Welcome, FIFA fans! Whether you’re visiting from abroad or you call Philly home, we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is just a mile away from FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia—a free event taking place at nearby Lemon Hill every day from Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, July 19, 2026. 

We hope you’ll make us part of your plans! Here’s an overview of the most important things to know about visiting the historic site during this exciting time. 

 

Hours of Operation

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site will remain open every day from 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm).

 

Special Programming

We’re so excited to welcome you to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site—whether you're a history buff, a lover of architecture, or just looking for something uniquely Philly between matches! Explore the world’s first penitentiary your way with an audio tour (now available in 16 languages!), a guide-led tour, or self-guided exploration. Plus, we’re offering a daily lineup of special programs during the FIFA World Cup like a home run challenge, baseball mini tour, and sports and recreation scavenger hunt. Learn more here.

 

Temporary Parking Measures

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) is implementing temporary parking measures to help protect residential access during FIFA Fan Festival. For the duration of the event—from June 11 through July 19—special temporary parking permits will be required for street parking within the designated zone (indicated on this interactive map), which includes the entire perimeter of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site and many nearby blocks. Any vehicle parked on the street in this zone without a permit is at risk of being fined and/or towed by the PPA, so please plan your travel accordingly! We’ve provided some guidance below.

 

Getting to the Historic Site

There are many convenient ways to get to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. We highly recommend walking, biking, or utilizing public transportation.

Walking & Biking
Eastern State is located in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia—just one mile from FIFA Fan Festival and one to three miles from most of the city’s best-known cultural attractions. Public bike racks can be found throughout the neighborhood, and an Indego bike-share station is located at 23rd Street and Fairmount Avenue, just one block from the historic site.

Public Transportation
The historic site is accessible by many modes of public transportation: the Philly PHLASH, Philadelphia Trolley Works & Big Bus Tours, and several SEPTA routes including bus routes 32 and 48, which will operate at increased capacity during the Fan Festival. SEPTA accepts contactless payment (credit/debit card or Apple/Google/Samsung Pay) for travel on all bus, Metro, and Regional Rail routes. You can access customized transit directions in Google Maps or by using the Trip Planner on SEPTA’s website.

Rideshare
The City of Philadelphia has established several rideshare pick-up / drop-off zones for individuals traveling to and from FIFA Fan Festival. With some exceptions for accessibility needs, anyone who orders a rideshare for the Fan Festival will be picked up and dropped off in one of these zones and expected to walk the rest of the way. The largest of these zones is located along the perimeter of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site near the corner of 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue. This zone will also serve as the rideshare pick-up / drop-off location for the historic site.

Driving & Parking
A drop-off / pick-up zone for personal vehicles is located directly in front of the historic site's entrance on the north side of Fairmount Avenue at 21st Street. This zone is for active passenger loading and unloading only, and drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site does not have its own parking lot. In addition, the temporary parking measures outlined above will restrict street parking on many blocks surrounding the historic site. There is a pay-to-park lot neighboring us at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, which may fill quickly due to FIFA activities. Parking costs vary. Please call Parkway Corporation at (267) 765-3665 for more information.

 
Accessibility

We strive to make the historic site and our programs accessible to all visitors. Click here for more about our accessibility resources. If you have any remaining concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime using this form or by emailing [email protected].

 

Additional Information

Visit PennDot’s 511 PA website for more information about travel within Pennsylvania and Philadelphia during the FIFA World Cup and other major 2026 events.

Visit the City of Philadelphia’s website for more information about the City's transportation and access plan for FIFA Fan Festival.

Visit Philadelphia Soccer 2026’s website for more information about FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia and other World Cup related events.

 

Still have questions? Feel free to contact us anytime!