Part of our Pennsylvania guide.
10 places and guides from our Philadelphia coverage, gathered into one page. Run up the 72 Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the same steps Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa sprinted up in the 1976 film "Rocky," and snap a photo with the Rocky statue at the base.
Run Up The Iconic Rocky Steps In Philadelphia
Run the 72 Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous when Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa sprinted up them in the 1976 film "Rocky." At the top, you get a view of the city skyline. Snap a photo with the Rocky statue at the base.
10 Family-Friendly Activities In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia offers family-friendly activities from landmarks to interactive museums and outdoor spaces. Explore the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Visit the Please Touch Museum, a hands-on children’s museum in Memorial Hall. Spend an afternoon at Franklin Square, which has a playground, mini-golf, and a carousel. The Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo (opened in 1874), houses over 1,300 animals and includes a zoo balloon ride. The Schuylkill River Trail provides a scenic route for biking or walking. The Adventure Aquarium across the river in Camden features shark tunnels and touch tanks. Other options include the Academy of Natural Sciences, with its dinosaur hall and live butterfly garden; the Betsy Ross House, where the first American flag was sewn; the Independence Seaport Museum, with historic ships on the Delaware River; and Spruce Street Harbor Park, a seasonal pop-up with hammocks, games, and food vendors.
Unique Places To Stay In Philadelphia + COOLEST Boutique Hotels
The Rittenhouse Hotel, on Rittenhouse Square, provides a central location with a rooftop bar. The Morris House Hotel, a restored 18th-century townhouse in Society Hill, offers period details and a garden. The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection, features a spa and a restaurant from chef Marcus Samuelsson. In Old City, the Penn’s View Hotel overlooks the Delaware River and includes a wine bar. The Bellevue Hotel, a Beaux-Arts building on Broad Street, has a historic ballroom and a fitness center. The Study Hotel at the University of Pennsylvania combines modern rooms with a library-themed lobby. The Hotel Palomar, part of the Kimpton chain, offers a complimentary wine hour and pet-friendly policies.
12 Vibrant Festivals/Events To Attend In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia’s festival calendar includes the Philadelphia Flower Show, the world’s oldest and largest indoor flower show, held each spring at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Made in America music festival, founded by Jay-Z, takes place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day weekend. The Philadelphia Fringe Festival features avant-garde performances across the city in September. The South Street Headhouse District hosts the Shambles, a weekend flea market, and the annual South Street Spring Festival with live music and street vendors. The Philadelphia Folk Festival, held outside the city in Schwenksville, offers four days of folk music and camping. The Penn’s Landing waterfront hosts the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, with ice skating and a holiday village, and the Summerfest, which includes a Ferris wheel, roller rink, and concerts. The Philadelphia Science Festival, organized by The Franklin Institute, includes hands-on activities and lectures. The Odunde Festival, held on South Street, celebrates African culture with a parade, food, and crafts. The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival lights up Franklin Square with large illuminated sculptures. The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) brings theater, dance, and music to venues citywide. The Philadelphia Marathon, held each November, draws runners from around the world.
15 Best Things To Do In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed. See the Liberty Bell, with its famous crack, at the Liberty Bell Center. Tour the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which houses over 240,000 works, including pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, and Duchamp. Walk through the Barnes Foundation, with its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Explore Reading Terminal Market, a public market operating since 1892, with vendors selling Amish baked goods, fresh produce, and cheesesteaks. Eat a classic Philly cheesesteak at Pat’s King of Steaks or Geno’s Steaks in South Philadelphia. Visit Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison that once held Al Capone, now a museum with audio tours. Stroll through Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban park systems in the U.S., with trails, gardens, and historic mansions. See the Magic Gardens, a mosaic art installation by Isaiah Zagar on South Street. Catch a game at Citizens Bank Park (Phillies) or Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles). Tour the United States Mint, which produces coins for circulation. Visit the National Constitution Center, an interactive museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. Walk the Schuylkill River Trail, a 30-mile path along the river. Explore the Italian Market, an outdoor market with produce, meats, and specialty foods. See the Rodin Museum, which holds the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside Paris.
