15 Essential Experiences in Philadelphia, USA

Last updated: 30 July 2023

If you’re reading this then you’re either thinking about a short break in Philadelphia or you’re like us and have just returned from a visit and looking for an excuse to return 😉

Well either way, there’s so much to love about the City of Brotherly Love that I just needed to put together our 15 highlights from our short break in Philadelphia 🇺🇸 

There’s so much on offer in Philly, you’re going to be spoiled for choice!! I know everyone says this but there is absolutely something for everyone – from history (and very important American history at that) to culture (museums aplenty) to an incredibly delicious food scene (pack your stretchy pants) … there’s tonnes to discover about Philadelphia. The biggest issue we had during our stay was trying to fit it all in with the time we had!

First of all, we’d like to give a massive shout out to Suzanne from PhilaTravelGirl, a proud Philly local who amazingly built us a custom itinerary to ensure that we experienced as much of her hometown as possible. Thanks Suzanne, we absolutely LOVED you city and can’t wait to visit again!

So without further ado, here’s my list of 15 things to experience during a Short Break in Philadelphia 😊

Independence Hall

Arguably the most iconic building in Philadelphia is Independence Hall (formerly the colonial legislature / Pennsylvania State House), the building where the Declaration of Independence AND the United States Constitution was debated, adopted, and eventually signed.

Yes, this is the building where Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock eventually signed the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 which was the start of the country’s independence from Britain.

Timed tours are on offer and run every 15 min during the height of summer (no tickets required over January and February). The tours only last about 20 min but you will be able to stand in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court chamber and Assembly Room and actually see the Rising Sun chair that Benjamin Franklin sat in during proceedings. The tour is worth taking, especially if you’re not well acquainted with American history (we found it really insightful).

Historians agree that the Assembly Room, the room when the Declaration of Independence was actually debated and signed to be one of the most historically important places in the entire country.

Tip: Be prepared to go through airport-style security on your way into Independence Hall otherwise you’ll be THAT guy building up everyone else (not that I’m talking from experience…)

The Essentials

• Price: Free (tickets required for most tours)
• Operating Hours: 9am to 5pm (public holidays differ)
• Address: 520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
• Website

Liberty Bell

Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof 

 – Inscription on the Liberty Bell

Recognized as one of the most enduring symbols of freedom in America, a visit to the Liberty Bell is a must when in Philly.

What did we know about the Liberty Bell before we visited? I knew it was a big bell that was forged in the fiery workrooms of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England but that was about it…

The actual bell is located inside a dedicated museum which details the story of the Liberty Bell and its importance to America’s story- from the its original purpose of summoning lawmakers to legislative sessions to ringing in the days following the signing of the Declaration of Independence to becoming a symbol of hope and freedom as part of the Abolitionist movement of the 1830s.

As you move through the museum and the exhibits you will reach the Liberty Bell at the end of the museum in front of a large glass window with Independence Hall in the background. As those of you who love taking photos know, there’s no substitute for natural light 😊

Tip: Crouch down a little to capture that perfect photo of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall

The Essentials

• Price: Free
• Operating Hours: 9am to 5pm (public holidays differ)
• Address: N 6th St & Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
• Website

National Constitution Centre

How much do you know about the United States Constitution? I mean, REALLY know? How about the Bill of Rights? Well, if your answer was slim to none then you’re in the same boat as we were.

We didn’t really know what to expect from the National Constitution Centre but as you probably guessed, it was my idea to visit 😉 So we purchased our tickets and headed inside to go exploring and guess what? It turned out to be one of the most interesting museums of the entire trip!  And in keeping with our museum tradition, we stayed until they kicked us out! That’s a pretty good indicator to how much we enjoyed ourselves, right??

When you commence your visit, you’ll walk into a room which contains 42 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers, the signers of the Declaration of Independence; including Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.

Located behind the statues is the George HW Bush Gallery which contains an in-depth exhibit detailing the Bill of Rights, how it applies to the Constitution, and why it’s important. We loved this exhibit not only because it was really interesting but because it was designed to give straightforward answers, really helpful for a couple of Aussies based in England.

The Essentials

• Price: $14.50 adult, $13.00 student, and $11.00 senior/youth
• Operating Hours: 09:30-17:00 M-S and 12:00-17:00 Sun
• Address: 525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
• Website

One Liberty Observation Deck – Permanently Closed

Updated: Unfortunately, One Liberty Observation Deck is now permanently closed. The below information gives you some insight into what a visit was once like.

