The 26 Best Things to Do in Philadelphia
Without a doubt, first time visitors to Philadelphia should prioritize a few must-dos: explore American history in Old City, climb the Rocky steps in front of the Museum of Art, devour a cheesesteak and a roast pork sandwich at John’s. But there’s so much more to see and do (and eat) in the City of Brotherly Love, like take in a performance at America’s oldest opera house, sample barbacoa tacos in the Italian Market, and ascend above the clouds in a glass elevator for a world-class view of the city (just to name a few). To help get you started, we took the liberty of curating these very best things to do in Philadelphia, whether it's your first visit or your fifth.
Read our complete Philadelphia travel guide here.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Barry Halkin/Courtesy National Museum of American Jewish HistoryactivityThe Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Established in 1976, the original The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History was a small, intimate museum visited largely by the Jewish community. But in 2010, Newseum architect Jim Polshek designed a new building that transformed it into a museum on the scale of the Smithsonian, complete with three-and-a-half floors of permanent collections and special exhibits. In June, the museum reopened after more than two years with a new name (after shoe designer Stuart Weitzman), and a new OY/YO sculpture by Deborah Kass marking the building’s entrance. Starting with the arrival of a small group of Jews in 1654, the museum traces the American Jewish experience through today, telling the story with its collection of 30,000 artifacts. The core exhibition walks visitors through the wave of immigration from Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, through World War II, the establishment of Israel, and ends with an Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame. Start your tour at the top of the building and wind your way down through the years.
Albee Larry/Courtesy Longwood GardensactivityLongwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens, purchased by industrialist Pierre du Pont in 1906, is a little like Philadelphia’s answer to Versailles, with 1,083 acres of themed, manicured gardens. Naturally, spring and summer are the best seasons for florals, but with a Conservatory renowned for its indoor displays, this Kennett Square spot is a popular year-round destination. If you're here in the summer, make sure to check out the Fountain Garden, when a dramatic water show set to classical music is performed several times every day—the Conservatory, with its twinkling lights, trees, and poinsettias, is a must at Christmas.
Courtesy YOWIEshopYowie
Shannon Maldonado's tiny Queen Village shop has an outsized presence thanks to its impeccably-curated and colorful collection of gifts, art objects and housewares. Her design cred is dead serious, but—as evidenced by the selection, collaborations, and her own laid back demeanor—the brand doesn’t take itself too seriously. Maldonado sells an ever-evolving range range of products with common threads: beautiful designs in vivid hues: curvilinear candles and catchall trays from Barcelona’s Octaevo, avant-garde vases from New York design studio Chen & Kai, Cold Picnic bath mats, and Dusen Dusen textiles. In late 2022, Yowie will relocate to a bigger space on South Street along with a hotel and cafe.
GettyactivityRittenhouse Square
When William Penn (the man Pennsylvania is named for and the chap atop City Hall) planned Philadelphia, he designed five squares that function as parks. Rittenhouse, the most glamorous of them all, is both a park and a catchall name for the surrounding neighborhood, which is home to some of the city’s best restaurants, shopping, and real estate. Rittenhouse Square is a beautifully designed, well maintained park. In summer, a fountain in the center functions as a gathering space. If the weather's nice, pick up picnic supplies at Di Bruno Bros. Rittenhouse and find a seat on one of the park’s many benches. Don’t be surprised if someone’s taking wedding photos nearby. If it’s chilly out—or if you have money to burn—grab a meal at Parc, which overlooks the square. After, stretch your legs by walking along Walnut Street, which is lined with high-end national brands.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
Courtesy Four Seasons HotelbarJG SkyHigh
$$$Float to the top of the Comcast Technology Center by glass elevator, bypass a jungle of floral arrangements, and skip past the Four Seasons front desk to find JG SkyHigh. We have beautiful restaurants and bars in Philadelphia, designed by lauded architecture firms, but nothing like this. Forty-foot glass walls show off an unparalleled view from the city’s tallest building, a staircase bordered with waterfall walls descending into the restaurant, mirror-paneled ceilings that reflect the sidewalks some 60 stories below—are stunning. Why else would you wait in line (in Philadelphia) to pay $22 for a drink (in Philadelphia)? Most are here for the atmosphere, not the drinks, although the lemongrass Collins, made with local Bluecoat gin, is flawless.