37 Must Visit Places In Philadelphia
Wander through Reading Terminal Market for local flavors, or stroll the Schuylkill River Trail. Other must-visit places include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute, and the Mutter Museum, which houses medical specimens. Visit Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the U.S., dating to 1702. See Christ Church, where George Washington and Benjamin Franklin worshipped. Tour the Betsy Ross House. Walk through Washington Square, one of William Penn’s original five squares. Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Explore the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the oldest art museum and school in the U.S. See the Philadelphia Zoo. Visit the Please Touch Museum. Tour Eastern State Penitentiary. Walk the South Street Bridge for skyline views. Explore the Magic Gardens. Visit the Rodin Museum. See the United States Mint. Tour the National Constitution Center. Visit the Independence Seaport Museum. Walk through Rittenhouse Square. Explore the Italian Market. Visit the Philadelphia City Hall, which has a statue of William Penn on top. Tour the Masonic Temple. See the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion. Visit the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, which houses medieval art. Explore the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Visit the Wagner Free Institute of Science, a natural history museum. Tour the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion. See the Woodmere Art Museum. Visit the Bartram’s Garden, the oldest surviving botanical garden in North America. Explore the Laurel Hill Cemetery, a historic burial ground with elaborate monuments. Visit the Fairmount Water Works, an early municipal water system. Tour the Philadelphia History Museum. See the Atwater Kent Museum. Visit the Philadelphia Fire Department Museum. Explore the Museum of the American Revolution. Visit the Christ Church Burial Ground, where Benjamin Franklin is buried.
6 Scenic Hikes To Take In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Wissahickon Gorge, part of Fairmount Park, has trails along the Wissahickon Creek, including the Forbidden Drive, a 5-mile gravel path. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, the largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania, offers a 10-mile loop trail through wetlands and forests. The Schuylkill River Trail runs 30 miles from Philadelphia to Mont Clare, with paved sections along the river. The Pennypack Trail, a 9-mile multi-use path, follows Pennypack Creek through woodlands and meadows. The Valley Green Inn area in Fairmount Park provides access to trails along the Wissahickon Creek, with a historic inn serving meals. The Belmont Plateau, in Fairmount Park, offers trails with views of the city skyline and the Schuylkill River. For more options, check out our guides to scenic hikes to take in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and hiking and the outdoors in Pennsylvania.
What To See In A Day Trip To Philadelphia
Start at Independence National Historical Park, where you can tour Independence Hall (free timed tickets required) and see the Liberty Bell. Walk to the National Constitution Center. Grab lunch at Reading Terminal Market, then head to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the Rocky Steps and the view. In the afternoon, explore the Magic Gardens on South Street or visit the Barnes Foundation. If time allows, walk through Rittenhouse Square or take a ride on the Philadelphia Zoo’s balloon. End the day with a cheesesteak at Pat’s or Geno’s. For travelers connecting through the airport, see our guide on how much time for a layover in PHL.
8 Relaxing Retreats To Enjoy In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Rittenhouse Spa & Club at the Rittenhouse Hotel provides facials, massages, and a rooftop pool. The Spa at the Logan offers treatments using local ingredients. The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center has a 60th-floor spa with panoramic views. The Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, in Fairmount Park, offers a setting with a koi pond and tea garden. The Morris Arboretum, in Chestnut Hill, features 92 acres of gardens and a treetop canopy walk. The Awbury Arboretum, a 55-acre landscape in Germantown, includes meadows, ponds, and a historic house. The Fairmount Park Horticulture Center has seasonal flower shows and a greenhouse. The Bartram’s Garden, the oldest surviving botanical garden in North America, offers riverfront trails and a historic house. For more escapes, explore our guides to outdoor adventures and sweet escapes in Pennsylvania and secrets hidden in Pennsylvania.
America's First Zoo: Unleash Wild Adventures In Philadelphia
America’s first zoo opened in Philadelphia in 1874. The Philadelphia Zoo is home to over 1,300 animals, including lions, otters, and primates. The zoo features the Zoo360 animal exploration trail system, which allows animals to move through mesh tunnels above visitors. The zoo also has a historic Victorian garden, a children’s zoo with a petting area, and a zoo balloon ride that ascends 400 feet for views of the city. The McNeil Avian Center houses tropical birds in a walk-through aviary. The zoo participates in conservation programs for species like the Amur leopard and the western lowland gorilla. For more Pennsylvania wildlife and history, see our guides to State secrets hidden in Pennsylvania and secrets of Pennsylvania's lost gristmills.
