Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square is a practical base for women traveling alone, with a busy park, steady foot traffic and plenty of places to eat solo. It costs more than other areas, and the quieter residential blocks are best avoided late at night.

Rittenhouse Square is the easiest base for a woman traveling alone. The park is busy from morning until evening with dog walkers, readers and office workers on lunch break, and the surrounding streets are lined with restaurants, boutiques and cafes. Most blocks have foot traffic well into the night, and sidewalk dining makes a solo meal unremarkable. Residents are mostly professionals, students and families, so it feels lived-in rather than touristy. Prices are higher than in most of the city. Side streets like Delancey Place and Spruce are quiet after midnight, so if you're heading home late, stay on Walnut, Chestnut or Sansom Streets.