Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a vibrant city most notable for its rich history. Home to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Love Park, it is a city simultaneously geared for the future and rooted in the past.

Overview Attractions / Activities Food Final Comments

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city and one of the largest cities in the United States. As one of the oldest municipal cities, it was, is, and will be integral to the history of the country.

Not only is it a commercial and metropolitan metropolis, but it’s also an incredibly unique and fun place to visit as well.

When you visit, make sure to follow this Philadelphia Adventure Guide to maximize your time here.

Recommended Duration of Visit

3 days (ideal), 2 days (doable), 1 day (difficult)

Click for some interesting facts about Philadelphia

Philadelphia hosted the United States’ first birthday.
The University of Pennsylvania (in Philadelphia) was the first medical school in the United States.
One out of every six doctors is trained in Philadelphia.
The longest cheesesteak in the world was made in, of course, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s city hall is the largest municipal building in the United States.
If the Liberty Bell rang, it would be in E-flat.

Before You Go

Flights / Getting There: Flying directly into Philadelphia is the most efficient strategy. However, driving to it while visiting other states in the area would make sense as well.

Overview

Climate: Philadelphia’s climate intuitively follows the normal pattern of North America. There is one distinction: winters (December, January, February) are very cold.

Communication: English is the official language.

Navigation: Traveling by car is the best way to explore most of what Philadelphia has to offer. However, many of the attractions are essentially in a straight line, so you might only need to drive to the furthest one and walk in a line to the rest.

Lodging: Lodging, in general, is relatively expensive in a major city such as Philadelphia, so it’s better to stay in the outskirts.

Activities Planning: Most attractions are free to visit, but some are far enough apart to necessitate driving. Fortunately, most attractions are essentially in a straight line.

Special Considerations

Philadelphia is incredibly festive around the holiday season. The parks, historical buildings, and Christmas lights present the city in a different light.

General: Winters are especially brutal in this region, but the weather is relatively cold mid-Fall as well. Make sure to bring plenty of cold gear for visits planned during the Fall or Winter.

Peak Seasons: Summer is the ideal and peak season for the simple fact that it’s warmer.

Currency: United States Dollars (USD). Currency Converter.

Things to Do: Attractions and Activities

Most of the time, attractions are paired up based on similarity and/or proximity. All the names provided are easily searchable on Google Maps.

Independence Hall: Independence Hall is one of the most historic landmarks in the United States, and the historical richness it represents cannot be understated.

Opened in 1753, Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution were debated and adopted. It is the house where the first 2 presidents resided from 1790 to 1800. Many important moments in the nation’s early history took place here, and plenty of exhibits nearby (videos, placards, displays, etc.) detail this history. Nearby, the liberty bell stands on display behind fortified glass.

There are also numerous exhibits nearby that detail the history of slavery, emphasizing the fact that “history is not neat. It is complicated and messy. It is about people, places, and events that are both admirable and deplorable.”

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

Elfreth’s Alley: The alley is named after blacksmith Jeremiah Elfreth, and it was initially a street comprised mainly of artisans.

As the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, Elfreth’s Alley’s history dates back to 1703. There are 32 houses here, built between 1703 and 1836. The alley’s importance revolves around the history of colonial architecture in the United States (i.e. It’s old, so it’s important).

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 20 – 30 minutes.

Choosing Independence Hall as the first attraction would be a great choice. It is arguably the most famous and important. More importantly, arriving earlier in the day means fewer crowds.

Visiting earlier in the day would be ideal, because this is a highly-trafficked area. Also, make sure to not disturb the people actually living here.

Franklin Square: In 1682, when William Penn laid out plans for the city of Philadelphia, this square was one of the five original open-space parks. It was meant to help the settlers understand the value of nature.

The park was renamed Franklin Square in 1825 to honor founding father Benjamin Franklin. The park features a carousel, plenty of tables and benches, and even a nearby Bolt of Lightning statue. As a bonus, the Franklin Bridge is only a short walk away.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Benjamin Franklin’s Grave: In the Christ Church Burial Ground lies the grave of the legendary founding father, writer, inventor, statesman, and person on everyone’s favorite bill—Benjamin Franklin.

Near the grave, on the outer edge of the cemetery, is a placard that provides the chronology of his life.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 10 – 15 minutes.

Although impressive, Franklin Square truly shines (literally) during the holiday season.

You can pay to enter the cemetery, but Benjamin Franklin’s Grave can be seen from the outside near the iron bars.

Reading Terminal Market: While deceptively small on the outside, Reading Terminal Market is an absolutely massive indoor farmer’s market. It is one of the United States’ oldest and largest public markets.

