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Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia

Two days works well: Independence sights and Reading Terminal on day one, the Parkway's museums and South Philly food on day two. Two nights for Christmas Village, skating and Old City in the snow. This guide pulls together 9 sights, 1 activity and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Philadelphia with friendsBrowse 15 places
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Places
15

9 See · 1 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
2

Capital Cities Corridor, Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster

Best season
Mar – Jun

also Late Nov – Dec

Warmest month
July

30°C / 86°F avg high

Coolest month
January

4°C / 38°F avg high

Wettest month
July

about 124 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Philadelphia

15 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

9 sights worth building a day around across Old City, Fairmount and South Street. 4 of them are free.

  • Independence Hall in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Rdsmith4 · CC BY-SA 2.5
    See

    Independence Hall

    Where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.

    Tip Free timed tickets required Mar–Dec; reserve online.

    • Old City
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Liberty Bell Center in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Sunny Simantov · Google
    See

    Liberty Bell Center

    The cracked Liberty Bell and exhibits on its role in abolition and civil rights.

    Tip Free, no tickets; line moves fastest at opening.

    • Old City
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Opening
  • Museum of the American Revolution in PhiladelphiaPhoto: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Museum of the American Revolution

    Story of the Revolution, including Washington's original war tent.

    Tip Time your visit for the tent theater showing.

    • Old City
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Midday
  • Philadelphia Art Museum in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Meihe Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Philadelphia Art Museum

    Major collection from Renaissance to Duchamp, plus the 'Rocky' steps and skyline view.

    Tip Free pay-what-you-wish first Sunday of the month.

    • Fairmount
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Morning
  • Barnes Foundation in PhiladelphiaPhoto: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Barnes Foundation

    Renoirs, Cézannes and Matisses hung in the collector's original dense ensembles.

    Tip Book timed tickets; allow 2 hours.

    • Fairmount
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Eastern State Penitentiary in PhiladelphiaPhoto: william estrada · Google
    See

    Eastern State Penitentiary

    Crumbling 1829 prison that held Al Capone, toured by audio guide.

    Tip Steve Buscemi narrates the audio tour.

    • Fairmount
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in PhiladelphiaPhoto: sashafatcat · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

    Isaiah Zagar's mosaic labyrinth made of tile, mirror and bottles.

    Tip Timed tickets online; small space fills quickly.

    • South Street
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Weekday
  • Franklin Square in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Wobbanight · CC0
    See

    Franklin Square

    One of William Penn's original squares, with a carousel, mini golf and a holiday light show set to music in December.

    Tip The light show runs several times each evening; catch one before dinner in Chinatown next door.

    • Old City
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Early evening
  • Elfreth's Alley in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Elfreth's Alley

    Narrow lane of 18th-century brick houses, often called the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the US.

    Tip Residents decorate their doors for the season; go at dusk and keep voices down, people live here.

    • Old City
    • Free
    • 20 min
    • Dusk

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Center City.

  • Do

    Dilworth Park

    Plaza on the west side of City Hall with an outdoor ice rink and a lit Wintergarden in the holiday season.

    Tip Skate rentals are available on site; evening sessions under City Hall tower are the best.

    • Center City
    • $
    • 60 min
    • After dark

Eat

Where we would book a table in Philadelphia across Center City and Society Hill.

  • Reading Terminal Market in PhiladelphiaPhoto: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Reading Terminal Market

    1893 market hall with Amish bakeries and Philly sandwich counters.

    Tip DiNic's roast pork with provolone and greens is the order.

    • Center City
    • $
    • 75 min
    • Weekday lunch
  • Zahav in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Michael Palan · Google
    Eat

    Zahav

    Michael Solomonov's Israeli restaurant, known for hummus and lamb shoulder.

    Tip Reservations open well ahead; try the bar for walk-ins.

    • Society Hill
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Philadelphia in Center City.

  • McGillin's Olde Ale House in PhiladelphiaPhoto: IBLB · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Drink

    McGillin's Olde Ale House

    Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since 1860.

    Tip Try the house ales brewed for the bar.

    • Center City
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Center City.

  • Christmas Village in Philadelphia in PhiladelphiaPhoto: Christmas Village · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Shop

    Christmas Village in Philadelphia

    German-style Christmas market in LOVE Park and around City Hall, with wooden stalls, ornaments, bratwurst and Glühwein.

    Tip Weekday afternoons are calmer; stay until dark for the City Hall tree.

    • Center City
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late afternoon

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Center City.

  • Stay

    The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

    Hotel in a domed former bank building on Broad Street, a block south of City Hall and Christmas Village.

    • Center City
    • $$$$
    • Overnight

How to fit Philadelphia into a trip

Philadelphia shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Philadelphia month by month

Average daily highs run from 4°C / 38°F in January to 30°C / 86°F in July. July is the wettest month, with about 124 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Philadelphia weather and the best time to visit →

Near Philadelphia

8 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.

Philadelphia questions, answered

How many days do you need in Philadelphia?

Our route notes suggest 2 days or 2 nights in Philadelphia. On our Capital Cities Corridor route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 15 places add up to roughly 19 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Philadelphia best known for?

Two days works well: Independence sights and Reading Terminal on day one, the Parkway's museums and South Philly food on day two. Standouts on our list: Independence Hall (Where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed); Liberty Bell Center (The cracked Liberty Bell and exhibits on its role in abolition and civil rights); Museum of the American Revolution (Story of the Revolution, including Washington's original war tent).

When is the best time to visit Philadelphia?

Our routes through Philadelphia are best Mar – Jun or Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in January (4°C / 38°F) and the most rain in July (about 124 mm).

What are the best things to do in Philadelphia?

Start with Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia Art Museum and Barnes Foundation. Our guide lists 15 places in all, from 9 sights, 1 activity, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Philadelphia?

Our picks: Reading Terminal Market (Center City); Zahav (Society Hill). DiNic's roast pork with provolone and greens is the order (Reading Terminal Market).

What is near Philadelphia?

The closest destinations in our guides are Broad Street & South Philly (about 1 km / 1 mi), Center City & Penn's Landing (about 2 km / 1 mi) and Kennett Square (about 48 km / 30 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Philadelphia with your crew

Open the Capital Cities Corridor route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 15 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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