Close to University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities provides a garden, laundry facilities and more. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire apartment
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 347 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
The current price is €265
€265
includes taxes & fees
31 May - 1 Jun
Add dates for prices
About this property
Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities
Stay in a renovated Victorian in a historic, tree-lined neighborhood—a true garden oasis in the city. This light-filled, 2-story apartment blends unique character, Old World charm & exposed brick with modern comfort. A private entrance leads to a full eat-in kitchen, bath & laundry. Upstairs, the spacious bedroom/living room suite features a seating area, workstation & 50” 4K TV. Quiet yet walkable from Penn, Drexel, CHOP & HUP—just minutes from museums & downtown. Sleeps 1-3 (rollaway available).
The space This renovated, two-story apartment offers a private retreat within a distinctive Victorian home in an historic University City neighborhood. Enjoy a separate entrance via a side gate, leading through the backyard to your own peaceful space.
The first floor features a bright eat-in kitchen with French doors and a view of the garden, a full bathroom, and laundry facilities. Upstairs, you'll find a spacious bedroom suite with a queen bed, a seating area, and a 50" 4K HDTV with Roku. A rollaway bed & linens for a 3rd guest is available.
The layout is unique, with the bedroom/living area and bathroom on separate floors. The stairs to the second floor are historically original, meaning they are somewhat steep (though with railings on both sides). This is characteristic of homes in our historic district.
The apartment offers plenty of comfort, natural light and a quiet atmosphere. It's conveniently located within walking distance of Penn, Drexel, CHOP, and HUP, making it a great base for visiting the universities, hospitals, or exploring the city's attractions. Plus, you'll enjoy easy access to the Schuylkill River Trail, perfect for jogging or biking.
Great food nearby! From restaurants and cozy cafes to bagels and ice cream, to quick bites from local food trucks, just a short walk away.
Exploring the city is effortless from our location, with a bus stop right across the street, a trolley stop just minutes away on foot, and a subway station within a 10-minute walk. These convenient public transportation options, along with readily available Uber and Lyft services, connect you quickly to Center City, Independence Hall, Old City, Fishtown, and all that Philadelphia has to offer. We're a very short drive downtown too.
Access You will have full access to the apartment, and sole use of the deck. The rest of the backyard is reserved for use by our family.
Other things to note As mentioned in the listing description, this apartment has a unique layout with the bedroom and bathroom on separate floors. The stairs leading to the second floor are historically original, meaning they are steeper and narrower than modern stairs, though they do have railings on both sides for assistance. We want to ensure this is comfortable for all guests.
On-street parking is generally easier and more convenient in our neighborhood than in many other parts of Philadelphia. However, some blocks have residential parking restrictions limited to 2 hours, daytime Monday through Friday (no restrictions on weekends), while other blocks have no parking restrictions at all. Guests are advised to check posted parking signs carefully.
Getting around the city is a breeze! We are conveniently located near multiple public transportation options. A bus stop is located directly across the street, a trolley stop is just a few minutes' walk away, and a subway station is less than a 10-minute walk, providing easy access to Center City, Independence Hall, Old City, Fishtown, and the rest of Philadelphia.
Please note: VRBO total includes local taxes (accommodations & lodging) by Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia (15.5%), in addition to VRBO fees.
Property amenities
Ski
Close to skiing
Internet
Available in the apartment: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car not required
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee grinder
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
Books
Smart TV
Outdoor areas
Fenced yard
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Work spaces
Desk
Desk chair
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Area rugs in public areas
Handrails in stairways
Hardwood flooring in public areas
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Housekeeping on request
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Near an outlet shopping centre
Things to do
Optional golf privileges
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Casino nearby
Cycling nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Ice skating nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Rock climbing nearby
Swimming nearby
Water tubing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
Garden
Housekeeping (on request)
Property does not allow children
Recycling
Unit size: 500 square feet
Wind energy
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
Quiet policy after 10pm, especially on patio & backyard
Use of gas grill and fire pit in backyard is not allowed
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
This property does not allow children
Events
No events allowed
Strict no parties/events in backyard or apartment
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Strict no parties/events in backyard or apartment
This property uses some wind energy
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 916436
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
A car is not required for transport to and from this property
About the area
University City, a neighbourhood in Philadelphia, is home to this apartment. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Rittenhouse Square and Fairmount Park, while Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia Zoo are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Lincoln Financial Field or Xfinity Mobile Arena. Enjoy the area's slopes with skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating. Visit our Philadelphia travel guide
Is Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?
