Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia - Penn's Landing by IHG

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel sitting right on the Delaware River at Penn's Landing — step out the door and you're positioned to stroll the waterfront into Philadelphia's Old City. That's the main draw of the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia - Penn's Landing by IHG. The rooms here are Holiday Inn Express style: clean, simple, and genuinely usable, in light, easy tones, with soft beds, a choice of soft or firm pillows, a work desk, a mini-fridge, a microwave, and a coffee maker. For families, there's a two-bed option that lets parents and kids sleep comfortably in one room without squeezing. Some rooms sit at an angle that looks out over the river and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge crossing to New Jersey. The decor isn't flashy or luxurious, just clean and functional enough to settle in for several nights without feeling cramped — well suited to families who use the hotel as a base for getting out, not lounging in the room all day.

Food and amenities

The star everyone talks about most is the free hot Express Start breakfast, served every morning in the Holiday Inn Express style, and a lot of reviews agree it's tastier and more generous than you'd expect at this price. There are hot savory dishes, eggs, pastries, waffles, fruit, cereal, coffee, and the signature warm sweet cinnamon rolls — head down, eat your fill before taking the kids out, and skip both the search for a spot and the extra cost, saving a morning meal across the whole trip. With a microwave and fridge in the room, it's easy to warm milk, heat up kids' food, and keep snacks handy. There's also a fitness room for anyone who wants to work out, a business center in case you need to print, and free Wi-Fi throughout. But what makes a stay here stand out from the usual budget hotel is the waterfront spot itself. Step out of the lobby and you're at the Delaware River walkway of Penn's Landing, with its event plaza, small parks, and bridge views for the kids to run around at dusk. Some seasons bring an ice rink, a carnival, or outdoor concerts to drop by — a natural playground right at the hotel's front door.

Location and getting there

The location is genuinely the strongest card here. The hotel sits right on Penn's Landing along the Delaware River, next to Old City — where American history started — which means the big sights are nearly all within walking distance. It's about a 10-to-15-minute walk to Independence Hall, the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Liberty Bell, a national symbol. Along the way you'll pass Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential street in America, Christ Church, and the cute shops of Old City, lively by day with cafes and galleries. The activity kids love most is crossing the RiverLink pedestrian bridge or taking the ferry across the river to Adventure Aquarium, the big aquarium over in Camden, New Jersey, with sharks, hippos, and an underwater tunnel to walk through — just a few minutes across, so they learn history and sea life in one trip. For going farther, it's easy too: the 2nd St subway station on the Market-Frankford Line in Old City is close, and a few stops reach Center City, the shopping district, or connections elsewhere. For families who like ditching the car and exploring on foot mixed with the ferry and the subway, this spot is a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first and most important point for families: this hotel has no pool. If your picture is the kids splashing in a pool to cool off after a full day out, this won't deliver, and you'll need a hotel with a pool instead. The second is the rooms and building — they're Holiday Inn Express style, leaning more function than fresh luxury. Some reviews feel the rooms and common areas look plain and ordinary, with spots like the furniture or bathroom wanting a little extra upkeep. If you expect a brand-new luxury room, this may not match, but if you want a clean, usable stay at a reachable price, it holds up. The third is parking, a paid service charged separately per night that's fairly steep by downtown standards — budget for it if you're driving, or consider ditching the car for the subway and walking. The spot on a main riverfront road can also carry some traffic noise in certain rooms, so light sleepers should ask for a higher floor or the quieter side, and when a big city event or something at Penn's Landing is on, rates climb and fill fast — book ahead.

Our take

After reading through a lot of real reviews, the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia - Penn's Landing by IHG sells "a Penn's Landing waterfront spot, walk into Old City and the historic district, cross the bridge to Adventure Aquarium, and a free breakfast reviewers praise" at a friendly price. If your trip looks like walking the kids to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in the morning, strolling the Penn's Landing waterfront, then crossing the river to see sharks and hippos at Adventure Aquarium in the afternoon, before coming back to a filling free breakfast the next morning — all at an easy price — this is a very solid pick for families who prioritize location and value. But if you're after a pool for the kids, a brand-new luxury room, and a full sweep of upscale facilities, this plain, location-first approach may not be the answer. Overall we give it 7.7/10, best for families who want a riverside base for walking the historic city on a friendly budget, and who value the location and free breakfast over a pool and a brand-new luxury room.