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Philadelphia, Travel tips
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Last Updated November 12th, 2023

30 Best Things To Do In Philadelphia On Your First Visit

Philadelphia
Streets of Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia is known for being the birthplace of the United States (both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were written there!) and a wonderful and fun place to visit.

Also, it is home to some really iconic attractions such as the Liberty Bell and, of course, the Rocky Steps.

In this post, you will find 30 of the best things to do in Philly, a selection of the top places to stay, and fun facts about the city.


Plan your Perfect trip to Philadelphia

🏨 Find the perfect hotel on Booking.com

🎫 If you’d like to go on a tour, check out the best tours to take in Philadelphia

🎒 Pack a universal travel adapter, your favorite travel camera (We love this one!), and a good portable solar phone charger

🚌 If you are traveling from New York to Philadelphia by bus, check out this guide by Wanderu

📸 Follow me on Instagram for more travel tips

Philadelphia view

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. That means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you book through these links.

Finding a place to stay

If you haven’t booked your accommodation in Philadelphia yet, no worries! There are many great hotels for you to choose from.

Here are some of my favorites:

  • The Gables Bed and Breakfast Philadelphia
  • Cornerstone Bed & Breakfast 
  • Morris House Hotel 
  • The Rittenhouse Hotel 
  • The Study at University City
  • La Reserve Bed and Breakfast 

Independence Park

30 Fun Things To do in Philadelphia

Without further ado, here are some of the top things to do in Philly.

1- Have a bite at Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia

Reading Terminal Market is for sure the best place to have some local treats in Philly. Make sure to have their soft pretzels. They are amazing.

2- Learn at the Museum of American Revolution

Located in the heart of Historic Philadelphia, this museum explores the story of the American Revolution and its enduring legacy.

Get your ticket here

3- Visiting Eastern State Penitentiary

Cell in Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the oldest prisons in the country and is now open for visitation.

This is a great option if you are looking for unusual things to do in Philadelphia.

Related: Visiting Eastern State, the oldest penitentiary in the world

4- Philadelphia Old City Historic Walking Tour

Walk in the footsteps of America’s founding fathers on this walking tour of Philadelphia’s Old City.

Book This Tour

5- Go on an awesome tour

Going on a tour is a practical way to see the city with the guidance of someone that truly knows its history and hidden gems.

Here are some of the most popular tours in Philadelphia:

 

6- Walk around Old City

House of Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia

Walking around the city’s historic district is one of the best things to do in Philly.

Book This Tour

7- Go on a dinner cruise

For a romantic night in Philadelphia, a dinner cruise is the right answer.

Book This Tour

8- Visit Liberty Bell Center

Liberty Bell, Philadelphia

If you are looking for free things to do in Philadelphia, a quick visit to the Liberty Bell Center is for sure a great option.

9- Tour Independence Hall

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

If you love American history, you can’t go to Philly and not go on a tour of Independence Hall! Within its walls, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the tour is interesting for all ages.

Book This Tour

10- Hop on hop off bus tour

Booking a hop-on hop-off bus is a great idea if your schedule is a little tight. The bus will easily take you to see all the top things to do in Philadelphia.

Book This Tour

11- See the statues at Rodin useum

Rodin Museum,. Philadelphia

This gorgeous museum has the largest collection of works by Auguste Rodin outside of Paris.

12- Visit Penn Museum

At the Penn Museum, you can contemplate amazing art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, Italy, Mesopotamia, Asia, and Africa.

13- Strolling through Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Philadelphia Magic Gardens

Spread out over half a city block, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a place like no other. Picture a labyrinth of tunnels, grottos, and intricate sculptures, all made of beautiful mosaics.

16- The Rail Park

The Rail Park is unlike any other in Philadelphia. It is located on three miles of revitalized and unused rail lines and is filled with pathways, greenery, and bench swings with amazing city views.

17- Find the best Philly cheesesteak

Philly cheesesteak

Trying to find the best cheesesteak in Philly is like trying to find the best Pizza in New York: really hard!

