10 Ways to Actually Enjoy a Layover at Philadelphia International Airport

PHL doesn’t have the best reputation among frequent flyers, but that’s mostly a matter of knowing where to look. The airport spans seven terminals and stretches nearly a mile and a half from end to end, which means there’s more going on than most people realize when they’re just trying to get from gate to gate. Whether you’ve got two hours or twelve, here’s how to make the most of it.

1. Eat a Real Philly Cheesesteak Before You Fly

You’re in Philadelphia. You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t. Geno’s Steaks has a location inside the airport, and Tony Luke’s is available in the Terminal F food court. Neither is quite the same as eating at 2 AM on South Street, but they’re close enough to count, and they’re a lot better than whatever’s in the vending machine. The airport’s street pricing policy means what you pay at PHL is the same as what you’d pay outside, which takes some of the sting out of airport dining.

2. Walk the Entire Terminal from End to End

This sounds like something you’d do out of desperation, but it’s genuinely worth doing at PHL. The full walk from Terminal A-West to Terminal F takes about 45 minutes nonstop and covers nearly a mile and a half of terminals, connectors, and concourses. You’ll pass through all seven terminals, encounter most of the airport’s dining and retail options, and get your steps in before a long flight. Pick up the shuttle at Gate F-14 to get between Terminal F and Terminal A if you’d rather not double back on foot.

3. Spend Time With the Airport’s Art Program

PHL’s art program is legitimately good, and it’s free. There are 19 exhibits spread across all terminals, featuring work from Philadelphia-area artists across a wide range of mediums. The five-panel mural series “Jawn: It’s A Philly Thing” is a standout worth tracking down, and if you’re up for it, the PHL Art Puzzle Challenge turns the whole collection into an interactive scavenger hunt. It starts at the B-C Connector, sends you to different exhibits to solve puzzles, and rewards you with a PHL art pin when you finish. It’s a solid way to kill an hour and actually see something worth seeing.

4. Find a Cheesesteak and a Screen in Terminal B

Terminal B went through a $30 million redesign that made it one of the better-looking spots in the airport. It’s got iPad stations throughout, seven restaurants from local chefs, and a general energy that feels less like an airport and more like a place someone actually designed. If you’re looking for somewhere to sit down, eat well, and catch up on whatever you’ve been meaning to watch, Terminal B is your best bet inside the terminal.

5. Grab a Book from the “Take a Book, Leave a Book” Library

Terminal A-West has a free informal library where travelers leave books they’ve finished and take ones they haven’t. It’s a small thing, but if you’ve been meaning to start something new before a long flight, this is a good place to find it without paying airport bookstore prices. The airport also has a virtual library concept in designated seating areas where you can access digital reading materials and, in some cases, sign up for a free library card.

6. Freshen Up at Minute Suites

If you’ve got a few hours and you’re feeling the wear of travel, a stint at Minute Suites in the A-B Connector is worth considering even if you’re not trying to sleep on your layover. You can shower for a flat fee, decompress in a private airport room, and get back on the plane feeling like a person again. It’s $65 an hour, which isn’t cheap, but it’s less than a hotel and you don’t have to leave the terminal. Priority Pass members get one free hour.

7. Catch a Game or a Round of Drinks at Re:Vive

PHL is a sports town, and Re:Vive in Terminal F leans into that with a solid bar setup and screens tuned to whatever’s on. If you’re traveling during Eagles season, a Phillies game, or any other moment when Philadelphia has a reason to watch something, Re:Vive is the right place to be. It’s also just a decent spot to have a drink and decompress between flights without feeling like you’re sitting in an airport.

8. Get a Massage or Treatment at the Spa

PHL has spa services available in the terminals, including chair massages and express treatments that can be done in 15 to 30 minutes without a reservation. If your back is tight from the last flight or you’ve got a long one coming up, this is a practical use of layover time that you’ll actually feel the benefit of. It’s one of those options that’s easy to walk past and then wish you hadn’t.

9. Head Into the City If You’ve Got Six Hours or More

PHL sits about seven miles from downtown Philadelphia, and the SEPTA Airport Line runs direct to Center City. Plan on about 45 minutes each way, plus two hours to clear security on your return, which means you realistically need six hours minimum to make a city visit work without stressing yourself out. If you’ve got it, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Reading Terminal Market are all within walking distance of each other downtown and can be done in a couple of hours. Note that as of September 2025, SEPTA reduced train service to one train per hour from the airport, so check the schedule before you commit. An Uber back to the airport gives you more flexibility on timing.

10. Find a Quiet Spot and Actually Do Nothing

This one’s underrated. PHL is loud and bright in most of the high-traffic areas, but if you move toward the far ends of the terminals, away from the food courts and main connectors, you’ll find gate areas that are considerably calmer. Terminal A-West is consistently quieter than the rest of the airport. The Quiet Room near the D/E connector is worth finding if you want somewhere to read, decompress, or just sit without noise. Sometimes the best use of a layover is giving your brain a break before the next leg of a long trip.

One Thing to Keep in Mind

PHL security can run slow, and travelers consistently report longer wait times than expected. Whatever you’re doing, build in more buffer time than you think you need before heading back to your gate. The airport is big, the lines are unpredictable, and the last thing you want is to cut a good layover short because you didn’t leave enough time to get back through.