AlamyshopReading Terminal Market
All of humanity seems to have come together in a happy hubbub at Reading Terminal Market. The sprawling space has been around since 1893, though now, its vegetable, fish, and meat vendors are compounded by dozens of restaurants, bakeries, and bars. Look for old-timey neon signs to help you make sense of the dozens of options—or just head straight for DiNic's, where the roast pork sandwich, topped with a frenzy of broccoli rabe, is practically the beating heart of the place. Follow it up with a scoop (or three) of Bassett's silky ice cream.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
GettyactivityIndependence National Historic Park
Philadelphia is the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the United States precisely because of the historical events that transpired right here, and it’s not just one museum or historic landmark. Rather, it’s a collection of buildings that played host to events that shaped American independence or honor that hard-won heritage. Begin at the Visitor Center to get your bearings and start your tour—visitors can enter with timed entry tickets—at Independence Hall, then stop by the Liberty Bell Center for a look at ostensibly the most famous broken item in the world. Afterwards, wander past the park’s other historic buildings including Carpenters Hall, the meeting site of the first Continental Congress, then make your way to the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Just note the airport-style security (and subsequent foot traffic) you're bound to encounter, and make sure you wear comfortable shoes—you'll be doing a lot of walking.
.jpg)
Sam OberteractivityBok Building
The Bok Building is a shuttered Vocational High School in South Philly, built in 1936 with funds from FDR’s Public Works Administration. After the school closed in 2013, urban development and design firm Scout transformed the absolute behemoth of a building—clocking in at 340,000 square feet of retrofitted former classrooms, an auditorium, and a rooftop—into a magnet for some of Philly’s most talented independent makers and creators. Among the dozens of artists, designers, printmakers, ceramicists, jewelers, florists, tattoo artists, and sculptors, there’s one of the world’s foremost clarinet repairers Atelier Jacobi, two sisters behind Second Daughter Baking Co. making the city’s (maybe even the world’s?) best brownie, and Moore Vintage Archive, where you can peruse tightly-curated racks sourced from Parisian markets and beyond.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
Nikreates/AlamyactivityThe Academy of Music
Not only can you see boundary-pushing performances from Opera Philadelphia and ballets like George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, but the Academy is also home to most of the touring Broadway shows (this season includes Six, Come from Away, and Les Miserables.) Other performances—comedians, traveling Disney shows, and even game shows like Wheel of Fortune—are also on the roster. It also feels like a bonus to get to sit in such a historic, opulent theater—one where Susan B. Anthony once delivered a speech about women’s suffrage, where Peter Tchaikovsky conducted music, and where the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded the music for Disney’s Fantasia. Both performing arts and history lovers should make it a point to snag tickets to something when they visit.
Jillian GuyetterestaurantJohn's Roast Pork
$Philadelphia’s best-known sandwich might be the cheesesteak—but that doesn't mean it's the city's official sandwich. For that, look to the roast pork, which stacks thin slices of pork, broccoli rabe, and sharp provolone on an Italian hoagie roll. Though the originator of the sandwich is unknown, this small shop in South Philly makes one of the most beloved iterations. The hearty portions and location draw a mix of construction workers, cops, locals, and tourists. But a word of caution: Pay attention to how the locals ahead of you in line order—there’s little patience here for indecision. A trip to John’s offers you not only an outstanding and filling sandwich, but a look at a Philadelphia institution that's been around for more than 80 years.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
GettyactivityFairmount Park
You'll find the Schuylkill-hugging Fairmount Park in the heart of the city. But this isn’t your typical city park: At more than 2,000 acres, it's home to miles of trails, biking and hiking paths, a Japanese garden and house, the country’s oldest zoo, historical mansions, and the city’s iconic Boathouse Row. Those with young kids in tow should explore the interactive Please Touch Museum, as well as the Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse, with its century-old wooden slide.
GettyactivityUniversity of Pennsylvania
Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania (better known as Penn) looks like the textbook definition of an Ivy League university, with enough elaborate Gothic buildings and lush courtyards to make you want to dive headfirst into the nearest library. The campus, and particularly Locust Walk, which runs through it, offers visitors and students a respite from the bustle of the city, and on nice days, even doubles as a picnic site. The grounds are also home to Alexander Calder's art, and “Brick House,” a new Simone Leigh sculpture; a statue of Ben Franklin hanging out on a bench; and Franklin Field, the country's oldest operating football stadium. Head west to explore the campus, and have lunch at West Philly institution White Dog Café.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
Courtesy Philadelphia's Magic GardensactivityPhiladelphia's Magic Gardens
$Visiting this gallery-slash-outdoor sculpture garden feels like you've stepped into the mind of Philadelphia’s beloved mosaic artist, Isaiah Zagar: His creations are beautiful, and often surreal, places. The project, which covers three city lots, is a melange of mirror fragments, tiles, and found objects like bike wheels and glass bottles, combined to mesmerizing effect. A walk through the indoor and outdoor space doesn’t take long, and there’s plenty for kids to enjoy, making it an ideal weekend pitstop for families exploring the city. If you can’t swing the $15 entry fee, you can still peer into the garden from the South Street entrance, and wander the neighborhood to spot other walls covered with Zagar’s work.
