Pennsylvania · best-of list
30 Top Things to Do in Pennsylvania
All 30 things to do our route editors picked in Pennsylvania, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, with Philadelphia contributing the most (10).
Our curated picks
30 things to do in Pennsylvania, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Philadelphia 10 picks
Independence Hall
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route + 1 more
Where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.
Tip: Free timed tickets required Mar–Dec; reserve online.
Photo: Rdsmith4 · CC BY-SA 2.5
Barnes Foundation
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route
Renoirs, Cézannes and Matisses hung in the collector's original dense ensembles.
Tip: Book timed tickets; allow 2 hours.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0Dilworth Park
Philadelphia · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
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.
Eastern State Penitentiary
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route
Crumbling 1829 prison that held Al Capone, toured by audio guide.
Tip: Steve Buscemi narrates the audio tour.
Photo: william estrada · Google
Elfreth's Alley
Philadelphia · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
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.
Photo: Sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0
Franklin Square
Philadelphia · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
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.
Photo: Wobbanight · CC0
Liberty Bell Center
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route
The cracked Liberty Bell and exhibits on its role in abolition and civil rights.
Tip: Free, no tickets; line moves fastest at opening.
Photo: Sunny Simantov · Google
Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route
Story of the Revolution, including Washington's original war tent.
Tip: Time your visit for the tent theater showing.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
Philadelphia Art Museum
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route
Major collection from Renaissance to Duchamp, plus the 'Rocky' steps and skyline view.
Tip: Free pay-what-you-wish first Sunday of the month.
Photo: Meihe Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route
Isaiah Zagar's mosaic labyrinth made of tile, mirror and bottles.
Tip: Timed tickets online; small space fills quickly.
Photo: sashafatcat · CC BY 2.0
Broad Street & South Philly 4 picks
Fancy Brigade Finale
Broad Street & South Philly · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
Ticketed indoor show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center where the fancy brigades perform their full staged acts.
Tip: The 2026 shows ran at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; buy seats ahead.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
Mummers Museum
Broad Street & South Philly · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
Museum on 2nd Street with costumes, history and string band displays, in a building covered in Mummers-style tiles.
Tip: Opening days are limited, so check hours before you go.
Photo: Nick-philly · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mummers Parade
Broad Street & South Philly · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
Comics, wenches, string bands and fancy brigades strut down Broad Street every Jan 1; 2026 was the 125th parade.
Tip: Bring a folding chair and a thermos; the parade runs all day and acts come in waves.
Photo: Mobilus In Mobili · CC BY-SA 2.0
Philadelphia City Hall
Broad Street & South Philly · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
The parade starts here and the judges sit on the west side by Dilworth Park, where groups stop for their full routines.
Tip: Stand near the judging area to see complete performances rather than marching.
Photo: Dave Z · CC BY 2.0
Lancaster 4 picks
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
Lancaster · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
Lititz bakery opened in 1861, the first commercial pretzel bakery in the US, with short tours and a hand-twisting lesson.
Tip: Take the tour to twist your own pretzel, then buy hard pretzels in the shop.
Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0Lititz Moravian Church
Lancaster · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
1787 church on Lititz's Church Square, the heart of the town's Moravian settlement, with candlelight services at Christmas.
Tip: Walk Church Square and the Moravian graveyard behind it, then browse East Main Street.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Lancaster · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
State railroad museum across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road, with a hall full of restored locomotives.
Tip: Pair it with a Strasburg train ride on the same morning.
Photo: Dough4872 · Public domain
Strasburg Rail Road
Lancaster · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
America's oldest operating short-line railroad, running steam trains through Amish farmland, with Santa trains in December.
Tip: Book Santa train seats early; a seat in the open-platform car is cold but has the best view.
Photo: Dough4872 · Public domain
Mount Washington 4 picks
Duquesne Incline
Mount Washington · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
Cable car from 1877 that climbs Mount Washington in wooden cars, with an observation deck at the top.
Tip: Bring cash or a transit card and check holiday hours before you go.
Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0
Grandview Avenue overlooks
Mount Washington · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
Row of overlook platforms along the ridge with a full view of downtown, the Point and the bridges.
Tip: Walk the 1.5 miles between the two inclines along the ridge.
Photo: Danny Fowler · CC BY-SA 2.0
Monongahela Incline
Mount Washington · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
Oldest operating funicular in the US, from 1870, running down the hill to Station Square.
Tip: Ride it down to finish your walk along the ridge.
Photo: Cbaile19 · CC0Station Square
Mount Washington · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
Old Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad station and freight buildings on the riverbank, now shops and restaurants.
Tip: Cross the Smithfield Street Bridge on foot to get back downtown.
Center City & Penn's Landing 3 picks
Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Center City & Penn's Landing · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
Seasonal rink and lodge on the waterfront; its ticketed New Year's Eve party has live music and heated cabins.
Tip: Rent a cozy cabin if you want a guaranteed warm spot for the midnight show.
Delaware River New Year's Eve fireworks
Center City & Penn's Landing · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
Two free fireworks shows over the Delaware at 6 p.m. and midnight; in 2025 they launched from three river barges.
Tip: The 6 p.m. show is easier with kids; for midnight, get to the river's edge by 11 p.m.
Parkway New Year's Eve concert
Center City & Penn's Landing · On our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route
Free 2025 concert at Eakins Oval below the Art Museum steps, with LL Cool J and its own midnight fireworks.
Tip: Entry is first come, first served through security at 22nd Street; check whether it returns.
Photo: Chuck Homler d/b/a Focus On Wildlife · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown & the Cultural District 3 picks
Future of Pittsburgh ball rise
Downtown & the Cultural District · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
At midnight the illuminated ball rises nearly 75 feet at Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue as fireworks go off.
Tip: Arrive by 11:30 p.m.; the blocks around the corner fill fast.
Highmark First Night
Downtown & the Cultural District · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
Dec 31 arts festival across the Cultural District, with outdoor stages, a parade and an early fireworks show.
Tip: Pick up the printed schedule and plan the indoor shows you want first.
Photo: Cbaile19 · CC0
The Rink at PPG Place
Downtown & the Cultural District · On our Pittsburgh New Year's Eve route
Outdoor ice rink around a tall Christmas tree in the plaza of the glass PPG Place towers.
Tip: Skate in the afternoon of Dec 31 before First Night crowds arrive.
Photo: daveynin · CC BY 2.0
Kennett Square 2 picks
Brandywine Museum of Art
Kennett Square · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
Converted mill on Brandywine Creek with three generations of Wyeth paintings and a large model railroad at Christmas.
Tip: The holiday model trains and handmade critter ornaments draw crowds; go on a weekday.
Photo: Daderot · CC0
Winterthur
Kennett Square · On our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster route
Henry Francis du Pont's country estate and museum of American decorative arts, dressed for the Yuletide tour in winter.
Tip: Reserve a Yuletide tour time; the house is seen by guided tour only.
Photo: Derek Ramsey · CC BY-SA 2.5
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Pennsylvania?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 30 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Pennsylvania has the most things to do on this list?
Philadelphia has the most (10 of 30), followed by Broad Street & South Philly (4) and Lancaster (4).
Are any of these free?
11 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Independence Hall, Future of Pittsburgh ball rise, Lititz Moravian Church, Grandview Avenue overlooks, Delaware River New Year's Eve fireworks, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Pennsylvania
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Philadelphia 10 on this list
- Broad Street & South Philly 4 on this list
- Lancaster 4 on this list
- Mount Washington 4 on this list
- Center City & Penn's Landing 3 on this list
- Downtown & the Cultural District 3 on this list
- Kennett Square 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.