As of 26 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities on 31 May 2026 start from €265, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities located?
Located in University City, this apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Zoo and Philadelphia Museum of Art are also within 1 mile (2 km). Powelton Ave & Lancaster Ave Stop and Lancaster Ave & 38th St Tram Stop are within a 5-minute walk.
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Very clean and close to UPenn. I was there for graduation and thought I’d walk to festivities but you can’t walk on the sidewalk in shoes as bricks were not flat to ground
There wasn’t anywhere in walking distance to purchase food.
The steps to 2nd floor where bedroom is was extremely narrow and difficult to bring bags up. Very cute apt. Very convent if I had a car
Great location to use as a base for exploring Philadelphia!
Jami S.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Hongbin
8 Jun 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful and quiet place to stay while visiting Penn. The unit is attached to the main dwelling with private entrance. The kitchen is well equipped for a quick meal. The bedroom is clean and comfy. The bathroom is small but with a washer and dryer and warm shower. The backyard is charming and relaxing to have a morning coffee while listening to birds. David has been very friendly and easily accessible when we need help. Thanks again for sharing the place with us !
There are many things to love about this rental. Easy parking. Adorable patio. Its primary use for us was sleeping and showering, so it was practically perfect. The stairs up to the living area were quite steep and could be problematic for some. Communication with the owner was outstanding. Rapid responses to all queries and seems like a really laidback person.
The apartment was impeccably clean and very well-equipped for such a small space. The bathroom and kitchen are very tidy, as is the upstairs bedroom. The closet is stocked with plenty of extra bedding, which we used due to the frigid weather, and a small cot. It was very cold, and this is an old house, so it took a while to warm the space up using the window heating units. Once it got warm, though, it stayed that way! A word of warning about the stairs up to the bedroom - they are steep and tight, so if you have mobility issues or are planning a weekend bender, stay somewhere else so you don’t hurt yourself. The host made a small space very comfortable and homey with everything you need
I enjoyed staying here for a few weeks. Most mornings, I'd walk a few blocks to Midas Coffee for a latte and vegan cookie and work on my laptop for hours. Some afternoons, I'd pick up an Indigo Bike and cycle to the the Schuylkill River Trail. Then I'd bike along the trail or park the bike and jog to the "Rocky" stairs and back. Very cool! Other days, I'd take a 20 minute walk in a different direction from David's place to visit my daughter at UPenn. As others have said, you need to be comfortable with a relatively steep staircase to stay here — The big bedroom is upstairs; the bathroom downstairs. Also, as others have said, the porch is a lovely feature.
It was a great location, and my wife and I enjoyed the patio very much in the morning and evenings. We would relax there in the evening after exploring the city.
Very comfortable space. Individual heater/AC for both levels. Bathroom has heat fan in the ceiling. Easy check-in and great location close to the Amtrak station and just across the river from Philly downtown.
David's rental was a perfect location for us to revisit Philly and visit with friends and family. The unit is cozy and had everything we needed. The back deck was a great spot for meals and to spend time with our kids.
We really enjoyed our stay at David’s apartment! We liked that it was walking distance to penn and the parking situation on the street was super easy! The apartment was very nice and clean. David was available to answer any questions. We highly recommend this vrbo!
David's property is extremely clean and will lay down exactly how it's described in the description. It is extremely close to a number of attractions inclusive of art, museums, historical sites, restaurants and shops. This is my second stay at David's and will definitely come back for a third time thank you very much.
This property was very quaint. Everything was clean and very well cared for. Parking on the weekend was free and easy. This would be a perfect place for some to stay if they were visiting someone at Drexel Univ as it was several blocks away. Don’t forget to visit Sabrina’s Cafe for your eating pleasure. Would definitely stay here again. Owner was friendly and helpful.