Who doesn’t love visiting an observation deck? With its birds eye view over the entire city and a perspective that just can’t be seen from the ground, who doesn’t love an observation deck??

Well, ok if you have a fear of heights then you’re excused but for everyone else, don’t you just love it? Plus… photo opportunities aplenty ❤

One Liberty Observation Deck is located on the 57th floor of One Liberty Place in Philadelphia’s city centre and stands an impressive 269m (883 ft) tall and has one of the best views in town.

We visited in the evening and what a great decision that turned out to be, the city lights illuminated the expanse of the city which seemed to stretch far beyond the horizon. Now, what’s the point of visiting an observation deck without taking plenty of photos? One tip, if you’re planning on visiting in the evening then make sure you’re familiar with adjusting your phone’s manual camera settings. If you don’t then you’re going to have issues with reflection so you’ll need to have a slower shutter speed.

Automatic Setting

Slower Shutter Speed

The Essentials

• Price: $14.50 adult, $9.50 youth (check out the Sun & Stars ticket for 2 visits in 48 hours)
• Operating Hours: 10am-9pm (8pm close during winter/fall)
• Address: 1650 Market St #5700, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
• Website

Benjamin Franklin Burial Place

As you could image, I was thrilled to discover that Philadelphia has a historic quarter so I set about highlighting all the places I wanted to visit during our time in town. And as to be expected, I ended up selecting more places than we had time so had to start choosing the Must Visit places (a challenging task if there was ever was one).

One place I wanted to visit was Benjamin Franklin’s burial place in Christ Church burial ground, which just happened to be located near our hotel, the lovely Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District hotel. The burial ground is enclosed by 3 large brick walls and an ornate gate. However, there was one small challenge….it was closed for the winter!

Venerated for benevolence, admired for talents. Esteemed for patriotism, beloved for philanthropy

– George Washington

Despite being initially sad that we couldn’t go inside and pay our respects, it turned out that the grave we wanted to visit was right behind the main gate and easily visible!

If you visit and you’re not sure if you’re in the right place then all you need to do is look for the helpful plaques which adorn the sign of the graveyard, detailing the life and achievements of Benjamin Franklin – it doesn’t take long to realise just how amazing this man was and why he’s so revered, not just in Philly, but across the entire world.

The visit won’t take long and shouldn’t be missed!

The Essentials

• Price: Free
• Operating Hours: 10am-4pm M-S, 12pm-4pm Sun. Closed during Jan and Feb.
• Address: 340 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

Reading Terminal Market

One of the things we love to do when exploring a new city to find amazing places to eat and if you’re planning a visit to Philly then there is absolutely no going past Reading Terminal Market.

Don’t consider Reading Terminal Market just a place to eat, consider it to be more the Holy Land of delectable deliciousness  – a veritable smorgasbord of delights as far the eye can see and housed under a single roof.

Ok, I think I may have just started drooling typing that last sentence so before I start rummaging through the fridge, here’s what you need to know about Reading Terminal Market. It’s considered an institution in Philadelphia with its roots firmly planted in the 19th century and has been a mainstay for locals and tourists alike. Home to a wide of variety of foods, if you think of it then someone is probably selling it – warm baked breads, delicious Amish goods (and sit down cafe restaurant – more on that below), cured meats, fresh fruit, and for those of you with a sweet tooth then you’ll get your fill with chocolate pretzels, cookies, and ice cream.

Hungry? Oh you will be when you walk into Reading Terminal Market, the moment the aroma hits you it’s not long before your stomach starts rumbling 😋

What was our favourite place? Wow, thats a tough question. If we had to pick a favourite (and I mean really HAD to) then it would have to be the Dutch Eating Place, I mean we did have breakfast there twice in two days! The Amish counter-style cafe is rammed during the mornings and when your breakfast arrives there is a little wonder why the lines wraps around the other stalls – fluffy (giant) pancakes, fresh juice, hot breakfast options, and all served quickly and with a genuine smile by the friendly team. We would go back again in a heartbeat!

There’s no denying that a visit to Reading Terminal Market is an absolute must when in town!

The Essentials

• Price: Free til you want to eat
• Operating Hours: Generally 9am-6pm M-Sun (varies between vendors)
• Address: 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
• Website

Rocky Statue / Museum of Art steps

You knew I was going to mention it.

