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Sight Old City, Philadelphia

Elfreth's Alley

A sight in Old City, Philadelphia, free to visit and worth about 20 minutes. Best time to go: Dusk.

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Elfreth's Alley in Old City, Philadelphia
Photo: Sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

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

It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Philadelphia, alongside 8 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 activity. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Race Street Pier and Amada. At about 20 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
Old City
Price
Free
Time needed
20 min
Best time
Dusk

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Philadelphia. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Race Street Pier

    Two-level park pier under the Benjamin Franklin Bridge with open views up and down the river.

    Outdoors · Center City & Penn's Landing · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Amada

    Jose Garces's Spanish tapas restaurant on Chestnut Street in Old City, open since 2005.

    Food · Center City & Penn's Landing · 0.3 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Museum of the American Revolution

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

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

    Seasonal rink and lodge on the waterfront; its ticketed New Year's Eve party has live music and heated cabins.

    Activity · Center City & Penn's Landing · 0.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Liberty Bell Center

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

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Zahav

    Michael Solomonov's Israeli restaurant in Society Hill, open since 2008 and known for its hummus and lamb shoulder.

    Food · Center City & Penn's Landing · 0.5 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Elfreth's Alley is a stop on our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in Philadelphia

6 more curated sights in Philadelphia. See the full Philadelphia guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Philadelphia run from 38°F in January to 86°F in July; July is usually the wettest month. For Elfreth's Alley itself, we suggest: Dusk.

Modelled monthly averages for Philadelphia from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Philadelphia weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Elfreth's Alley, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
39.95280, -75.14250
Destination
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Elfreth's Alley: quick answers

How much time do you need at Elfreth's Alley?

Plan on about 20 minutes at Elfreth's Alley. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Elfreth's Alley?

Our pick: Dusk. Insider tip: Residents decorate their doors for the season; go at dusk and keep voices down, people live here.

Is Elfreth's Alley free?

Yes, we list Elfreth's Alley as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include Elfreth's Alley?

Elfreth's Alley appears on Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Elfreth's Alley to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Philadelphia.

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Also in Philadelphia

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.