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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. 61 Forrest Theatre
    Venues Known locally

    Forrest Theatre

    The Forrest Theatre is a historic Broadway-style venue in Philadelphia that serves as a primary hub for major touring pr...

  2. 62 Carpenters' Hall
    Historical places Known locally

    Carpenters' Hall

    Carpenters' Hall is a historic Georgian-style meeting house located at 320 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...

  3. 63 Philadelphia Film Society Center
    Venues Known locally

    Philadelphia Film Society Center

    The Philadelphia Film Society Center, formerly known as the Prince Theater, serves as the primary hub for the Philadelph...

  4. 64 Christ Church Burial Ground
    Historical places Known locally

    Christ Church Burial Ground

    Christ Church Burial Ground is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of...

  5. 65 The Oval
    Parks Known locally

    The Oval

    The Oval is an eight-acre public space situated on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that functions as a seasonal outdoor re...

  6. 66 McMichael Park
    Parks Known locally

    McMichael Park

    McMichael Park is a 6-acre neighborhood green space located in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. The park is chara...

  7. 67 LOVE Sculpture
    Places of interest Known locally

    LOVE Sculpture

    The LOVE Sculpture in Philadelphia is an iconic pop art installation created by artist Robert Indiana, featuring the wor...

  8. 68 The Wilma Theater
    Venues Known locally

    The Wilma Theater

    The Wilma Theater is a cornerstone of Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts, known for staging experimental and contemporary...

  9. 69 Suzanne Roberts Theatre
    Venues Known locally

    Suzanne Roberts Theatre

    The Suzanne Roberts Theatre is the flagship venue for the Philadelphia Theatre Company, situated on the city's historic...

  10. 70 Fireman's Hall Museum
    Museums Known locally

    Fireman's Hall Museum

    Fireman's Hall Museum is housed within a restored 1902 firehouse located in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood. It ser...

  11. 71 Liberty Lands
    Parks Known locally

    Liberty Lands

    Liberty Lands is a two-acre community-managed park located on the site of a former industrial tannery in Philadelphia’s...

  12. 72 Roberto Clemente Playground
    Parks Known locally

    Roberto Clemente Playground

    Roberto Clemente Playground is a neighborhood recreational facility located in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia...

  13. 73 Falls Bridge
    Places of interest Known locally

    Falls Bridge

    Falls Bridge is a historic steel-truss bridge in Philadelphia spanning the Schuylkill River, connecting the East Falls a...

  14. 74 Land Title Building
    Historical places Known locally

    Land Title Building

    The Land Title Building is a historic Philadelphia skyscraper completed in two major phases between 1897 and 1902. Desig...

  15. 75 Plays & Players Theatre
    Venues Known locally

    Plays & Players Theatre

    Plays & Players Theatre is a historic non-profit performance venue located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Phi...

  16. 76 FringeArts
    Venues Known locally

    FringeArts

    FringeArts is a contemporary performing arts organization located on the Philadelphia waterfront that serves as the hub...

  17. 77 Swann Memorial Fountain
    Places of interest Known locally

    Swann Memorial Fountain

    The Swann Memorial Fountain, officially known as the Swann Memorial Fountain of Three Rivers, serves as the centerpiece...

  18. 78 Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna at Independence Seaport Museum
    Museums Known locally

    Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna at Independence Seaport Museum

    The Independence Seaport Museum anchors Philadelphia's maritime history by preserving the USS Olympia and the USS Becuna...

  19. 79 Perelman Building
    Museums Known locally

    Perelman Building

    The Perelman Building is an off-site annex of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, located at 2525 Pennsylvania Avenue. Desig...

  20. 80 Lantern Theater Company
    Venues Known locally

    Lantern Theater Company

    Lantern Theater Company is a professional theater company located at 923 Ludlow Street in Center City, Philadelphia. Fou...

  21. 81 James G. Kaskey Memorial Park
    Parks Known locally

    James G. Kaskey Memorial Park

    James G. Kaskey Memorial Park, commonly referred to as the 'Biopond,' is a sequestered botanical garden located on the U...

  22. 82 Philadelphia Korean War Memorial Park
    Historical places Known locally

    Philadelphia Korean War Memorial Park

    The Philadelphia Korean War Memorial Park honors the participants and fallen soldiers of the Korean War at a scenic wate...

  23. 83 The Rosenbach
    Museums Known locally

    The Rosenbach

    The Rosenbach is a historic house museum and library located within two 19th-century townhouses in Philadelphia's Ritten...

  24. 84 Glendinning Rock Garden
    Parks Known locally

    Glendinning Rock Garden

    Glendinning Rock Garden is a historic landscape feature located within Fairmount Park, specifically designed to showcase...

  25. 85 Matthias Baldwin Park
    Parks Known locally

    Matthias Baldwin Park

    Matthias Baldwin Park is an urban green space located at 423 N 19th St in Philadelphia, featuring sculptures, structured...

  26. 86 Hancock Playground
    Parks Known locally

    Hancock Playground

    Hancock Playground is a community-focused urban recreation space located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Phila...

  27. 87 Lemon Hill Mansion
    Historical places Known locally

    Lemon Hill Mansion

    Lemon Hill Mansion is a historic Federal-style country house situated on a prominent bluff overlooking the Schuylkill Ri...

  28. 88 Kelpius Cave
    Historical places Known locally

    Kelpius Cave

    Kelpius Cave is a historic rock-cut grotto located within the Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia. It served as the...

  29. 89 Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
    Historical places Known locally

    Benjamin Franklin National Memorial

    The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial centers around a colossal 20-foot-tall, 30-ton white marble statue of the Americ...

  30. 90 Museum for Art in Wood
    Museums Known locally

    Museum for Art in Wood

    The Museum for Art in Wood is a specialized institution in Old City Philadelphia dedicated exclusively to contemporary w...

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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.