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Anyone who calls America home or is even visiting for the first time should seriously consider a trip to Philadelphia to learn about how American democracy was born and evolved into what it is today. Admittedly, this is a must-see destination for history buffs, but it’s also a modern and vibrant city that’s full of exciting festivals and green spaces that are refreshing and beautiful.
Philadelphia was given the nickname, “the city of brotherly love,” from William Penn because it was established as a place for friendship, freedom, and acceptance. The city still holds these values and is an incredibly friendly place to visit any time of the year. These are some of the top things to do when you visit Philadelphia, and there are lots of great accommodations available once you’ve settled on dates for your trip!
The Liberty Bell Center & Independence Hall
What Is It? Probably the most iconic landmark in Philadelphia is the Liberty Bell, so a trip to see it is a must when you’re in town.
Why Do It? The bell was once used to call the town’s leaders to meetings, but it was later adopted as a symbol of freedom by everyone from abolitionists to war protestors and Native Americans. It is free to visit the bell, which is part of Independence National Historical Park.
Good to Know: Also in the park is Independence Hall, which is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. It’s a World Heritage site, and most people start their visit at the visitor center.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
What Is It? This is an awesome urban beach area with a floating restaurant, beer garden, games like ping pong and shuffleboard, and a picturesque waterfront boardwalk.
Why Do It? New restaurants are popping up all the time here, and the park is illuminated at night with LED lights hanging from the treetops. This waterfront oasis is free in the summertime and makes for a romantic evening out.
Good to Know: Check the park’s calendar for the dates you’ll be visiting to see if there are any musical performances, yoga classes, or other events going on.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
What Is It? Take a guided tour and get ready for some living history demonstrations when you visit this park in Philadelphia.
Why Do It? This is where the Continental Army camped out during the Revolutionary War in 1777-1778, and today it honors the sacrifices the solider made to secure freedom in the United States. Take a self-guided or guided tour of the park to see the encampment sites.
Good to Know: Guided tours are available, or you can drive around to the nine major tour stops along the 10-mile encampment route on your own, which takes between a half-hour and two hours to complete depending on how interested you are.
America's Oldest Farmer's Market
What Is It? Farmer’s markets have gotten popular in small towns and big cities all across America, but the oldest one in the country is in Philadelphia.
Why Do It? Reading Terminal Market is a top attraction, housed since 1893 in a National Historic Landmark building, and has some amazing produce, cheeses, sandwiches, and desserts.
Good to Know: Planning a picnic or memorable meal? You’ll find everything you need here, including cookbooks, table linens, kitchenware, fresh-cut flowers, and more.
Rittenhouse Square
What Is It? A swanky and elegant neighborhood in Philadelphia is Rittenhouse Square, which you might not guess was once a grazing area for livestock!
Why Do It? Today this is a great place to find high-end shops and fancy restaurants to celebrate something special.
Good to Know: Visit the area for free, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the park, which is located along Walnut Street between North 18th and 19th Streets.
Peddler's Village
What Is It? Another interesting area to walk and shop near Philadelphia is Peddler’s Village.
Why Do It? This is a great place to witness colonial-style charm, and it’s just an hour away from the city center. Here you can browse specialty shops, dine at quaint restaurants, and attend family-friendly festivals. Visitors have been coming to this part of Bucks County for over 50 years to escape the everyday routine and experience a simpler time of life.
Good to Know: Don’t miss the Giggleberry Fair for wholesome family fun and consider staying at the Golden Plough Inn if you plan to stay in the area for a couple of days.
Franklin Square
What Is It? When William Penn began developing the city, he had five original squares in the city plan. One of these was Franklin Square, which is now a top destination for families visiting Philadelphia.
Why Do It? This is a theme park area with miniature golf, carousel rides, horses, and a playground.
Good to Know: Even if you aren’t traveling with kids, this is a fun place to relive your childhood and indulge in some fries and a milkshake.
The Rocky Statue and Steps
What Is It? Another thing that Philadelphia is famous for is the Rocky movies, and the Rocky steps and statue are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
Why Do It? Snap a few photos of the statue and then run to the top of the steps in dramatic fashion on your first trip to Philadelphia.
Good to Know: You can find the 72 stone steps leading up to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
What Is It? Philadelphia’s art museum is the third-largest in the country and made even more famous for being the steps that were immortalized by the Rocky films.
Why Do It? There are hundreds of galleries here and notable works of art, including paintings, sculpture, textiles, and more. The museum has more than 240,000 works spanning 2,000 years, including pieces from the ancient world, medieval times, the Renaissance, the Impressionist movement and modern-day.
Good to Know: Check out paintings by Renoir, van Gogh and Picasso; a collection of suits of armor, an outdoor sculpture garden and a 14th-century Buddhist temple.
Try Local Cuisine
What Is It? Not only is Philadelphia considered to be the birthplace of democracy, but this is also where one of America’s favorite traditional foods originated too: the cheesesteak!
Why Do It? Philly cheesesteaks can be found in restaurants all over the city, but don’t stop there with your culinary exploration. Philadelphia is a wonderful town to visit for foodies, and each of the city’s neighborhoods offers something a little different.
Good to Know: You can explore the different areas to sample Italian restaurants, micro-brew bars, Polish supermarkets, and much more.
Murals & Graffiti Art
What Is It? You might not know it if you’ve never been here before, but Philadelphia has a fascinating street art scene full of skillful graffiti creations and colorful murals.
Why Do It? The city’s mural arts program began in 1984 when the Anti-Graffiti Network worked with graffiti artists to turn their talents into beautiful murals. There are thousands of murals in the city that celebrate everything from LGBT rights to women’s empowerment and the city’s history.
Good to Know: You can even take a mural tour if you want to learn more about the artists who created them.
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival
What Is It? There are lots of festivals that take place in Philadelphia, but one of the most memorable ones is the Chinese Lantern Festival.
Why Do It? It takes place in April and June and has a 200-foot-long Chinese dragon as the centerpiece. Past festivals have featured a three-story-tall pagoda, illuminated lanterns that light up the night sky, and even animal lanterns that are fun to see in the daytime or at night.
Good to Know: Artisans from China construct the lanterns, and there are nightly live performances to check out with acrobatics and dance.
