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Allentown
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Allentown, Pennsylvania pairs Lehigh Valley history with museums, arts venues, historic districts, parks and family-friendly attractions in an urban setting.

Industrial Heritage and Urban Character

Allentown stands along the Lehigh River in eastern Pennsylvania, at the centre of the Lehigh Valley and within reach of Philadelphia and New York. Once shaped by iron production, railways and heavy manufacturing, the city has developed a more varied identity while retaining visible traces of its industrial past. Downtown streets combine nineteenth-century commercial buildings with arts venues, independent businesses and the large PPL Center, while the Old Allentown Historic District preserves rows of Victorian-era houses and small urban parks.
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Museums, Music and Public Life

Culture has a strong presence in the city. The Allentown Art Museum brings European, American and decorative arts to a handsome civic setting, while the Allentown Symphony Orchestra performs at Miller Symphony Hall, one of the region's important historic concert venues. Families are drawn to the hands-on Da Vinci Science Center and the transportation-focused America On Wheels Museum. West Park provides a leafy setting for concerts and community events, and the Allentown Rose Gardens add carefully planted colour beside the city's parkland.

The Lehigh Valley Setting

The surrounding landscape gives Allentown an accessible regional context: the Lehigh River, wooded hills and former canal corridors reflect the geography that supported transport and industry. The Great Allentown Fair brings agricultural traditions and large-scale entertainment to the city each year, while nearby communities such as Bethlehem and Easton offer additional museums, historic districts and cultural events without being part of Allentown itself. Exploring the city means moving between revolutionary history, industrial memory, neighbourhood streets and an increasingly active arts scene.

When is the best time to visit Allentown?

Best: June, August–September · 24–28°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January372
February363
March1088
April1681
May2295
June (best)26101
July29109
August (best)28101
September (best)2496
October1885
November1185
December482

Getting to and around Allentown

How to get there

Allentown is served by Lehigh Valley International Airport, located in nearby Hanover Township, north of the city, with road links towards the urban centre. The airport is the most convenient air gateway for many visitors, although flight choices vary. Allentown lies close to Interstate 78 and Interstate 476, making it accessible by car from New York City, Philadelphia and other parts of Pennsylvania. Intercity bus services serve the Lehigh Valley through the Allentown Transportation Center and other regional stops, while rail travel generally requires using stations elsewhere in the region because Allentown does not have regular intercity passenger rail service. Check current routes and schedules before travelling.

Transportation

Downtown Allentown and the Old Allentown Historic District are practical areas to explore on foot, but the wider city and surrounding Lehigh Valley are spread out. LANTA, the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, operates local bus services across Allentown and neighbouring communities. Taxis and app-based rides are useful for destinations beyond the central districts, while car travel is often the most flexible option for museums, shopping areas and regional excursions. Parking arrangements vary between downtown garages, on-street spaces and attractions. Cycling is possible on selected routes, but visitors should not assume a continuous citywide cycle network. Traffic can be heavier around major event venues and the fairgrounds.

Best attractions in Allentown

Allentown's principal attractions range from art and science to local history and family entertainment. The Allentown Art Museum presents European, American and decorative works in a long-established civic institution, while the Da Vinci Science Center offers interactive exhibits designed around experimentation and discovery. At America On Wheels Museum, historic cars, trucks and other vehicles explain how transport changed everyday life and the region's economy. The Old Allentown Historic District is an attraction in its own right, with nineteenth-century architecture, independent businesses and a walkable residential streetscape. West Park provides open lawns, mature trees and a setting for community events, while the Allentown Rose Gardens bring formal planting to the city's park system. PPL Center adds concerts, ice hockey and large-scale events downtown, and Trout Hall offers a more intimate connection with the city's colonial beginnings. The nearby Allentown Fairgrounds host major seasonal events but are a separate venue from downtown.

