Philadelphia is a city in Pennsylvania, United States, which bears a historical significance as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S constitution was written in this city. It is one of the largest cities in the state known for its iconic food such as cheese sandwich, pretzels, Liberty Bell, museums, original colonies, and diverse ethnicities. With numerous places to explore and activities to indulge in, Philadelphia has proved to be one of the top tourist destinations. From exploring the history of this city to relishing tasty foods, there are upteem things to do in Philadelphia.

Top 17 Things To Do In Philadelphia

Here is a compilation of the top things to do in Philadelphia that you must opt for on your vacation. These activities are meant for all kinds of travelers whether solo or group travelers.

1. Liberty Bell – Explore & Capture Selfies

Explore and Capture Selfies

This is a symbol of freedom of America and a must-visit to get a glimpse into the history of the United States and take a look at this historic relic. The Liberty Bell is cracked because it was made with a brittle metal in the 17th century when America got its independence. This bell was rung to mark the Declaration of Independence and is an iconic symbol of America’s freedom. The bell cannot ring now because it is cracked.

Location: Liberty Bell Center
Tickets: free
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm

Must Read: 10 Best American Road Trips For An Unforgettable Journey In The Land Of Enchanting Sceneries!


Looking To Book An International Holiday?


2. Peddler’s Village – Explore On Your Own

Peddler’s Village at night

Image Source

Experience the countryside at Peddler’s Village. This is a small and quaint town that organizes events, festivals, and has a wide range of shopping options. It organizes the Strawberry Festival in May, Blueberries festival in July, and the Peach festival in August. It is famous for its multi-cuisine dining options. You can also enjoy parades, eating delicious food, and exploring the picturesque countryside dotted with specialty shops. Visit it at Christmas to view the lights throughout the village.

Location: Lahaska
Ticket: Drive costs between $3 to $5
Timings: 10 am to 8 pm

Suggested Read: 14 Awesome New Year Parties In USA That You Must Be A Part Of

3. Dilworth Park – Enjoy Thrilling Activities

Dilworth Park In Philadelphia

Image Source

This is a public park that has interactive fountains, live musical concerts, outdoor movie screening, and more. There is also a well-maintained lush green space for family and kids to enjoy a picnic. Go skating on the ice rink, take a stroll, walk, eat, shop, and enjoy leisure time at this park. Winters are a great time to visit this park to enjoy the holiday spirit and buy souvenirs. Enjoy a glass of wine, and attend the events that are organized at this park.

Location: Dilworth Park
Timings: 6 am to 1 am

Suggested Read: 16 Food Festivals In USA Every Food Lover Should Attend

4. Valley Forge National Historical Park – Go For A Hike

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Image Source

There are many activities you can take up at this national park. You can explore the park on the bicycle, pick a trolley or driving tour, participate in interactive historic tales, and take hiking and biking trails at this park. You explore creeks, rivers, historic sites, and hilly areas in these trails. You can also take horseback riding and visit many places of attractions within the park. You can also choose bird walks to view birds from more than 200 species in the Artillery Park.

Location: King of Prussia
Timings: 9 am to 6.30 pm

Suggested Read: 10 Top-Rated Casinos In USA To Try Your Luck And Roll The Dice!

5. Attend Music, Theatre & Dance Events

Music & Dance Events

Image Source

Live music, performances, theatre scene is vibrant in Philadelphia. There are many live musical events, orchestra, avant-garde theatrical performances with original scripts, and much more happening in the art scene. The city is renowned for its visual arts and musical events. There are many dance and music venues you can choose from to view excellent dance performances from the international troupe. Enjoy ballet, hip-hop, salsa, or the classics attending these events.

Suggested Read: 11 Halloween Parties In USA You Should Attend To Shake Things Up

6. Check Out The Fashion District

Fashion District

Image Source

There are a lot of places inside the fashion district to check out. Candytopia is a place to visit with your family and kids, eat from the pool of marshmallows you can swim into. There are an edible candy museum that houses candy art in the form of bags, wall art, etc. Watch movies on the AMC Dine and sip some cocktails in the bar of this theatre. City Winery is a huge wine restaurant that stores more than 400 delicious wines. There’s a lot more you can explore at this place.

