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Philadelphia

242 attractions · United States of America

Philadelphia
United States of America

Things to do in Philadelphia

242 attractions · United States of America

Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0

Pennsylvania, United States of America · 39.953, -75.163

About Philadelphia

Philadelphia serves as the birthplace of the United States, famously housing the Liberty Bell and serving as the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The city maintains a distinct grid plan designed by William Penn that centers around green spaces like Rittenhouse Square. Visitors can scale the Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps to reenact cinematic history or explore the mosaic-covered walls of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. As a major urban center, it blends dense historic districts with a robust modern cultural scene.

Good to know

  1. 1

    Philadelphia was the first World Heritage City in the United States, designated by the Organization of World Heritage Cities in 2015.

  2. 2

    The city's nickname, the 'City of Brotherly Love,' is derived from the Greek words philos (love) and adelphos (brother).

  3. 3

    It contains the highest concentration of public art in the United States, a legacy of the city's Percent for Art program.

  4. 4

    The Benjamin Franklin Bridge, connecting Philadelphia to New Jersey, was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1926.

  5. 5

    Philadelphia was the only American city to serve as the capital of the United States before the permanent establishment of Washington, D.C.

Plan your visit to Philadelphia

Best time to visit

Spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) offer the most temperate weather for walking between historic sites.

How many days

3-4 days to sufficiently cover the historic district, major art museums, and local neighborhoods.

Getting around

The city is highly walkable in the center, complemented by the SEPTA transit system including subways, regional rail, and trolleys.

Where to stay

Center City provides the best access to major landmarks, while Old City is ideal for those prioritizing proximity to the historic district.

Budget

Mid-range; while luxury accommodations exist, the city offers a wide variety of affordable dining and free public parks.

Top things to do in Philadelphia

The 242 most popular places in Philadelphia.

Filtered by
  1. 1 Reading Terminal Market
    Places of interest Very popular

    Reading Terminal Market

    Reading Terminal Market is one of America's oldest and largest public markets, housed in the former train shed of the Re...

  2. 2 Philadelphia Museum of Art
    Museums Very popular

    Philadelphia Museum of Art

    The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest art museums in the United States, housed in a prominent neoclassica...

  3. 3 Independence National Historical Park
    Historical places Very popular

    Independence National Historical Park

    Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia spans multiple blocks of the historic Old City district and preser...

  4. 4 Liberty Bell
    Historical places Very popular

    Liberty Bell

    The Liberty Bell is a 2,080-pound bronze bell housed in a dedicated pavilion within Independence National Historical Par...

  5. 5 Philadelphia Zoo
    Zoos Very popular

    Philadelphia Zoo

    Established in 1874, the Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the United States and holds a charter from the Commonweal...

  6. 6 Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps
    Museums Very popular

    Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps

    The Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps gained international fame as the training site for the title character in the 1976...

  7. 7 JFK Plaza (Love Park)
    Parks Very popular

    JFK Plaza (Love Park)

    JFK Plaza, widely known as Love Park, serves as the ceremonial entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The plaza is d...

  8. 8 Lincoln Financial Field
    Venues Very popular

    Lincoln Financial Field

    Lincoln Financial Field is an open-air stadium primarily serving as the home turf for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Ope...

  9. 9 The Franklin Institute
    Museums Very popular

    The Franklin Institute

    The Franklin Institute is a premier interactive science museum located in Philadelphia, established in honor of the Amer...

  10. 10 Dilworth Park
    Parks Popular

    Dilworth Park

    Dilworth Park is a modern public plaza situated directly at the foot of Philadelphia's historic City Hall. The space fea...

  11. 11 Independence Hall
    Historical places Popular

    Independence Hall

    Independence Hall is the birthplace of the United States, serving as the backdrop where both the Declaration of Independ...

  12. 12 Spruce Street Harbor Park
    Parks Popular

    Spruce Street Harbor Park

    Spruce Street Harbor Park is a seasonal waterfront oasis located along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. It features a...

  13. 13 Rittenhouse Square
    Parks Popular

    Rittenhouse Square

    Rittenhouse Square is one of the original five urban open spaces planned by William Penn in the late 17th century. Locat...

  14. 14 Please Touch Museum
    Museums Popular

    Please Touch Museum

    The Please Touch Museum is housed within Memorial Hall, a National Historic Landmark originally constructed for the 1876...

  15. 15 The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
    Museums Popular

    The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

    The Mütter Museum houses one of America's most significant collections of medical history, pathology, and anatomical spe...

  16. 16 Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
    Museums Popular

    Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

    Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is an immersive, 3,000-square-foot mosaic environment created by artist Isaiah Zagar. The s...

  17. 17 Franklin Square
    Parks Popular

    Franklin Square

    Franklin Square is one of Philadelphia's five original squares laid out by William Penn in 1682. The park features the P...

  18. 18 Barnes Foundation
    Museums Popular

    Barnes Foundation

    The Barnes Foundation houses one of the world's most significant private collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionis...

  19. 19 FDR Park
    Parks Popular

    FDR Park

    FDR Park is a 348-acre regional park in South Philadelphia originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers in the early 20th...

  20. 20 Elfreth's Alley Museum
    Museums Popular

    Elfreth's Alley Museum

    Elfreth's Alley is recognized as the nation's oldest continuously inhabited residential street, dating back to 1702. The...

  21. 21 Independence Visitor Center
    Places of interest Popular

    Independence Visitor Center

    The Independence Visitor Center serves as the primary orientation hub for Independence National Historical Park in Phila...

  22. 22 Museum of the American Revolution
    Museums Popular

    Museum of the American Revolution

    The Museum of the American Revolution focuses on the political and social legacy of the American Revolutionary War. It h...

  23. 23 The Wanamaker Building
    Historical places Popular

    The Wanamaker Building

    The Wanamaker Building is a historic 12-story commercial structure occupying an entire city block, originally built to h...

  24. 24 The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
    Museums Popular

    The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

    The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest natural history research institution in the Americas,...

  25. 25 Museum of Illusions Philadelphia
    Museums Popular

    Museum of Illusions Philadelphia

    The Museum of Illusions Philadelphia features over 80 interactive, optical-based exhibits designed to challenge human pe...

  26. 26 Betsy Ross House
    Museums Popular

    Betsy Ross House

    The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia is a historic landmark traditionally recognized as the site where Betsy Ross lived...

  27. 27 Clark Park
    Parks Popular

    Clark Park

    Clark Park is a 9-acre urban green space located in the West Philadelphia neighborhood of Spruce Hill. Established in 18...

  28. 28 Penn Museum
    Museums Popular

    Penn Museum

    The Penn Museum, part of the University of Pennsylvania, houses over one million objects spanning human history from the...

  29. 29 Belmont Plateau
    Parks Popular

    Belmont Plateau

    Belmont Plateau is the highest point in Fairmount Park, offering an expansive, unobstructed panoramic view of the Philad...

  30. 30 Washington Square
    Parks Popular

    Washington Square

    Washington Square is a historic green space in Philadelphia containing the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier...

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Frequently asked

How many attractions are there in Philadelphia?

Aventuro lists 242 curated attractions in and around Philadelphia, sorted by popularity.

What's the top attraction in Philadelphia?

Reading Terminal Market is the most popular place to visit in Philadelphia right now.

What kind of attractions does Philadelphia have?

The largest category is museums, with 51 places to explore.

Which other cities are worth visiting nearby?

Travellers also explore Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Boston.