Where the United States was founded: Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and cheesesteaks, Pittsburgh's rivers and bridges, Amish farm country and the battlefield of Gettysburg.
Pennsylvania is where the United States began. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell stands across the street. Today Philadelphia is a big, characterful and good-value city, with a famous food scene, murals on thousands of walls and the Rocky steps at the art museum.
At the other end of the state, Pittsburgh sits where three rivers meet, crossed by hundreds of bridges, with steep neighbourhoods, inclines up the hillsides and excellent museums, including one dedicated to Andy Warhol, who was born there. In between lie rolling farmland and forest: Lancaster County, home to Amish communities who still travel by horse and buggy, the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, and the Pocono Mountains.
Give Pennsylvania four or five days: two or three for Philadelphia, and the rest for Lancaster, Gettysburg or Pittsburgh. It is easy to combine with New York and Washington DC, both within a few hours by train.
Philadelphia for most of the trip, with Pittsburgh at the other end of the state.
A big, characterful, good-value city full of history, murals and food.
A city of rivers, bridges and steep neighbourhoods, with excellent museums.
A historic small city at the heart of Amish country.
A small town beside the most famous battlefield of the Civil War.
Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west, and farmland, battlefields and mountains in between.
The city and its surroundings, including Valley Forge and the Brandywine Valley.
Rolling farmland where Amish families travel by horse and buggy.
The battlefield town and the orchards around it.
Forested mountains with lakes, waterfalls and ski resorts in the north-east.
Pittsburgh's rivers and neighbourhoods, and the forested hills to the south-east.
A huge forested region in the north, with the Pine Creek Gorge and Cherry Springs dark sky park.
In Philadelphia, visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Independence National Historical Park; tickets for Independence Hall are timed and free, but book ahead in busy seasons. Run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art like Rocky, walk Elfreth's Alley, one of the oldest residential streets in the country, and take a tour of the Mural Arts programme. Eastern State Penitentiary, a crumbling 19th-century prison, is one of the city's most memorable sights.
In Pittsburgh, ride the Duquesne Incline up Mount Washington for the view over the rivers and the city, visit the Andy Warhol Museum and spend time in the Strip District, a market area of food stalls and shops.
In Lancaster County, drive or cycle the back roads of Amish country and visit the farmers' markets. Gettysburg National Military Park, site of the turning point of the Civil War, has a museum and battlefield tours. Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's house built over a waterfall, is around 90 minutes from Pittsburgh.
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are free, as is most of Independence National Historical Park. Philadelphia's murals, Reading Terminal Market and the Rocky steps cost nothing.
The Gettysburg battlefield is free to walk or drive around, though the museum and guided tours charge. Pittsburgh's riverfront trails and Point State Park are free.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has pay-what-you-wish times.
The Philly cheesesteak, thin-sliced beef with melted cheese in a roll, is the city's icon, and the rivalry between the shops in South Philly is part of the experience. Also try a roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe, a soft pretzel and water ice in summer. Reading Terminal Market is the best place to eat a bit of everything.
In Pittsburgh, try a sandwich with the chips and coleslaw inside it, and pierogies from the city's Eastern European heritage. Lancaster County has Pennsylvania Dutch food: shoofly pie, whoopie pies and hearty farm dishes.
Pennsylvania has strict alcohol laws, but craft breweries are everywhere.
Philadelphia has a lively, affordable nightlife. Fishtown and Northern Liberties have bars, breweries and live music venues, Old City has bars near the historic sights, and the Gayborhood is the centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife.
Pittsburgh's South Side and Lawrenceville have bars and music. Sports bars fill up on game days for the Eagles, Phillies, Steelers and Penguins.
Bars close at 2am, and ID is checked everywhere.
Philadelphia's centre is walkable, and SEPTA runs the subway, buses and regional trains, including to the airport. Pittsburgh has buses and a short light rail, but a car or rideshare helps.
Philadelphia is a short Amtrak ride from New York, around an hour and a half, and Washington DC, around two hours. Amtrak's Keystone line runs to Lancaster and Harrisburg, and the Pennsylvanian runs across the state to Pittsburgh in around seven hours.
A car is the easiest way to explore Amish country, Gettysburg, Fallingwater and the Poconos.
Pennsylvania is good value compared with New York and Boston. Dorm beds in Philadelphia start around $40 to $55, and a cheesesteak costs around $12 to $18.
Sales tax is 6 per cent, rising to 8 per cent in Philadelphia and 7 per cent in Pittsburgh. Clothing is exempt. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Many of the big historic sights in Philadelphia and Gettysburg are free.
The main tourist areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are generally safe. Like any big US city, Philadelphia has neighbourhoods best avoided, particularly parts of North Philadelphia and Kensington, which has a visible drug crisis. Ask at your hostel and use rideshares at night.
In the countryside, drive carefully around horse-drawn Amish buggies, which are slow and hard to see at night, and do not photograph Amish people without asking.
Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
Independence Day where it began, and the Mummers on New Year's Day.
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The highest-rated hostels across Pennsylvania's main cities, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild and colourful. Summer is hot and humid in the cities. Winter is cold, with snow in the mountains and skiing in the Poconos.
Average highs for Philadelphia, rounded. Pittsburgh is slightly cooler.
Per night, for one person, based on Philadelphia prices.
Treat these as a guide. Car hire for the countryside costs extra.
The ones we get asked most.
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