15 Best Things to Do and See in Philadelphia
Exploring Philadelphia on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Philadelphia, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Philadelphia. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Reading Terminal Market
Reading Terminal Market is an iconic indoor market in Philadelphia, home to grocery stalls, food counters and specialty vendors. In its aisles, visitors discover a wide range of food products, freshly prepared dishes and businesses that reflect the city’s culinary culture. The result is a vibrant place, popular both for shopping and for grabbing a quick bite. The market offers a vivid glimpse into everyday life in Philadelphia and its relationship with food, blending local traditions with a more contemporary offer.
2. Independence National Historical Park
Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is an iconic place to discover the origins of American history in a pleasant, accessible urban setting. It features several preserved historic buildings and spaces, as well as visitor centers that help you better understand the role this district played in the development of the country’s institutions. As you stroll through the park, you can also enjoy gardens, tree-lined squares and views of major heritage sites, for a visit that is cultural, educational and peaceful.
3. Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is one of Philadelphia’s most famous symbols and a must-see site for visitors interested in U.S. history. At this exhibition site, you can see the bell itself, presented as an iconic heritage object, as well as exhibits that explain its cultural importance and its connection to the ideals of liberty. The visit lets you get a close look at this monument, learn more about its significance, and enjoy an experience dedicated to the nation’s historical memory.
4. Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art brings together a wide range of works and objects in a monumental setting that strongly defines Philadelphia. Discover European, American and Asian art, along with decorative pieces and modern works displayed across varied gallery spaces. The building itself, with its imposing facades and Benjamin Franklin Parkway location, is an essential part of the visit. It combines museum, city landmark and major cultural venue in one experience.
5. Adventure Aquarium
Adventure Aquarium, near Philadelphia, is a large aquarium where visitors can see a wide range of marine and freshwater animals up close. Highlights include sharks, rays, turtles, jellyfish, and many species of fish, displayed in immersive tanks and educational exhibits. The venue also offers interactive areas that appeal to families, with hands-on experiences focused on aquatic wildlife and marine conservation. It is an entertaining, educational, and spectacular visit.
6. Rocky Steps
The Rocky Steps are the main staircase leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. The site is known for its direct link to the museum and for the views it offers over the avenue and downtown. It is a simple but highly recognizable public space, where the museum’s architecture, the forecourt and the climb up the steps create one of the city’s most famous urban scenes. The site is one of the key landmarks in Philadelphia’s museum district.
7. The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is one of the best-known science museums in the United States. It features interactive exhibits dedicated to science, technology, and engineering, with hands-on experiences designed for families as well as curious visitors of all ages. The museum also offers spaces devoted to the history of science and immersive installations that make learning come alive. Housed in an iconic building, it also serves as a venue for certain events, making it a visit that is cultural, educational, and lively all at once.
8. Independence Hall
Independence Hall in Philadelphia is one of the most iconic historic sites in the United States. This red-brick building, in the heart of the historic district, offers visitors a chance to discover elegant colonial architecture and carefully preserved meeting rooms. Here, you can explore a place associated with the birth of American institutions, with exhibition spaces that trace its civic and symbolic importance. The visit provides a clear insight into the city’s heritage and the country’s political history, in a solemn yet very accessible atmosphere.
9. Please Touch Museum
The Please Touch Museum is a children's museum where the visit is based on interaction, play, and hands-on discovery. In Philadelphia, it stands out for spaces designed to spark imagination, with child-height installations and exhibits that invite visitors to participate, not just look. It is a museum built to learn by doing, through activities that combine exploration, movement, and sensory discovery. This approach makes it a cultural attraction ideal for families and visitors looking for a different kind of museum focused on direct experience.
10. Mütter Museum
The Mütter Museum in Philadelphia is a fascinating museum dedicated to the history of medicine and anatomical curiosities. Visitors can discover impressive medical collections, with preserved human specimens, antique instruments, casts, and various scientific objects that illustrate the evolution of knowledge about the body and disease. The whole experience is presented in an atmosphere that is both scholarly and unusual, attracting curious visitors as well as science enthusiasts. It is a memorable visit for anyone looking to better understand medicine from an unusual angle.
11. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is an immersive art environment where mosaics cover nearly every surface, creating a dense, vivid visual landscape. Visitors discover fragments of ceramic, glass, found objects, and sculpted elements assembled into walls, corridors, and passageways. The site showcases Isaiah Zagar's work and his deeply personal relationship with urban space. Part museum, part gallery, part monumental installation, it offers a wandering experience inside a total artwork closely tied to Philadelphia.
12. Museum of Illusions Philadelphia
The Museum of Illusions Philadelphia offers a playful visit built around perception, with immersive rooms, trompe-l'oeil effects, and interactive installations that challenge your sense of direction. Discover surprising visual effects, mirrors, optical tricks, and spaces designed to be observed, tested, and photographed. Great for families and curious visitors of all ages, this museum blends entertainment and science by showing how the eye and brain interpret the world. It is an original stop in the heart of Philadelphia for fun and discovery.
13. American Revolution Museum
The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia offers a clear and accessible journey into the history of the American War of Independence. Through period objects, documents, weapons, reconstructions, and interactive displays, it helps visitors better understand the daily lives of the colonists, the stakes of the conflict, and the birth of a new nation. The exhibition highlights a range of perspectives on this foundational period, in a setting designed to make history come alive for every visitor.
14. National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is a history museum dedicated to the Constitution of the United States and its role in the country’s democratic life. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, historical documents, period artifacts, and educational displays that explain how constitutional principles have shaped the nation. The museum also offers an accessible and engaging look at how American institutions work, with content suited to visitors of all ages. It is an ideal visit for anyone wanting to better understand the political and civic history of the United States.
15. Independence Seaport Museum
The Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia offers an immersion into the maritime history of the city and the Delaware region. Visitors can explore exhibitions dedicated to ships, navigation, ports, and life at sea, as well as collections of artifacts and models that illustrate the local naval past. The museum also highlights historic boats moored nearby, offering an engaging and accessible visit to better understand Philadelphia’s role in America’s maritime heritage.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