I really love the one from Sunny’s, but I will let you get to your own conclusions.

Book a Cheesesteak tour by segway

18- Mutter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

MĂźtter Museum is the finest museum of medical history and displays beautifully preserved collections of anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments.

19- See art at Barnes Foundation

Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia

Visiting Barnes Foundation is for sure one of the best things to do in Philly if you are an art lover.

The building is stunning and contains one of the world’s greatest impressionist, post-impressionist & modern art collections.

20- Go on a foodie tour

Food is a great way to get to know a new place and trust me: Philadelphia is a great place to eat.

Book flavors of Philly food tour

21- Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Benjamin Franklin Parkway is Philadelphia’s most artistic mile. It stretches from Logan Circle to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and boasts many cultural institutions along its broad boulevard.

22- Visit the University of Pennsylvania

UPenn is one of the famous Ivy Leagues Universities and is open for visitation.

23- See the LOVE Sculpture

Love Sign in Philadelphia

The LOVE Sculpture is a work of art by Robert Indiana that one of the city’s most famous landmarks.

24- National Museum of American Jewish History

The National Museum of American Jewish History uses objects, telling moments, and state-of-the-art interactive technologies to tell the history of Jews in America.

I even got to see Schindler’s List, which was super interesting.

25- Schuylkill River Trail

Schuylkill River Trail is a recreational 30-mile trail that is perfect for families, runners, and walkers.

 26- Cherry Street Pier

Cherry Street Pier is located on the central Delaware River waterfront and offers attractions like food fairs, artisan markets, and art exhibits.

27- Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art – Best Things to do in Philly

Philadelphia Museum of Art (1)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is another of the top things to do in Philadelphia.

Personally, I thought it was one of the most incredible museums I had ever visited. It’s a must-see.

28- Take a picture with the Rocky Statue

Rocky statue, Philadelphia

If you are a fan of Rocky Balboa movies, make sure to take a picture with Rocky. The statue is located right by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is super popular.

Also, it is one of the best free things to do in Philadelphia.

29- Explore Chinatown

Philadelphia chinatown

For last but not least, if you have some spare time in the city, go explore Philadelphia’s Chinatown!

It is super organized and a good place to find amazing food.

30- Go indoor skydiving

If indoor skydiving is something you would like to do, then Philly might just be the place for it!

Book This Tour

31- See the city’s dark side

See the dark side of Philly during this adult night tour developed by a local university professor.

Book a Dark Philly night tour


Philadelphia's city hall

Fun Facts about Philadelphia

  • Philly is home to more Impressionist paintings than any other city outside of Paris!
  • One out of every six doctors in the U.S. is trained in Philly
  • Philly’s MĂźtter Museum has a great collection of medical oddities, including slides of Einstein’s brain
  • 12. Philly is a city of America’s firsts: the first university, first zoo, first lending library…

Downtown Philadelphia

Wrap-up: top things to do in Philadelphia

That’s a wrap! I really hope you loved this list of the best things to do in Philly. Let me know your favorite in the comments!

For more travel tips, make sure to follow me on Instagram 🙂


You might also enjoy: 2 Days In Philadelphia – The Perfect Itinerary

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Travelcami Inspires the best solo travel destinations ✈️, and unique experiences

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5 Comments
  • Courtney
    March 27, 2021

    I’ve been dying to visit Philly! I’ll definitely save this for when I finally plan the trip. Thanks!

    Reply
  • Elena
    March 27, 2021

    Philly is near and dear to my heart, so I loved this post! Hope to get back again soon. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  • Keena
    March 27, 2021

    Philly is such a great city . I’m planning a day trip soon and feel like I need more than one day . There’s so much to do. I definitely going to get a philly cheese steak .

    Reply
  • Krista
    March 28, 2021

    I haven’t been to Philadelphia before so this list of what to do there will be really useful for my future trip!

    Reply
  • Anne Betts
    March 28, 2021

    That’s a great list. I loved Eastern State Penitentiary. It’s certainly an interesting city with so much to do.

    Reply

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