Location: 9th & Market Street
Timings: 10 am to 8 pm

Suggested Read: 12 Places To Visit In California: A Short Trip To Experience Miniature America


Planning your holiday but confused about where to go? These travel stories help you find your best trip ever!


7. Enjoy Folkart At The Magic Gardens

Enjoy Folkart At The Magic Gardens

Image Source

This garden is made with mosaics and sculptures, grottos, and tunnels. You can view the colorful art and take a self-guided leisurely tour taking pictures and a stroll inside this garden. Images are created using colorful tiles and are worth a look. There is an art exhibition and beauty spread across all over the place. There is a lot of artwork you can stop over and have a look. There are also many events and parties held in this garden which you can attend.

Location: 1020 South Station
Tickets: $5- $10
Timings: 11 am to 6 pm

Suggested Read: 10 Brazilian Desserts To Satiate Your Taste Buds In This South American Wonderland

8. Boathouse Row -Take A Walk

Boathouse Row

Image Source

This is a historic site located on the banks of the Schuylkill River. It has a row of 15 boathouses each of which has a history worth taking note of. All these boathouses are 150 years old and look magnificent in the night when they are decorated with lights. There are many events conducted in this area which you can attend. This historic landmark is a must-see for those who visit Philadelphia.

Location: Boathouse Row
Tickets: None
Timings: open 24 hours

Suggested Read: Spanish Travel Words And Phrases To Help One On A Trip To Spain And Latin America

9. Dine At Popular Restaurants

Dine At Popular Restaurants

Parc is an award-winning restaurant which serves great white wine, fresh bread, and transatlantic food. Talula’s Table in Chestnut County is a great place to relish on the seasonal menus. Taste great American food at The Love restaurant. El Vez serves the best Mexican food. The Dandelion is a beautifully decorated gastropub with British cuisine. You will find restaurants and pubs from cuisines across the world.

Suggested Read: Castles In Texas: 6 Amazing Castles You Must Visit To Experience The American Royalty!

10. Reading Terminal Market – Explore 125-year-old Area

Reading Terminal Market

Image Source

Get some taste of local food and go grub hopping at this market. You can choose from a list of fresh seafood, meats, cheese, sandwiches and get some retail therapy from the local stores in this market. You can find every kind of food from various ethnicities to explore and eat. Relish on donuts, pretzels, dumplings, pies, Middle Eastern delicacies, and more at this market.

Location: 51 N. 12th Street
Tickets: Food tours starting from 2536
Timings: 8 am to 6 pm

Suggested Read: A 6 Days Romantic USA Trip: Hollywood, Whale Watching & Splurging On American Goods!

11. Race Street Pier – Unwind With Your Gang

Bridge View

Image Source

You can get a spectacular view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from this green space. This space is suitable for family picnics, taking a stroll, and spending time at the manicured garden area. This area looks spectacular at night and is decorated with lighting. You can find some quiet time sitting in this park that has a magnificent view.

Location: Race Street
Tickets: Vary for different events
Timings: 7 am to 11 pm

Suggested Read: Niagara Falls in Canada: A Guide To A Majestic Waterfall In North America

12. Bok Bar – Enjoy A Drink Under Sky

Bok Bar In Philadelphia

Image Credit: bridgesward for Pixabay

You get a panoramic view of the city at this bar. There are only limited beer and wine drinks. Many events are hosted here and the place is a buzz and a favorite amongst tourists. A place to relax and unwind during day time or night time. The bar serves delicious food bites and drinks. If you need a pint of beer, fresh air to breathe and get a stunning view, this is the best place to be.

Location: Mifflin Street
Tickets: Free
Timings: 5 pm to 11 pm, vary on weekends

Suggested Read: Brazil Wildlife: A Mini Guide To Explore The Enchanting Carnival Land Of South America!

13. Rail Park – Explore & Relax

Rail Park In Philadelphia

Image Source

This is an unused railway station that is converted to a park. It has numerous benches, public art, and green scapes. A place to take a stroll and relax by reading a book or just getting lost in thoughts. This is a good place to visit at dusk as the view is stunning. You get an amazing view of the city from this park. It is spread across three miles and has large-sized swings. A good place for a picnic with family and kids.