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Best landmarks in Allentown

Allentown's landmarks trace its development from colonial settlement to industrial city. Trout Hall, associated with William Allen, recalls the town's eighteenth-century origins, while Zion's Reformed Church is linked to the wartime concealment of the Liberty Bell in 1777. The Old Allentown Historic District preserves substantial rows of nineteenth-century homes and commercial architecture, giving the city one of its most coherent historic streetscapes. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the centre of the city commemorates local service and sacrifice, and the Lehigh County Courthouse reflects the civic importance Allentown acquired as the area's principal urban centre. Miller Symphony Hall, originally built as a theatre, represents the city's long tradition of public entertainment and music. Together these sites reveal the changing roles of religion, government, commerce, memory and performance in Allentown's urban life.

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Explore Allentown on the map

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Best restaurants in Allentown

Allentown's food culture reflects the Lehigh Valley's Pennsylvania German foundations, later immigration and contemporary American dining. Visitors may encounter regional comfort food, bakery traditions, sausages, pretzels and hearty preparations associated with eastern Pennsylvania, alongside Italian, Latin American, Caribbean, Asian and other cuisines shaped by the city's modern communities. Restaurants and casual eateries are concentrated in and around downtown, Hamilton Street and nearby commercial districts, while cafés, bakeries and family-run businesses add a more local rhythm than the city's large event venues suggest. The city's historic and working-class background is also visible in diners, pizzerias and neighbourhood establishments, whereas newer dining rooms bring broader influences and updated interpretations. The Allentown Farmers Market, located outside the downtown core, is a long-established place to browse regional produce, prepared foods and speciality vendors, with its exact trading pattern best checked before visiting.

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Best bars in Allentown

Allentown's evening life is centred on restaurants, neighbourhood bars, live performance and scheduled events rather than a single concentrated club quarter. Downtown and the Hamilton Street area offer bars and casual venues near PPL Center, where concerts, hockey and other events can make the central streets especially active. Miller Symphony Hall provides a more formal setting for orchestral music and performances, while smaller stages and community arts spaces contribute to the city's cultural calendar. Breweries and taprooms in the wider Lehigh Valley have added to the region's evening choices, though locations outside the city require transport planning. Nightlife varies considerably by night and season, and visitors should check current venue programmes rather than assume that every establishment operates late. As elsewhere in Pennsylvania, alcohol service and entry are subject to American age and identification requirements.

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Best nightclubs in Allentown

Allentown's evening life is centred on restaurants, neighbourhood bars, live performance and scheduled events rather than a single concentrated club quarter. Downtown and the Hamilton Street area offer bars and casual venues near PPL Center, where concerts, hockey and other events can make the central streets especially active. Miller Symphony Hall provides a more formal setting for orchestral music and performances, while smaller stages and community arts spaces contribute to the city's cultural calendar. Breweries and taprooms in the wider Lehigh Valley have added to the region's evening choices, though locations outside the city require transport planning. Nightlife varies considerably by night and season, and visitors should check current venue programmes rather than assume that every establishment operates late. As elsewhere in Pennsylvania, alcohol service and entry are subject to American age and identification requirements.

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Best shops in Allentown

Shopping in Allentown ranges from independent businesses and speciality food sellers to larger retail areas outside the historic centre. Hamilton Street and downtown offer locally owned shops, cafés and services alongside the city's cultural venues, while the Old Allentown Historic District has a more residential, small-business atmosphere. The Allentown Farmers Market is a useful stop for produce, prepared foods, baked goods and regional specialities, although it is a market hall rather than a traditional open-air square. Shoppers seeking antiques, vintage goods and independent finds can explore selected businesses in older neighbourhoods, while the broader Lehigh Valley contains suburban shopping centres and national retailers beyond the city. Pennsylvania Dutch-influenced foods, local bakery products, craft beverages and small maker goods provide more distinctive souvenirs than generic merchandise, and market or shop schedules should be checked in advance.

