other perks include snack items and SEPTA tokens.
Staying right by City Hall at the Courtyard by Marriott, Philadelphia Downtown, will run you $514 a night over the weekend. The DoubleTree in Center City costs $399 a night. Hotels in the suburbs will cost significantly less, but you’ll have to navigate public transportation to get into the city for the events.
You can also find listings on Airbnb. Additionally, host families are offering lodging through the World Meeting of Families Congress. Listings run from $40 to $850 and can be found at https://worldmeeting2015.homestay.com.
If you’re looking for a more rustic experience, visit http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/ for a list of local campgrounds.
Food scene
Most restaurants will be open, including within the Francis Festival Zone. Even the famed Reading Terminal will extend hours on Friday and Saturday. Many of the city’s food trucks will also be inside the festival area so there will be plenty of food options.
Restaurants have been encouraged to put signs in their windows indicating that they are open for business. For the latest information, check out the Twitter hashtag #OpenInPHL (https://twitter.com/hashtag/openinphl).
Pope inspired food specials can also be found throughout the city. At DiBruno Bros., pick up the Epiphany Sandwich or grab the Basilica Burger at Village Whiskey. Underdogs is selling The Pope Dog (or the Francis Furter), which is made from chorizo sausage. Other dining options, like Amada, are offering prix-fixe tasting menus. Check out www.visitphilly.com for a full list of specials.
Seeing the Pope
At this point, tickets are no longer available for the pope’s major public events, so you’ll have to brave the crowds in the public spaces to get close.
The pope’s visit isn’t as daunting as it seems. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the various events. Be prepared for long waits, especially at security checkpoints, but overall, there are lots of options for traveling in and out of Philadelphia, as well as within the city itself.
