Philadelphia attractions

Located on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall, the National Constitution Center is dedicated to honoring and exploring the United States Constitution, which (ratified in 1788) is the supreme law of the nation. The sprawling, tech-savvy museum brings the Constitution to life via interactive exhibits and dramatic presentations.

Old City Hall was used by the first US Supreme Court from 1791 to 1800, when Philadelphia was briefly the nation’s capital. After the federal government moved to Washington DC, the building was occupied by Philadelphia’s city hall and mayor’s office. Today it’s maintained as a historic site, and visitors can see the restored courtroom.

One of Philadelphia’s oldest and most popular destinations for food lovers, Reading Terminal Market has catered to hungry visitors since the 1860s. Just steps from Jefferson Station and the Philadelphia Convention Center, the market hosts dozens of stalls, from hot food vendors to gift shops and Pennsylvania Dutch baked goods sellers.

Old City is a neighborhood in Central City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for its antiquated charm and many historic sites important to the birth of the United States. Wander down its narrow cobblestone streets and you'll feel like you're stepping through a time warp into 18th-century colonial America.

An extension of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum houses the largest collection of works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris. Inside you’ll find more than 140 sculptures, including bronze casts of The Gates of Hell and The Thinker. Many of Rodin’s sculptures are displayed outdoors in the surrounding gardens.

Carpenters’ Hall is an important structure, both historically and architecturally speaking. Built for and still owned by America’s oldest craft guild, the site was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks in 1970. The guild was founded in 1724 and opened its first meeting location her on Chestnut Street, just a few hundred feet from Benjamin Franklin’s home.The site has welcomed a number of dignitaries throughout its history, including President Václav Havel from the Czech Republic, U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. In addition to the important meetings held here, the structure itself is worthy of a mention. It’s a beautiful example of Georgian architecture, represented by the building’s usage of Flemish bond brick pattern, cupola and windows.

This popular Philadelphia neighborhood known as Logan Circle, ironically also goes by the name Logan Square. One of the five key “squares” identified by William Penn in his original city design, it was named after one of the City of Brotherly Love’s most famous mayors.Travelers to this destination will find plenty of history, architecture and Americana on the bustling streets, in addition to a large portion of the city’s central business district. Enjoy a self-led walking tour that includes the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the Wesley Building and the Francis McIlvain House, in addition to numerous other iconic structures and the central Swann Memorial Fountain.

Sandwiched between Columbus Boulevard and the Delaware River on the east side of Philadelphia, Penn's Landing is skinny in shape but important in stature. The waterfront area served as the 1682 landing spot for William Penn, founder of the Pennsylvania colony, making it a must-see spot for any American history buff.

The largest park in Philadelphia—and one of the biggest swaths of urban green space in the country—Fairmount Park is also home to public artworks, museums, and historic highlights. With east and west sections divided by the Schuylkill River, Fairmount Park stretches across 2,052 acres (830 hectares).

America’s founding father established their original government in Philadelphia after the winning the Revolutionary War, and among their goals to help build the nation was creating a single currency and found national bank. Today that bank still stands, and can be found on Independence Mall. Alexander Hamilton created the First Bank of the United States, and the Roman-style of the building was intentionally imposing. The building was completed in 1795, and it served as the nation’s first bank until 1811. Today the building is a National Historic Landmark; however, visitors can only explore the bank from the outside, as it is not open to the public.

The final resting place of American founding father Benjamin Franklin can be found in the northwest corner of the Christ Church Burial Ground, which houses the graves of many other prominent Philadelphians and founding fathers, including four other signatories to the Declaration of Independence. Franklin’s grave is shared with his wife Deborah, and the simple stone merely says their names and the year 1790, the date of his death. The actual Christ Church is about three blocks to the east, a five-minute walk, and it’s also an important piece of American history, as the first Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S., and the worshipping place of many people who help establish the nation.

Discover the story of the nation’s founding at the Museum of the American Revolution. Located in the historic center of Philadelphia, the museum uses exhibit galleries, object theater, and recreated scenes to take visitors on a journey from the beginning of the conflict in the 1760s through to the creation of the nation.

Philadelphia is a city that’s home to both art and history. Few places showcase the connection between the two like the Barnes Foundation. This world-class museum houses a large collection of Modern paintings and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from artists like Renoir, Cezanne and Picasso.Travelers can wander the galleries filled with iconic works and tour the collection of smaller rooms that are reflective of the original Barnes estate. The museum also offers travelers easy access to the nearby park and the city’s waterfront, which is the perfect place for an evening skyline stroll.

Set within Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, the Second Bank of the United States was the country’s national bank from 1816 to 1833. An architectural inspiration for later American banks, the Greek Revival building now houses a “People of Independence” collection of portraits and sculptures of leading 18th-and 19th-century Americans.

Located in Independence National Historical Park, Independence Visitor Center is Philadelphia's official visitor center and a helpful introduction to its Revolutionary War landmarks. Visit the center to access tourism resources, get tickets to select landmarks—including Independence Hall—and stop by its gift shop and cafe.

Spanning half a city block on South Street, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG showcases the work of mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Featuring both an outdoor sculpture garden and an indoor gallery, PMG is a unique, urban art space constructed from glass and ceramic fragments, handmade tiles, and all manner of discarded and found items.