There’s no way a visit to Philadelphia is going to be complete without a visit to the Rocky statue AND the Museum of Art steps! Love it or hate it, the character of Rocky Balboa is indelibly linked to the city of Philadelphia and this will forever mean that a visit to both the statue and the steps is high on most visitors To Do List

if you’ve watched the Rocky films then you know that it was in Rocky III that the city of Philadelphia unveiled a statue at the top of the Museum of Art steps. (Also, did you know that Rocky III was the first of the franchise to feature the iconic Eye of the Tiger theme song? Anyways…)

Today the statue is located at the bottom of the steps (to the side and out of the way) and constantly surrounded by visitors from all across the world. During our visit, the statue was never without people taking photos of it or in front of it (and yes, there were locals helping out the tourists with their photos, all for a fee…of course).

Speaking of locals, the Rocky statue remains a point of contention as some feel that it’s technically not a work of art, has become a bit of an eyesore, and the depiction of a fictional character doesn’t belong near the Museum of Art, which is home to world-renowned masterpieces.

Love it or hate it. A visit to the Rocky statue is essential when visiting Philly.

The Essentials

• Price: Free
• Operating Hours: 24/7
• Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA

Washington Monument Fountain

I don’t think many guidebooks or websites have a visit to the Washington Monument Fountain high on their Must See List of Philadelphia but it absolutely captured my imagination and I’ve been recommending it ever since.

Perhaps it has something to do with its location – situated across the road from the famed Museum of Art steps and Rocky statue in Eakins Oval, it is possible that it just gets lost in the noise. However, my recommendation is take the time to visit and admire the beautiful sculptures which surround the fountain. They’re captivating.

The fountain was designed by sculptor Rudolph Siemering and was originally created in 1887 and moved to its current location in 1928.

The Essentials

• Price: Free
• Operating Hours: 24/7
• Address: Eakins Oval, State Rte 3007, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA

Rodin Museum

The Rodin Museum in Philly contains the largest collection of Auguste Rodin’s works outside of Paris and if you don’t recognise the name Rodin then you will definitely recognise his most famous work of art – The Thinker

The museum is home to over 150 different pieces from across Rodin’s career and they are all fascinating. Roma and I don’t normally spend a lot of time in art galleries (museums yes, art not so much) but we spent hours here! We were completing captivated by the emotion on display throughout the museum, it was like a showcase of humanity.

The museum’s founder Jules E Mastbaum spent years collecting Rodin’s work with a view to eventually open a public museum. Within 3 years, Mastbaum had amassed the largest collection of Rodin works outside of Paris and whilst he sadly passed away before the museum opened, his wife oversaw the grand opening in November 1929.  

We absolutely loved visiting the Rodin Museum and cannot recommend it enough. The works of art were mesmerising, beautiful, and at times, terrifying. The full breadth of the human emotion on display. Don’t miss it.

The Essentials

• Price: Suggested $10 adult, $8 youth
• Operating Hours: 10am-5pm W-M, closed Tuesdays
• Address: 2151 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
• Website

The Barnes Foundation

The Barnes Foundation is one of the notable places in Philadelphia, home to a magnificent collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern paintings, and one which remains high on most people’s To Do List.

The foundation is home to a collection of over 4000 works, including over 900 paintings, and is worth a reported £25 billion! During a visit you will have the opportunity to walk from room to room, mere inches away from masterpieces, and admire until your heart’s content.

The key focus of the Barnes Foundation is education and the appreciation of fine arts so in addition to viewing works of art, you can also take a class and unleash your inner artist.

Now Here’s The Thing…

Would I go again? Not really. Ok, before you start calling me a heathen, give me a moment to explain.

We visited the Barnes Foundation following the Rodin Museum, which we absolutely loved, so it’s entirely possible we started our visit with really high expectations that couldn’t be matched. However, I felt the lack of information about the paintings really made an impact because I had no context about what I was looking at. Sure there was a booklet that informed me of artist and year but nothing else.

If you were looking at the below with only artist name and year of creation then could you tell me the context of the painting?

However, in the Rodin Museum, we were given insight into the life of Rodin which provided context to the work of art. Doesn’t this help?

The Barnes Foundation is popular attraction in Philadelphia with over 245k visitors a year so if you’re looking for art and culture, then it’s worth a visit.