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Allentown essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards, including contactless cards and mobile wallets, are widely accepted at hotels, museums, restaurants and larger shops, although small vendors, markets and some independent businesses may still prefer or require cash. ATMs are available in commercial areas, banks and many convenience stores; international visitors should check their card issuer's foreign-exchange and withdrawal charges. When paying by card in restaurants, a tip is commonly added after the meal, and card terminals may present a gratuity option. Carrying a modest amount of small cash is useful for incidental purchases, parking and businesses with minimum card requirements.
Safety
Allentown is a working city with busy commercial areas, residential neighbourhoods and quieter streets, so ordinary urban precautions are appropriate. Keep phones, wallets and bags secure in crowded places, avoid leaving valuables visible in parked cars and use well-lit routes after dark. Conditions can change from one block to the next, particularly outside the central visitor areas; visitors unfamiliar with the city should use reliable transport at night rather than walking long distances without local orientation. Take normal care around roads and car parks, and follow posted guidance in parks and at events. Event crowds, winter weather and heavy traffic may require additional attention during busy periods.
Emergency Situations
In the United States, dial 911 for police, fire and urgent medical assistance; the number is free from mobile and landline telephones. Give the operator the exact address or a clear description of the location, especially when calling from a large venue, hotel or park. For non-urgent police matters, ask accommodation staff or consult the City of Allentown's current information, since contact arrangements can change. Visitors requiring medical care should use emergency departments for serious or life-threatening conditions and seek advice from a pharmacist, clinic or healthcare provider for less urgent needs. Travel insurance and details of regular medication are useful safeguards for international visitors.
Do's and Don'ts
Use ordinary American courtesy: queue patiently, respect private property and follow instructions at museums, historic buildings, parks and sporting venues. Tipping is customary for table service, taxis and several personal services, although the expected amount depends on the service and should be checked against the bill. Do not photograph people, religious services or private events without permission, and avoid touching historic objects or entering restricted areas. A car is common in the region, but pedestrians still have right-of-way at marked crossings; take care on broad roads and busy junctions. Observe local regulations on alcohol, smoking and parking rather than assuming that practices are the same as elsewhere.
Local Tips
Downtown, the Old Allentown Historic District and the area around West Park provide the clearest introduction to the city's central character, while the museum cluster and civic venues reward a planned visit. Check the calendars of Miller Symphony Hall, PPL Center and the Allentown Art Museum because performances, exhibitions and sporting events can change the feel of central streets. The Great Allentown Fairgrounds become especially active during the fair and other scheduled events, but they are separate from the historic core. For wider Lehigh Valley sightseeing, plan Bethlehem and Easton as distinct destinations, allowing for road travel and checking transport connections rather than treating them as walkable Allentown neighbourhoods.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHey[hey]
GoodbyeSee ya[see ya]
YesYeah[yeah]
NoNah[nah]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No problem[please/no problem]
Thank youThanks[thanks]
Excuse me/SorrySorry/Excuse me[sorry/excuse me]
How are you?How you doin'?[how you doin']
Fine. And you?Good. And you?[good. and you?]
Do you speak English?Ya speak English?[ya speak english?]
I don't understandI don't get it[i don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseI wanna see the menu, please[i wanna see the menu, please]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[i don't eat meat]
Cheers!Cheers![cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseI wanna pay, please[i wanna pay, please]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help!]
Go away!Get outta here![get outta here!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Call a doc![call a doc!]
I'm lostI'm lost[i'm lost]
I'm illI'm sick[i'm sick]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[i wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[just browsing]
How much is it?How much?[how much?]
That's too expensiveThat's too much[that's too much]
Can you lower the price?Can you do better?[can you do better?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[what time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[it's one]
Half past (10)Ten thirty[ten thirty]
MorningMorning[morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[afternoon]
EveningEvening[evening]
YesterdayYesterday[yesterday]
TodayToday[today]
TomorrowTomorrow[tomorrow]
1One[one]
2Two[two]
3Three[three]
4Four[four]
5Five[five]
6Six[six]
7Seven[seven]
8Eight[eight]
9Nine[nine]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[what's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you show me (on the map)?[can you show me (on the map)?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[when's the next (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (to ....)[a ticket (to ....)]