Location: Noble Street
Tickets: Vary for events
Timings: 7 am to 10 pm

Suggested Read: 10 Museums In Washington DC For An Insight Into The American History

14. Old City – Marvel At the Age-Old Beauty

Old City VIew

Image Source

You can take a walk in the charming lanes of the Old City. There are historic spots you can visit such as Shane Confectionery, Franklin Fountain, and many other stores that existed since Victorian times. Relish candies and satiate your sweet tooth eating delicacies from the Victorian Candy Emporium that was built in the 18th century. Shane Confectionery has all the sweet goodies such as ice cream, chocolate truffles, etc made with old recipes.

Location: Ranges between Vine Street and Walnut Street
Tickets: Vary for different events
Timings: Vary

Suggested Read: Canada Travel Tips: For A Perfect Holiday In The Largest Country Of North America

15. South Philadelphia Sports Complex – Enjoy A Game

South Philadelphia Sports Complex

Image Source

Catch up with live sports happening at this place whether you love the Bears or the Eagles. It has a very large seating capacity and parking space of 22000. It can host up to 380 events in a single day. Enjoy concerts, soccer games, delicious food and drinks, baseball games, and other events at this venue. A great place for sports enthusiasts to watch the live games can be very thrilling.

Location: 3300 South 7th Street
Tickets: Vary for different games
Timings: View calendar for hours

Suggested Read: This Island In South America Is The World’s Most Dangerous Place

16. Spruce Street Harbour Park – Opt For Outdoor Activities

Spruce Street Harbour Park In Philadelphia

Image Source

Take along your kids and have a good time at this park that is close to the Delaware River. It gives a spectacular view of the bridge and nearby areas. There are many food stalls where you can enjoy iconic food the city is famous for and drinks. You can also chill at the 50 hammocks available at this park. There are also many gaming options such as ping pong, chess, etc available. You can sip some cold beer from any of these beer gardens.

Location: Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Tickets: free
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm

Suggested Read: 10 Best USA Hotels For A Relaxing American Vacation

17. Rocky Statue – Pose & Click A Picture

Rocky Statue In Philadelphia

Image Source

This is an iconic landmark as it was featured in the movie Rocky Balboa. This Hollywood movie won an Oscar Award in the year 1977 and is an inspirational movie. You can take a selfie at this statue and learn about the Rocky theme. This is a popular landmark and a must-visit when you are touring the city. The 72 stone steps are known as the Rocky Steps to mimic the climb shown in the movie.

Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art
Tickets: free
Timings: Open 24 hours

Further Read: 10 Hot Springs In USA Which Will Give You Relaxing Spa Like Experience Amidst The Nature!

Philadelphia is a city for delicious food, art, and music. It is significant for its history and has many attractions and places for sightseeing. You can visit the city in any season and enjoy the events and festivals that happen all-around the year. So, what are you waiting for? Plan your vacation to USA with TravelTriangle for a butter-smooth vacay! Make sure that you indulge in these things to do in Philadelphia.

Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do In Philadelphia

What is Philadelphia known for?

It is also called Philly, ‘The City of Brotherly Love,’ and is known for its iconic food, Declaration of Independence, and the Liberty Bell.

What is the best time to visit Philadelphia?

Months between March and May and the spring season is the best time to visit. You can visit Philadelphia throughout the year as the weather with many events and festivals organized.

What are the iconic Philadelphia food?

Philly Cheesesteak, Philly Soft Pretzels, Scrapple, Roast Pork Sandwich are some of the iconic foods of the city.

What is South Philly famous for?

It has many parks and sports complex which provide entertainment options and outdoor activities.

What can you do in Philadelphia at night?

Visit places in the Historic District, grab some drinks, watch open-air movies, eat, go people- watching.

What are the popular neighbourhoods in Philadelphia?

City Center East, West, and the University City are the best neighbourhoods in the city.

Don’t when in Philadelphia?

Do not walk slowly as the pedestrians walk faster in the city. Do not visit South Street in the night as it can get unsafe.


Looking To Book A Holiday Package?


People Also Read:

Category: Things To Do, USA

Best Places To Visit In India By Month

Best Places To Visit Outside India By Month