The Philadelphia Region is in eastern Pennsylvania. Its two largest cities are Philadelphia and Allentown. Philadelphia is the cradle of American democracy, a former capital of the United States and the nation's fifth most populous city.
For the portion of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area that's in New Jersey, see Delaware River Region; for the portion in Delaware, see New Castle, Delaware.
{{Regionlist |region1name = Berks County |region1color= |region1items= |region1description=Reading
|region2name = Delaware Valley |region2color= |region2items= |region2description=Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia (coterminous with Philadelphia County)
|region3name = Lehigh Valley |region3color= |region3items= |region3description=Lehigh County, Northampton County }}
The Philadelphia region is the seventh most populated region in the nation, and the city of Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, is the nation's sixth largest city and the second largest city in the Northeast megalopolis (after New York City).
Philadelphia is home to the Philadelphia accent but is also a home to the greater Mid-Atlantic dialect. Some unique words found in the dialect include "pavement" instead of "concrete," "center city" instead of "downtown" and "hoagie" instead of "sub" or "grinder."
Philadelphia is served by Philadelphia International Airport, a large public airport that served nearly 10 million passengers in 2021 and is the 21st busiest airport in the United States. Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown serves the Lehigh Valley region roughly 60 miles north of Philadelphia.
In the city of Philadelphia, public transportation is extensive and convenient. In the suburbs however, service tends to be more spotty.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the body that is in charge of public transportation in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. It has bus, subway, trolley and commuter rail services.
New Jersey Transit (or NJ Transit) operates bus service between Philadelphia and various points in New Jersey, and also commuter rail services on the Northeast Corridor between Trenton, New Jersey and New York.
Travelers on East Coast itineraries can easily find a bus or train to other major cities on the east coast, including Washington, D.C., New York City, and Baltimore. Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore are also a short drive, bus, or train ride away. Travelers wishing to see more of Pennsylvania have the option of visiting Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch Country by journeying westward.