Courtesy Philadelphia Museum of ArtactivityPhiladelphia Museum of Art
Classic, grand, and impressive, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a cultural institution. It is Philadelphia's answer to the Louvre, and houses one of the country's finest collections of art and sculpture. Tourists, locals, the stroller set…the gang's all here and they're all taking in the art at their own pace. Some skip entire galleries based on interests, while others read every placard. It's a choose your own adventure kind of place. And if all of this culture makes you hungry, you're in luck. The Cafe is bright and welcoming and features a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and more. Prefer to cool your heels in a more formal setting? The Stir is an elegant spot designed by Frank Gehry that's perfect for lingering and lunching.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
.jpg)
Jeff FuscoactivityFranklin Square
One of the original five public squares William Penn plotted out when he designed the city, the eight-acre Franklin Square is home to a classic carousel, Philly-themed mini golf course, and a sprawling playground. The historic square attracts plenty of Old City tourists visiting Philly’s most famous attractions just a few blocks south, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. But it’s also a hub for locals—especially those with kids—in the neighborhood, who come for a ride on the merry-go-round or to romp around the playground. Set to music and lights, a seasonal fountain show is reason enough to visit the park, perhaps on the way back from dinner in Chinatown a few blocks away.
AlamyshopThe Italian Market
Philadelphians often call their hometown “a city of neighborhoods.” The Italian Market, and the neighborhood that's been built up around it, is a perfect example. Open since the 1880s, this year-round market is the beating heart of South Philly, a historically Italian neighborhood that, in recent years, has also become home to pockets of Mexican and Vietnamese immigrants. The market, which lines South 9th Street, buzzes with shops and outdoor vendors, all showing off the best of the community. Don’t miss the old guard provision shops like DiBruno’s, Claudio’s, and Talluto’s—you must sample the fresh mozzarella—and if you’re looking for lunch, check out the newer additions to the area, like South Philly Barbacoa and Kalaya Thai Kitchen. No matter what brings you to the market, make sure to arrive hungry, with cash in hand.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
GettyactivityCity Hall
City Hall isn’t the tallest building in Philadelphia, but it’s still hard to miss it when you're walking around Center City. Look up and you’ll see William Penn, 548 feet above the ground, looking out over the city he designed. The views of the building—the largest municipal building in the United States—are impressive, but don’t simply stroll past. Dilworth Park, which hosts an annual Christmas market, a seasonal ice skating rink, and free summertime fitness classes, is on its doorstep. City Hall helps make the case that outside of Washington D.C., Philadelphia is the best city in the U.S. for travelers interested in American history and government.
Courtesy New Liberty DistilleryactivityNew Liberty Distillery
In Philly’s South Kensington neighborhood, a smidge west of Fishtown, New Liberty Distillery specializes in making highly-regarded craft whiskey. The distillery is housed in a restored brick building that was once a horse stable, and includes a tasting room with a bar and a seasonal outdoor cocktail garden. The bar is comfortable and unpretentious, with leather arm chairs and barrel tables, brick walls and a low, exposed beam ceiling, making it feel like the kind of place you could easily spend an entire winter afternoon. In the nicer weather, though, the cocktail garden, surrounded by wildflowers and thickets of herbs and trees, is a bit of a hidden gem in the city.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
GettyactivityNational Constitution Center
For history loving visitors to Philadelphia, there’s a lot to choose from—the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Museum of the American Revolution, to name a few spots. But those interested in democracy shouldn’t miss the National Constitution Center. Located near the Liberty Bell, the center was created as a bipartisan institution by Congress and opened in 2003. Nearly 20 years in, the building still feels fresh and modern, and so does the programming. The center regularly hosts events about American democracy; including, for instance, a Democratic primary debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2008.
