Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love. The Birthplace of America. Perhaps one of the most important cities in American history, Philadelphia played an instrumental role in the American Revolution. The city served as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. With all of this history, it is perhaps no surprise that the city offers a vast array of national historical sites for visitors to explore. However if that’s not your thing then there is plenty more to add to the sightseeing list! I’ve put together my list of top ten things you must see in Philadelphia, combining some of the historic must-sees with some of the city’s hidden gems.
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Independence Hall & the Liberty Bell
The National Historical Park is now the centrepiece of Independence in the USA. The red brick Independence Hall is where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted.
It was here that the Liberty Bell was once homed, in the lowest chamber of the original wooden steeple. Nowadays, however, the iconic Liberty Bell with its distinctive crack, which signifies American independence, is now on display across the street in the Liberty Bell Center.
2. City Hall
Located at 1 Penn Square, the impressive Second Empire masonry building is the seat of government for the city of Philadelphia. At 167m high, including the statue of city founder William Penn atop it, it was designed to be the tallest building in the world. This was until it was overtaken by the Washington Monument and the Eiffel Tower. The terms of a gentlemen’s agreement forbade any structure from rising above the brim of the hat on the William Penn statue. Philadelphia City Hall remained the tallest building in the city until it was overtaken by One Liberty Place in 1987.
During the 1990s, whenever one of Philadelphia’s four major sports teams was in contention for a championship, the statue was decorated with the jersey or hat of that team. For those interested, the jersey and hat used are now on display inside the building.
For great views, head to the the observation deck. This is located directly below the base of the statue. You can get there via a 6-person elevator. The glass panels allow visitors to see the wooden superstructure that supports the tower. In my opinion, the views are definitely worth the experience!
3. Philadelphia Museum of Art
At the northwest end of Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is the Museum of Art. It administers collections containing over 227,000 objects including major holdings of European, American and Asian origin. Some of the highlights include Van Gogh’s ‘Vase with twelve Sunflowers’, Monet’s ‘Japanese Bridge and Water Lilies’, and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s ‘At the Moulin Rouge, The Dance’.
For those less more interested in (possibly outdated) popular culture, the Philadelphia Museum of Art also has you covered. In recent decades, it has become well-known following the role it played in the Rocky films. Visitors to the museum are often seen mimicking Rocky Balboa’s famous run up the east entrance stairs, informally nicknamed the Rocky Steps. There is also a bronze statue of Rocky himself located at the base of the steps. No visit to Philly is complete without a snap!
As of 2023, the standard adult admission price is $30. This allows entrance to the main building and all annexes for 2 consecutive days. The museum is closed on Mondays except on some holiday. A special “Pay What You Wish” program is in effect on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and every Wednesday evening from 5:00–8:45 p.m.
4. Eastern State Penitentiary
Visiting a prison is perhaps not on your bucket list when it comes to exploring a new city. However, Eastern State Penitentiary should definitely not be missed when in Philadelphia. The penitentiary refined the revolutionary system of solitary confinement first pioneered at the Walnut Street Jail, which emphasized principles of reform rather than punishment. Notorious criminals such as Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton were held inside its thick walls. At its completion, the building was the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected. It also quickly became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide.
The prison is currently a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which is open to the public as a museum for tours 10 am to 5 pm, seven days a week, all year round. Admission is $23.
5. Reading Terminal Market
Anyone who has been following my blog or instagram for a while will know that I love a market. There is something about strolling down aisles of fresh produce. I love seeing the colourful fruit and veg, artisan cheeses, sweetly scented flowers, freshly baked goods. I could continue. Therefore it goes without saying that on my first afternoon in Philly, I headed straight for the Reading Terminal Market. You can find it at 12th and Arch Streets in downtown Philly. The covered public market houses over one hundred merchants offering a huge variety of goodies. Personally, I think that it is wonderful for a ‘peruse’, or for picking up a spot of lunch!
The market is open every day of the week. However the Pennsylvania Dutch merchants (a small but significant minority) generally do not operate Sunday through Tuesday.
6. One Liberty Observation Deck – CURRENTLY CLOSED
Currently the tallest standing attraction within Philadelphia, One Liberty Observation Deck is the ideal spot for checking out “Philly From The Top” from the 57th floor. The observatory offers 360 degree views out across the sprawling city below and beyond.
Although we didn’t pick the best day weather wise to head up to the top, we were still met with great views of the urban cityscape. We spent the best part of an hour at the top picking out all of the city’s iconic sites and making the most of the interactive experiences and installations, which included a huge Benjamin Franklin sculpture, Philadelphia-focused listening stations and, six touch screens that allowed us to zoom in on a single point hundreds of feet below. Even with the clouds and rain, it was a fab experience!
As of 2021, this is now closed. Whilst there are no plans for re-opening, I remain hopeful!
7. Philadelphia Magic Garden
By now you should all know that I am into my hidden gems, local hotspots and the first thing I did when I arrived in Philadelphia was to search these out. The wonderful concierge at our hotel was a great help and highly recommend the Magic Gardens on South Street.
Not your traditional garden, or tourist site, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space in the trendy South Street area. To date, it houses the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. The Magic Gardens spans three city lots, and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. The mosaics are made up of everything from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates.
The space is open to visitors, from 11:00-6:00 Wednesday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays.
8. Elfreth’s Alley
Named after Jeremiah Elfreth, an 18th-century blacksmith and property owner, Elfreth’s Alley is often referred to as America’s ‘oldest residential street’. Located in the Old City neighbourhood between North 2nd Street and North Front Street, the cobblestone alleyway, lined with Georgian and Federal-style houses, dates back to 1702. Among the alley’s residents were tradesmen and their families, including shipwrights, silver and pewter smiths, glassblowers, and furniture builders. As of 2016, there are thirty two houses on the street, built between 1728 and 1836, many of which are still inhabited and serve as homes.
9. Walnut Street
For any shopping addicts, a stroll along Walnut Street in downtown Philly cannot be missed. Labelled ‘the city’s premier shopping district’, best known for the upscale Rittenhouse Square, it is home to a number of popular dining, retail and cultural establishments.The majority of designer and fast fashion stores located on Walnut Street are situated on a four-block stretch between Broad Street and 18th Street, anchored by the park on the southwest corner. This area of Walnut Street and a few blocks to the east features a variety of shops, eateries, bars, hotels, and office buildings.
10. Public Art
Philadelphia is a city with a penchant for music and art. Often referred to as a ‘museum without walls’ there are few areas in the city where you are unlikely not to stumble across a fascinating sculpture or magnificent mural.
Alongside the sleek 45 foot Clothespin or the LOVE sculpture in John F. Kennedy Plaza, northwest of City Hall, Philadelphia is famous for its Mural Arts Philadelphia. Started in 1984 as an attempt to eradicate graffiti, the program gives professional artists and young Philadelphians an opportunity to show off their artistic talent in a constructive way. In Philadelphia every wall is a potential blank canvas and across the city more than 3,600 murals adorn building exteriors.
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Other posts that may help you:
- 8 Reasons to Visit Philadelphia
- Staying at Sonesta Philadelphia Downtown
- An Instagram Journey Along America’s North East Coast
Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed the post! If you have any questions about the USA please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
