If you get sick or hurt in Philadelphia, you're rarely far from a major hospital: Jefferson and Pennsylvania Hospital are in Center City, and Penn Medicine and CHOP are in University City. Most minor problems can be handled at an urgent care clinic or a pharmacy. For chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, seizures or loss of consciousness, call 911 right away.
Quick decision guide: where to go in Philadelphia
- Minor illness or injury (cold, sprain, minor cut): visit an urgent care clinic near your neighborhood.
- Prescription refill: CVS and Walgreens both have Center City locations; check their store locators for 24-hour pharmacy hours.
- Serious emergency (chest pain, stroke, major trauma): call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
- Poison exposure: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 any time, day or night.
- Unsure whether it is an emergency: call 911 and let the dispatcher help you decide.
Emergency rooms near Center City Philadelphia
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is at 111 South 11th Street, phone 215-955-6000. Take the L (Market-Frankford Line) to 11th St and walk a block south. For travelers staying in Center City or Old City, it's usually the easiest major hospital to reach.
Pennsylvania Hospital is at 800 Spruce Street, phone 215-829-3000. It has a full emergency department and is walkable from much of Washington Square West and Society Hill. By transit, take the B (Broad Street Line) to Walnut-Locust and walk east.
Both hospitals take walk-in emergency patients around the clock. If your situation is life-threatening, call 911 rather than traveling on your own.
Hospitals near University City and West Philadelphia
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is at 3400 Spruce Street, phone 215-662-4000. Take the L to Drexel Station at 30th St and walk south through campus, or take a rideshare.
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is at 51 N. 39th Street, phone 215-662-8000. Medical Drive is closed, so use the Filbert Street entrance. 40th St on the L is about two blocks away.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is at 3401 Civic Center Blvd. Phone 215-590-1000. CHOP is the city's children's hospital. Take the L to Drexel Station at 30th St and take a short ride south, or call 911 in an emergency.
Hospital serving North Philadelphia and Temple University area
Temple University Hospital is at 3401 N. Broad Street, phone 215-707-2000. Take the B (Broad Street Line) north to Broad-Allegheny or Erie; the hospital is between the two. If you're staying in North Philadelphia, Temple is your closest major emergency department.
If you're in South Philadelphia near the sports complex, the B runs from NRG Station, which serves Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park, north through Center City. Get off at Walnut-Locust for Pennsylvania Hospital or at 15th St/City Hall and change to the L for Jefferson.
Philadelphia hospitals at a glance
| Hospital | Address | Phone | Nearest SEPTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson University Hospital | 111 South 11th St, Center City | 215-955-6000 | L to 11th St |
| Pennsylvania Hospital | 800 Spruce St, Washington Square West | 215-829-3000 | B to Walnut-Locust, then walk east |
| Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania | 3400 Spruce St, University City | 215-662-4000 | L to Drexel Station at 30th St |
| Penn Presbyterian Medical Center | 51 N. 39th St, University City | 215-662-8000 | L to 40th St |
| Temple University Hospital | 3401 N. Broad St, North Philadelphia | 215-707-2000 | B to Broad-Allegheny or Erie |
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | 3401 Civic Center Blvd, University City | 215-590-1000 | L to Drexel Station at 30th St |
24-hour pharmacies near Rittenhouse Square and Center City
CVS and Walgreens both have several Center City locations, including stores near Rittenhouse Square and along Market Street. Hours vary by store, so use the CVS store locator or the Walgreens store locator to find the nearest location with a 24-hour pharmacy counter.
Urgent care options for travelers in Philadelphia
Urgent care clinics handle problems like infections, minor injuries, flu symptoms and prescription needs when your regular doctor is out of reach. There are clinics in Center City, Old City and University City. Before you go, check the clinic's website or app for wait times; many let you hold your place in line.
Because clinic names and hours change, search "urgent care near me" in Google Maps to find one that's open now, and check its current wait time before you leave.
Practical tips for getting medical help in Philadelphia
- Save these numbers before you need them: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital 215-955-6000, Pennsylvania Hospital 215-829-3000, HUP 215-662-4000, Poison Control 1-800-222-1222.
- Use Google Maps or the clinic's own website to find urgent care with current wait times. A live search beats any static list for hours.
- SEPTA Metro fares are $2.90 per trip. The L (Market-Frankford Line) and B (Broad Street Line) connect most visitor neighborhoods to a major hospital.
- For hospital trips within the city, a rideshare is usually quicker than waiting for a cab.
- If you are staying near the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street or Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch Street, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is your closest major emergency room.
- For pediatric emergencies, go directly to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 3401 Civic Center Blvd in University City, or call 911 and tell the dispatcher the patient is a child.
Getting to a hospital on SEPTA
SEPTA Metro connects most of the neighborhoods where visitors stay to at least one major hospital. A single trip costs $2.90.
From Old City or Center City, the L (Market-Frankford Line) westbound reaches Drexel Station at 30th St for HUP and Penn Presbyterian, and eastbound reaches 11th St for Jefferson. The B (Broad Street Line) southbound from 15th St/City Hall reaches Walnut-Locust, the closest stop to Pennsylvania Hospital. Northbound on the B, get off at Broad-Allegheny or Erie for Temple University Hospital.
If you're too unwell to manage transit, call 911 or use a rideshare app. Don't drive yourself to an emergency room.
What to bring to a hospital or clinic
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card (or travel insurance details if you're visiting from abroad), a list of any medications you take and the name of your hotel. If you're picking up a prescription, have your doctor's details handy too, since the pharmacist may need to call them.
Official sources for medical information in Philadelphia
- Penn Medicine covers Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian, and Pennsylvania Hospital, with online scheduling and urgent care options.
- Jefferson Health covers Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and its urgent care network across the region.
- Temple Health covers Temple University Hospital and North Philadelphia facilities.
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health provides city-level health resources, vaccination sites, and public health alerts.
Frequently asked questions
What's the closest hospital to Center City Philadelphia?＋
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at 111 South 11th Street is the most central option for travelers in Center City and Old City. Pennsylvania Hospital at 800 Spruce Street is another good choice if you're staying south of Market Street. Both have emergency departments open around the clock.
What's the nearest 24-hour pharmacy to Rittenhouse Square?＋
CVS and Walgreens both have locations near Rittenhouse Square and across Center City. Pharmacy hours vary by store, so check the CVS store locator at cvs.com or the Walgreens store locator at walgreens.com to see which nearby branch has overnight pharmacy service.
Where should I go for urgent care in Old City Philadelphia?＋
There are urgent care clinics around Old City and the Independence Hall area. Search Google Maps for "urgent care near me" to see which are open and check wait times before you go. For anything more serious than a minor illness or injury, head to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at 111 South 11th Street or call 911.
How do I get to a hospital in Philadelphia without a car?＋
SEPTA Metro covers most trips. Take the L (Market-Frankford Line) to Drexel Station at 30th St for HUP and Penn Presbyterian, or to 11th St for Jefferson. The B (Broad Street Line) stops at Walnut-Locust for Pennsylvania Hospital and at Broad-Allegheny and Erie for Temple University Hospital. A trip costs $2.90. For emergencies, call 911.
What's the best hospital for children in Philadelphia?＋
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 3401 Civic Center Blvd in University City is the city's children's hospital. Take the L to Drexel Station at 30th St and take a short ride from there. In a pediatric emergency, call 911 and tell the dispatcher the patient is a child.
What should I do if I'm exposed to poison in Philadelphia?＋
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away; the line is open 24 hours a day. If the person is unconscious, having a seizure or not breathing, call 911 first.