History of Allentown

William Allen Founds Northampton Town

Allentown began in 1762 when William Allen, a former mayor of Philadelphia and chief justice of Pennsylvania, laid out a town on land beside the Lehigh River. He named it Northampton Town, although local usage increasingly favoured Allen's Town, the name that eventually prevailed. The settlement occupied a strategic position near river crossings and established routes through the Lehigh Valley. Its early economy depended on farming, milling, trade and transport rather than the large-scale industry that later defined the city. The street plan and some early buildings, including Trout Hall, survive as reminders of this colonial foundation. Allentown's location between Philadelphia and the northern interior also helped it grow into a regional market centre during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Revolutionary War and the Liberty Bell

Allentown played a discreet but important role during the American Revolution. In September 1777, after British forces occupied Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell and other Pennsylvania bells were removed from the city to prevent them being melted for military use. The Liberty Bell was transported to Allentown and concealed beneath the floor of Zion's Reformed United Church, now known as Zion's Reformed Church, before eventually being returned to Philadelphia. The episode has become one of the city's best-known revolutionary associations. The church site and nearby Old Allentown buildings connect the modern city with a period when Pennsylvania's towns were directly exposed to the uncertainties of war and the practical demands of protecting public property.

Borough Growth and Civic Development

Allentown was incorporated as a borough in 1811 and became a city in 1867, reflecting the expansion of its population, commerce and civic institutions. During the nineteenth century, roads, canals and railways strengthened its position within the Lehigh Valley and connected local producers with markets beyond Pennsylvania. The town's built environment became more substantial, with churches, banks, public buildings and rows of brick and stone houses serving an increasingly urban population. Institutions established in this period helped give Allentown a civic identity distinct from nearby farming communities. The surviving streetscapes of Old Allentown and the city's central public buildings reveal the transition from a colonial market town to an industrial-era city.

Iron, Railways and Industrial Expansion

The Lehigh Valley's deposits of iron ore, access to anthracite coal and improving transport networks transformed Allentown during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Ironworks, foundries, machine shops and railway connections generated employment and attracted workers from across the United States and overseas. Manufacturing became central to the local economy, while the Lehigh River corridor and rail infrastructure shaped the city's physical growth. This industrial character later extended into engineering, vehicle production and other forms of heavy manufacturing. Allentown's historic commercial blocks, workers' neighbourhoods and transportation museums preserve aspects of a period when the city was one of the Lehigh Valley's principal production and distribution centres.

Immigration, Industry and Community Life

Industrial growth brought successive waves of migration and enlarged the city's cultural life. German-speaking settlers had long influenced the region, while later arrivals from eastern and southern Europe and other parts of the United States contributed to Allentown's churches, neighbourhood associations, businesses and civic organisations. Manufacturing workplaces and rail connections encouraged the development of working-class districts, alongside new schools, theatres and public institutions. The city became part of the wider Pennsylvania tradition in which ethnic communities maintained religious and social customs while participating in an increasingly American urban culture. These layers remain visible in historic congregations, street patterns, family businesses and the region's continued appreciation of music, food and community festivals.

From Manufacturing Centre to Cultural City

Like many northeastern industrial cities, Allentown faced factory closures, population shifts and economic restructuring during the later twentieth century. The decline of traditional manufacturing altered the Lehigh Valley's employment landscape, but the city retained important institutions and invested in cultural, educational and downtown projects. The opening of venues such as PPL Center and the development of the Da Vinci Science Center reinforced Allentown's role as an urban centre for entertainment, learning and regional events. Historic preservation in districts such as Old Allentown has accompanied this change, keeping nineteenth-century architecture in daily use. Contemporary Allentown therefore reflects both industrial memory and an ongoing effort to build a more diversified civic and cultural identity.

Allentown in Photos

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