The Essentials

• Price: $25 adults (various concession prices)
• Operating Hours: 11am-5pm W-M, closed Tuesdays
• Address: 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
• Website

The Franklin Institute

I’m sure that the Franklin Institute is one of the first places that families will take their kids to learn about various aspects of science but you know what, we absolutely loved spending the afternoon here! (Big kids I know…)

I guess it’s not a huge surprise that we loved The Franklin Institute considering that our favourite museum in London is the Science Museum…plus a visit allowed us to combine science with a visit to the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial as well!

If you’re looking for fun, interactive, and educational activities then a visit to The Franklin Museum in a must!

The Essentials

• Price: $23 adult, $19 youth
• Operating Hours: 9:30am-5pm M-Sun
• Address: 222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
• Website

Federal Donuts

Donuts. Need I say more?

The website for Federal Donuts claims that they are “no ordinary donut shop” and they would be correct, these might just have to be some of the most delicious donuts I’ve ever had! Catering to all tastes with flavours such as lemon gingersnaps, maple bacon, and chocolate caramel banana!

Now, in case you do what we did and order a box of the hot cinnamon donuts thinking that you’d plow through a few without a problem, consider this your Public Service Announcement. There is substance to these donuts! One is good, two is manageable, three and you’ll be searching for a place to nap!

Do. Not. Miss.

The Essentials

• Price: Varied (but so worth it)
• Operating Hours: 7am-7pm daily
• Address: 1632 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
• Website

Museum of the American Revolution

How much do you really know about the American Revolution?

Introducing Philadelphia’s newest museum which was opened on 19 April 2017, the Museum of the American Revolution tells the complete story of struggle and subsequent war that the United States of America fought for their independence from Britain.

The museum, located in Philadelphia’s historic quarter, contains a plethora (yeah I’m impressed I used it too) of historic artefacts – over 3000 items from the Revolutionary War, including uniforms, weapons, documents, and various works of art which brings to life the struggle experienced during this important time in America’s history.

Our recommendation is to set aside a good few hours for your visit to ensure you get the most out of it because you will end up spending longer than you expect!

One of the highlights of the visit was experiencing the latest exhibit – Washington’s War Tent. An immersive film experience which ends with seeing the General Washington’s War Tent appear in front of you, it’s an awe-inspiring experience!

The Essentials

• Price: $19 adult, $12 youth
• Operating Hours: 10am-5pm daily (closes at 6pm in summer)
• Address: 101 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
• Website

Jim’s Steaks

Oh, you’re heading to Philly?? Well, you’re gonna have to have a Philly Cheesesteak! Or two!

And so went pretty much every conversation we had with most people when we mentioned we heading to Philly for a visit. Yes, this is THE food to have when in Philadelphia. I don’t think there’s any possible chance that you can visit and NOT have one.

So, what exactly is a cheesesteak?

Now, that’s a good question. It’s basically shredded meat on a footlong roll with onions and cheese. Not just any cheese, we HAD to order our cheesesteak wit wiz. It was the one thing we were told by every Philly local we met during our visit, order the Philly cheesesteak wit wiz!

Where do you go for the best cheesesteak in Philly? That’s a contentious question, right there. The recommendations for Jim’s Steaks was overwhelming and the line which wrapped around the block was a pretty good endorsement too.

The Essentials

• Price: Varied
• Operating Hours: 10am-1am M-Th, 10am-3am F-S, 11am-1am Sun
• Address: 400 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA
• Website

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

If you’re looking for something a little different from the traditional art gallery and museum but still want to experience something uniquely local then a visit to Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) sounds right up your alley.

The brainchild of Isaiah Zagar, the PMG is a unique art environment where you can experience a mosaic-filled landscape and public murals. It is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in a world which is dedicated to community and inspiring others.

The Essentials

• Price: $10 adults, $8 youth (timed tickets)
• Operating Hours: 11am-6pm W-M, closed Tuesdays
• Address: 1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA
• Website

Final Thoughts

As you can probably tell, there’s so much to experience during a visit to Philadelphia that the only challenge you’re really going to face is squeezing in everythng! However, there’s a simple solution to that problem, stay longer 😊

I do have one favour to ask and that’s when you do make it to Philly please tag us @roamingrequired and @russellofearth because we’d LOVE to follow along with your Philly travels 🇺🇸

Disclaimer

We would like to say a very big thank you to Discover PHL for their support during our visit Philadelphia and organising entry to many of the attractions listed above. Whilst entry was complimentary, all opinions expressed remain solely our own.