Lehigh University, established in 1865, is located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, approximately 65 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. Many visitors to Lehigh take advantage of our location to visit these cities, as well as other nearby destinations such as the Pocono Mountains (45 minutes away), Atlantic City and other shore points (2.5 hours away) and charming Amish Country (1.5 hours away). Bethlehem is one of three adjacent cities (Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton) that comprise the metropolitan area called the Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh Valley is known as a "college town," with five four-year institutions within a ten-mile radius of Bethlehem. This area boasts of a variety of excellent outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities including golf, down hill and cross-country skiing, lake and river fishing, white water rafting, a myriad of performing arts offerings, ethnic food festivals, quaint shops, unique museums and a major amusement and water park.