AlamyactivityThe Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is like a giant science lab, albeit one with a walk-through model of the heart (claustrophobes, beware). The layout is highly interactive, whether you're stepping on a scale to learn how many pints of blood you have or climbing a webbed trail of nets that mimic the brain's pathways. The museum is almost always packed with excited kids, harried parents, and field trips. It's the domain of elementary and middle school students during the week and families on weekends.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
barHop Sing Laundromat
$$You really have to want to go to Hop Sing: Since there's no phone number, website, or even sign pointing to the space, you'll have to seek out the unmarked, brushed-steel door on Chinatown’s Race Street on your own. Have your ID at the ready for a quick scan by the bouncer to sure your name isn't on the “banned list”—the bar's indexed nearly 3,000 “no longer welcome” patrons, who either ignored the rules (no phones, hats, or photos) or tipped poorly. Once inside, though, you’ll be seated in a spacious, high-ceilinged, candlelit room with plaster artfully peeling off the walls, where the whole experience will start to unfurl. Not only does Hop Sing have bragging rights to one of the largest selections of spirits in the country, but their meticulously crafted cocktails are extraordinary mixtures of supremely high-quality well spirits. The Hop Sing Manhattan, for example, costs $16, but is made with an $80 bottle of Booker’s bourbon. You won't get that value anywhere else. The air of exclusivity and commitment to rules may put off some bargoers, but this is one of the only speakeasy-style bars in Philadelphia that still feels like a secret, so embrace it.
Jillian GuyetteactivityMural Arts Philadelphia
Philadelphia is known for its world-class museums, but few realize that it's also home to one of the world’s great outdoor art galleries, courtesy of its 4,000 (and counting) murals. Mural Arts Philadelphia, the brains behind these public art displays, runs walking tours of the seemingly endless string of outdoor art—but the best way to see it all is, undoubtedly, by foot. Groups of 15-20 meet at PAFA, the oldest art institution in the U.S., before meandering through Center City, and taking in a dozen or so murals. Whether it’s the tile lining the walls of the subway, or the mural brightening a city parking lot, it's not just something we look at; it’s something we live with every day. Guides are professional and passionate; they enjoy showing off the murals, and sharing insight into how they’re created, as well as stories about the program’s outreach to area homeless, incarcerated, and schoolchildren.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
Courtesy Amalgam Comics & CoffeehouseshopAmalgam Comics & Coffeehouse
In 2015, Ariell Johnson opened the first Black, female-owned comic book store on the East Coast. Come to Amalgam for the broad and inclusive selection—ranging from the big players (Marvel and DC Comics, from Captain America to X-Men) to indie publishers, like the Kickstarter-backed Tuskegee Heirs. But also come to soak up the warm and inclusive vibes in this haven for geek culture. Pick up a copy of Black Panther World of Wakanda #1-6, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, and Yona Harvey; the novel Lovecraft Country; or David Crownson’s Kickstarter-backed Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer.
- Jon Lovette/Gettyactivity
Delaware River Waterfront
The historic spot where William Penn first landed in 1682 is now a series of piers and parks on the Delaware River waterfront, each with its own personality and draw. Since 2012, the nonprofit Delaware River Waterfront Corporation has been slowly transforming the stretch of riverfront between Oregon and Allegheny Avenues, adding public parks, running and biking trails, and spaces for recreational and cultural activities—all with the goal of giving Philadelphia’s public spaces a beautifying boost for residents and visitors to enjoy. It’s easy to hop to a couple piers in one day. A good place to start is Cherry Street Pier for a cocktail in the garden bar, rotating art exhibitions and concession stands. If kids are in tow, stroll the half-mile to Spruce Street Harbor Park for a beer while they run around on the lawn, play with a giant Connect Four, and gawk at the tall ships docked nearby.
- Destinations18 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City
- Islands & BeachesThe Best Beaches in Italy
AlamyactivityThe Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia
The Mütter Museum, housed within a portion of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, can trace its origins back to 1858, when Dr. Thomas Mütter donated his collection of medical models and specimens in an effort to honor medicine’s heritage and celebrate its advancements. The museum's 25,000-item collection, spread between two floors, includes everything from medical instruments and wax models, to bones and anatomical, or “wet,” specimens, all ranging from the fascinating, to the disturbing, to the downright disgusting. A few highlights include a Civil War-era set of amputation instruments, a jar of skin from a patient with a skin-picking disorder, and a giant, desiccated colon that'll have you eating kale for weeks. All gawking aside, it’s a true testament to the study and practice of medicine.
Recommended