Nice easy walk to the Hospital of U. Of PA…the reason we needed the place.
Place was very clean, quiet, and well maintained.
It needs some sprucing up on the outside, but was ok.
Parking is a nightmare, but to be expected in this area!
I’d stay again!
Love this cozy apartment. It is as advertised. Clean and comfortable. We parked right next to the entrance on 3Xth Street every time. EZ. Quick walk to Drexel. Expect city noises and plenty of sunshine. Stairs are steepish but EZ if you are not feeble. This is our 2nd time and we’ll be back. Host quite responsive.
Gabe S.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified
8/10 Good
James M.
25 May 2019
Lovely quaint unit
We live in a rural area in Oregon far from big cities. Staying in a big city was an experience but this house was on a quiet residential area and seemed less busy even with traffic and noise. It was a good experience!! One thing we did have a problem with is we are both large people and older so the stairs were an issue, especially at night when using the bathroom downstairs. Some people more elderly than we are and more immobile might not be able to navigate the stairs very well. Other than that, we had a lovely stay.
There are a lot of things I liked about the rental, but 3 major reasons I would never stay there again. 1. The place smelled very musky. 2. It takes a rocket scientist to operate the oven. I nor my husband ( electronic tech) were able to get it cooking properly. It took 2 hrs. to cook a dish that normally takes 1 hour. and it still wasn't completely done. 3. I came for a wedding and my husband asked about an iron. We looked for an iron, but never found one, so we notified Mr. David which told me that it was unfortunate, because there was an iron and ironing board there but someone must have taken it. He never made any effort in getting me one. Thank God I was able to borrow one along with some decent pans. He has organic and good quality things, but most of which need updating especially furniture and some stainless steel pot and pans. Kitchen was loaded with almost everything coffee, salt, pepper, oil, plastic food storage bags. These are all things I usually bring and my husband loved the quality of the silverware. I did enjoy sitting on the deck each morning sipping on coffee. He also had a pitcher of filtered water like the one I have at home. BE CAREFUL WITH 2HR PARKING WEEK DAYS
My wife and I rented this VRBO to attend the Army-Navy football game. We had flight problems and ended up arriving a day late - David was very easy to deal with - great communication. Our brief stay was pleasant - clean and well appointed space near U Penn. Small but nice. We would stay here again. Thanks David
Perfect weekend get away in charming vintage neighborhood clos to restaurants and shop. aunts
The property was immaculate, easy to check in, matched the description on the app. David the owner kept in good consistent communication with us and his recommendations for restaurants and experiences were spot on. Planning on going back with my sisters in January.
Communication with the owner was great. He responded quickly and was so helpful. There were little lists of info and directions everywhere (in drawers, on the light switches,etc.). Very cute and helpful. Everything was clean and smelled fresh (and not like cleaning fluid). Nice neighborhood. Felt safe. Parking free Sat+Sun, easy to find on weekdays but you have to move every 2hours. The bed was VERY FIRM , and the bathroom was the tiniest I’ve ever been in! The rails on the stairway feel very secure so, as an older person, I found the steps to be no problem. I highly recommend this home.
I would absolutely stay here again - it's very well located - I walked to the Philly Museum of Art one day and UPenn the next, and it was very comfortable. There were plenty of linens and the kitchen was well stocked with basics. If you have mobility issues please be aware the stairs to the bedroom are very steep, and there was some street noise, but with a white noise machine it was no problem at all. Parking was very easy over the weekend. Thanks so much for a great stay!
My nephew lives just two blocks away so this was a perfect location for us to come and visit him. The property is very clean and tidy but small. It gave us everything we needed. The stairs inside are rather narrow and steep so if you have mobility issues this might not be the place for you. Otherwise, it was lovely. Street parking can be challenging however we really had no bad experience. You can park right outside the gate for two hours from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. So if you’re going to be out during the day sightseeing as long as you leave by 10 in the morning and don’t really park the car till after 430 it’s not a problem .