Philadelphia Logan Square

The basics

No visit to Philadelphia is complete without exploring Logan Square. The fountain at the center of the neighborhood—Swann Memorial Fountain—has become a symbol of the city, as has JFK Plaza, better known as LOVE Park for its eponymous public statue. Little wonder that Logan Square has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981.

While many visitors’ experience of Logan Square is to breeze through it while on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the city’s highlights, it’s worth disembarking to get a closer look at museums like the landmark Philadelphia Museum of Art, only-in-Philly highlights like the Rocky statue and walking paths like the Schuylkill River Trail.

Things to know before you go

• Tempting as it may be (especially for younger visitors), swimming is prohibited at Swann Memorial Fountain.

• For an efficient and cost-saving way to explore the neighborhood’s museums, consider purchasing a Philadelphia Pass for your visit.

• For one of Philadelphia’s most emblematic views, head to the top of the Art Museum’s steps—you’ll see straight down the Ben Franklin Parkway to the William Penn-topped City Hall.

How to get there

Logan Square is located in Center City, Philadelphia. The neighborhood is centered where Logan Circle overlaps with the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and extends west to the Schuylkill River, east to Broad Street, north to Spring Garden Street, and south to Market Street. It is served by two major transit hubs (30th Street Station and Suburban Station) and can be reached by mainline trains, trolley lines, buses, and the Market–Frankford Line.

When to get there

Logan Square is a popular destination throughout the year, thanks to its wealth of cultural and historical attractions. It’s also home to some of Philadelphia’s most popular annual events, including the Fourth of July Fireworks, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Philadelphia Marathon in November.

The museums of Logan Square

No other neighborhood in Philadelphia rivals Logan Square for culture, thanks to its world-class museums. The unabashed highlight is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, considered one of the country’s preeminent art museums. The Barnes Foundation nearby is celebrated for its Impressionist masterworks, while the Rodin Museum has a strong collection of the sculptor’s works. But if science is more your thing, head to the Franklin Institute or the Academy of Natural Sciences.