Reading Terminal Market has a diverse selection of stores. It has butcher shops, restaurants, souvenir shops, bakeries, grocery stores, seafood stores, country stores, beef jerky shops, juice bars, creperies, liquor stores, oyster bars, and donut shops, among others.

Of course, you can get Philly cheesesteaks here as well.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 3 hours.

”The Bond” Bronze Statue: Located near the Masonic Temple, The Bond symbolizes, well, the bond between George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. The statues depict Washington showing Benjamin his Masonic Apron.

This is one of the more underrated points of interest in Philadelphia and one of my personal favorites because of how picturesque it is.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 5 – 10 minutes.

This place is an excellent attraction and rest stop on your Philadelphia adventure.

Search “The Bond Bronze Statue” specifically on Google Maps and you should find it with relative ease.

Love Park: Featuring the iconic Love sculpture for which it was named, Love Park (a.k.a. John F. Kennedy Plaza) is a favorite of couples, Instagrammers, and photobombers everywhere. The Love sculpture, designed by Robert Indiana, was placed in the plaza in 1976 as part of the United States’ bicentennial celebration.

This bustling and busy urban plaza with a fountain is arguably the most festive, beautiful, and fun part of Philadelphia around the holiday season. There are many vendors here around Christmas time, and Love Park becomes one of the liveliest areas in the city, with plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor seating, among others.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

Dilworth Park: Dilworth Park sits right next to the picturesque Philadelphia city hall. It is also within a short walking distance of Love Park.

Similar to Love Park, it truly shines during the holiday season. This simple urban park becomes the Dilworth Park Wintergarden with an ice rink during Christmas time.

In a way, Dilworth Park is simply an extension of Love Park. The two make a solid team with their combined festive efforts.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

You can visit during the day, but this place truly shines at night.

Go here if you want to rest. Love Park is often too crowded.

Benjamin Franklin National Memorial: The memorial features an enormous statue of a sitting Benjamin Franklin. The statue, standing at 20 feet (6.1 meters), is the primary location memorializing Benjamin Franklin in the U.S.

The memorial itself is part of a massive complex consisting of a science institute and park (Aviator Park). The Franklin Institute is modeled after the Roman Pantheon.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 15 – 60 minutes.

Cira Green: Located on the 12^th floor at Cira Center South, Cira Green is a rooftop park that offers skyline vistas and a relaxing and (sometimes) quiet atmosphere. If you’re looking for a view of the Philadelphia skyline, Cira Green is one of the best places to find it.

There is also a restaurant nearby that sells food and drinks.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

The entire memorial is indoors, so make sure to arrive before it closes (around 5 pm).

You can get to Cira Green via elevator. There should be signs pointing the way.

Willow Grove Park Mall: This three-story shopping mall in Willow Grove contains over 130 stores and restaurants, a carousel of floating unicorns, Victorian-era-inspired décor, and, during December, a giant Christmas tree.

Although large, it does not feel too large, packing just the right amount of festivities into one area.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 3 hours.

King of Prussia: King of Prussia’s name is derived from a tavern that opened in 1769. The owner named the tavern in honor of King Frederick II of Prussia, a monarch who opposed Britain’s imperial ambitions.

Seriously though, I have no idea why they kept the name. It’s so random.

As the 3^rd largest mall in the United States, it’s absolutely sprawling, expensive, and elegant. King of Prussia offers over 400+ stores alongside restaurants and food courts.

Unlike Willow Grove Park, this mall features more luxurious retailers such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi, among others.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 4 hours.

Willow Grove Park Mall is one of the furthest attractions from Philadelphia, so consider visiting it toward the start or end of your day. Fortunately, it’s all indoors, so saving it for a rainy/snowy day would be ideal.

If you are lost, there are information boards scattered throughout that operate as fully interactive touch screens. Note that some areas and floors can only be accessed at certain locations in the mall. For example, you can't walk from end to end on the 4th floor.

Bowman’s Hill Tower: Bowman’s Hill Tower is, without a doubt, a hidden gem (tower?) near Philadelphia. Its architecture is distinct and almost ancient, even by Philadelphia’s standards. The area is quite peaceful, and there is a picnic area with tables nearby. When operational, the elevator will take visitors to the top.

This 125-foot (38.1-meter) stone tower was named after John Bowman, the first settler in the area.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 20 – 30 minutes.

Washington Crossing Historic Park: On the night of December 25 – 26, 1776, George Washington crossed the Delaware River to stage a surprise attack against Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. This logistically difficult and dangerous operation, immortalized in numerous works of art, led to one of many victories during the Revolutionary War.

This historic park is just a short walk away from where the legendary crossing took place.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Take into consideration that Bowman’s Hill Tower is the furthest attraction from central Philadelphia.

This park is one of the furthest attractions from Philadelphia, so consider visiting Bowman’s Hill Tower nearby as well.