Philadelphia

Main sights

• Independence Hall

  At 520 Chestnut Street. Both the Declaration and the Constitution were debated and signed here. At the time of writing the National Park Service runs a walk-in open house from 09:00 to 10:30, then ticketed tours every 20 minutes until late afternoon. Arrive 30 minutes before your tour for security screening.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Independence Hall (opens in a new tab)
• Liberty Bell

  At the Liberty Bell Center, 526 Market Street, across from Independence Hall. Open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 with security screening and no ticket. The bell weighs about 940 kg. The wide crack you see was filed out in the nineteenth century in an attempt to keep it ringing.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Liberty Bell (opens in a new tab)
• Elfreth's Alley

  A narrow street between North Front and North 2nd Streets, in use since about 1703. Its 32 houses were built between 1720 and 1836 and are private homes, so keep your voice down and stay off the steps. The museum at numbers 124 to 126 is the way to see inside.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Elfreth's Alley (opens in a new tab)
• Reading Terminal Market

  More than a hundred merchants at 12th and Arch, in the former Reading Terminal train shed, trading since the 1890s. It opens every day, but the Pennsylvania Dutch stalls generally close on Sundays.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Reading Terminal Market (opens in a new tab)
• City Hall

  At Broad and Market, on the central square of Penn's plan. The tower reaches 167 m including the bronze William Penn on top, and an enclosed observation deck sits just below the statue.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for City Hall (opens in a new tab)
• Philadelphia Museum of Art

  At the north-west end of the Parkway, above Eakins Oval. The steps made famous by Rocky are outside, so climbing them needs no museum ticket.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Philadelphia Museum of Art (opens in a new tab)

Ticket links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Old City

  From 6th Street east to the Delaware, around the Independence sites, and busy with bars and restaurants in the evening.

• Society Hill

  Directly south of Independence Mall, with one of the largest concentrations of original 18th- and early 19th-century buildings in the country. Expect brick rowhouses, brick pavements and streets of cobbles or Belgian block. Look for Old St Joseph's, St Peter's and Old Pine Street Church.

• Rittenhouse Square

  A park in the south-west quarter, named after the astronomer David Rittenhouse, with shopping and dining along Chestnut and Walnut Streets. The Schuylkill riverside is a short walk west.

• Logan Square and the Museum District

  The middle of the Parkway, around Swann Memorial Fountain, with the Cathedral Basilica, Parkway Central Library and Franklin Institute close by.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Independence National Historical Park

   Independence Mall, the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall are grouped within a few blocks. Society Hill begins just to the south and Elfreth's Alley is a short walk north-east, so one loop can take in all three.

2. Benjamin Franklin Parkway

   A mile-long diagonal from City Hall past Logan Circle to Eakins Oval and the art museum. The Barnes Foundation and Rodin Museum lie along it. Allow for wide road crossings.

3. Schuylkill River Trail

   A shared path along the east bank, from the art museum past the Fairmount Water Works to Schuylkill Banks. A 2,000-foot boardwalk, opened in 2014, runs over the water to the South Street Bridge. Cyclists use it too, so stay alert.

4. Mural walks

   The Mural Arts Program has produced more than 3,500 murals, and they are free to see from the street. Look up the current locations before you plan a route, because they are spread across many neighbourhoods.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Flat throughout Center City, on an easy grid.

• Distances

  Independence Hall to City Hall is about 15 minutes on foot. Most Center City trips are within 30 minutes, and Walk! Philadelphia signs on many blocks help with direction.

• Surfaces

  Pavements are generally easy, but Society Hill has brick pavements and cobbled or Belgian block streets. Elfreth's Alley and its neighbours are uneven, so take care with wheels and thin soles.

• Heat and cold

  Summer heat indices run around 32 °C and can touch 40 °C on the worst days. Do the outdoor blocks early, with the air-conditioned museums for the afternoon. Winters sit near freezing, with snow possible from December to March.

• Security queues

  Both Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell have security screening. Leave time for it and carry as little as you can.

When to visit

• Spring and autumn

  Mild and best for walking.

• Summer

  Hot and humid, with Fourth of July events.

• Winter

  Cold, with occasional snow.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By air

  Philadelphia International Airport is linked to Center City by train.

• By rail

  Amtrak trains reach New York in about an hour and a half.

Local transport

• SEPTA

  Subway, trolleys and buses cover the city.

• On foot

  Center City is easy to walk.