The city of Brotherly Love is fully of history and character. With that being said, it is also prone to crime. If you are planning on visiting Philadelphia you may want to consider some things. First, make sure that you stay in a safe, well lit hotel. City center is great but try to avoid parking in areas at night that are not well lit. Find a lot that has attendants and is well maintained. Also, watch the traffic at crosswalks during peak traffic times.

Unless you have friends or family that you are visiting there, avoid North Philadelphia at night. Temple University is located in the area but otherwise it is full of gangs and drug activity. The old cliche that there is safety in numbers holds very true when visiting North Philadelphia. Market East, even with a high homeless population, is one of the safer areas in the city.

Subways are very easy to use in the city but beware of the platforms. Use the stairs and well lit areas at night. I have noticed that the locals always seem to avoid the platforms. I have followed this example and it has always worked very well for me.