From a disc of precious metal to a shiny new coin, you can watch the entire process of creating money at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Glass-lined hallways set above the operating floor let you view coins as they are cut to size, rolled across conveyor belts, stamped with designs, and popped out looking like the change in your pocket.

Pennsylvania’s largest Catholic church, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul makes a striking impression on the east side of Philadelphia’s Logan Square. One of Philadelphia’s most notable buildings, built between 1846 and 1864, the cathedral has been the site of two papal Masses. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For history buffs, a sojourn in Philadelphia isn’t complete without a stop at the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH). Learn about Jewish heritage while browsing the vast exhibits, curated to showcase culture and traditions of Jews in America.The Smithsonian-affiliated museum hosts special events and houses an extensive collection of 30,000 artifacts detailing themes that include American-Jewish immigration, art, charity, sports, and religion. Because of its’ convenient location across from Independence Mall and near the Liberty Bell, NMAJH is included in many tours of Philadelphia’s historic district.

Philadelphia’s grandest public square, Rittenhouse Square—and its surrounding neighborhood, which goes by the same name—is a popular destination for shoppers, sightseers, and foodies. Located in the heart of Center City, the leafy park is a popular public oasis, and the high-end stores and restaurants are their own draw.

Families traveling with young kids won’t want to skip the Please Touch Museum, which has been the children’s museum of Philadelphia since 1976. The guiding principle of the museum is teaching through play, and it offers a multitude of engaging hands-on activities, especially geared toward infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary-age children.

Founded in 1887, the Penn Museum is one of the top anthropology and archaeology museums in the world. With a rich history of scientific expeditions around the globe, the museum holds nearly a million art objects and artifacts that showcase the development and achievements of humanity.

There’s nowhere else quite like South Street—located at the southern border of Center City, this thoroughfare is known for its countercultural cool. Alternative shops, tattoo parlors, and dive bars attract the young and edgy, while performance venues, art spaces, and popular cheesesteak slingers draw Philadelphians of all ages.

Originally settled in the mid-19th century by Cantonese immigrants, Philadelphia's Chinatown is a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood known for its fresh-food markets, authentic restaurants, and diverse crowds. Its streets and alleyways are jam-packed with shops, including those selling gifts and souvenirs, novelty items, and artisan crafts.

This much-loved memorial honoring Vietnam veterans from the city of Philadelphia was born in the 1980s and exists—most appropriately—above the busy Veterans Highway (I-95). Travelers to this somber and patriotic site will find the names of more than 600 soldiers from the City of Brotherly Love etched into black granite slabs. Visitors who wander along the historic waterfront will likely find themselves at this beautiful reminder of sacrifice and honor. Local guides will share details about the list of names from the monument in Washington, D.C. that exists inside one of the stones and travelers looking for a full war memorial experience can also head to the nearby Korean Veterans Memorial that’s adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

This popular museum showcases the unique stories and works of African Americans and the African Diaspora. In addition to creative and dynamic contemporary art, the African American Museum in Philadelphia is home to artifacts from the Civil Rights movement, the Negro baseball league and more.Travelers who venture to this iconic Philadelphia institution will find a sampling of some of the 500,000 negatives and photographs donated by Jack T. Franklin that highlight the key moments of the Civil Rights Movement, include the march in Selma. The Civic Center collection highlights approximately 400 African artifacts that highlight the craftsmanship and traditions Africa is known for.Visitors can explore the comprehensive and expansive museum on its own, or enjoy it in conjunction with other nearby attractions like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and Constitution Center.

In American history, the Delaware River is best known for the brave crossing made by George Washington around Trenton, NJ, when he directed a surprise attack during the Revolutionary War. However, today the Delaware River is home to a vibrant modern waterfront as it winds past Philadelphia, where locals and visitors alike can find great food, music, shopping and summer festivals. Among the many attractions along the riverfront, you can explore Olympia, the country’s oldest floating steel warship, at the Independence Seaport Museum, head to Morgan’s Pier to enjoy craft beer and live music overlooking the river, and climb aboard the RiverLink Ferry to explore the city from the water.

When people think of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they usually think of the WWI monument in Arlington National Cemetery. However, Philadelphia’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors the many fallen heroes from the American Revolutionary War. It was established in Washington Square Park in 1957, and the monument includes an eternal flame and a bronze statue of George Washington. Inside the tomb are the remains of a soldier found in the park, which was formerly used as a cemetery. Also found in the park is a clone of the original Moon Tree, a sycamore grown from a seed that was taken to space by astronaut Stuart Roosa on Apollo XIV.

While visiting one of America’s most historic cities, take an opportunity to shop for unique and collectible antiques along Philadelphia’s Antique Row. The heart of this downtown district is a stretch of Pine Street from Ninth and Eleventh streets, where collectors can find shops packed with colonial-era wares and hard-to-find antique furniture. You can stop in at M. Finkel & Daughter to find needlework and silk embroideries from the 17th century. Visit Chelsea Plating Company to peruse expertly restored sterling silver table settings. Or get lost as you browse the eclectic offerings at Blendo, which offers everything from knick-knacks to priceless jewelry, making it the perfect spot to find souvenirs or gifts for friends and family.

Located in South Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Italian Market is one of the oldest and continuously operating outdoor markets in the United States. Stretching for more than 20 city blocks, you can find everything here from fresh produce, meat, seafood, and cheese to prepared foods across a wide variety of cuisines.