Top Things To Do In Philadelphia

From Philadelphia’s Old City to Reading Terminal Market, there are lots of interesting places to visit in Philly. The One Liberty Observation Deck offers a 360-degree view of the city skyline.

Top things to do in Philadelphia include:

• Visit the 548 square-foot tower of Philadelphia City Hall
• Explore the variety of shops and vendors inside Reading Terminal Market
• Peer into history at the Liberty Bell Center at Independence National Historical Park
• See the stars in a whole new way at the planetarium inside The Franklin Institute
• Enjoy lunch on the Rocky Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Four professional sports teams call Philadelphia home. Eagles fans cheer on their favorite NFL team with a ticket to Lincoln Financial Field, while NBA lovers head to Wells Fargo arena for the 76ers.  

Popular attractions near Philadelphia include:

• Get an up close and personal look at the crack on the Liberty Bell outside Independence Hall
• Kick-start your weekend with a Friday night full of dancing at the Philadelphia Museum of
• Explore expressionist and post-modern masterpieces at the Barnes Museum
• Snap an Instagram-worthy photo at LOVE park in downtown Philly
• Walk along the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing before attending a summer concert

For a narrated journey through the city’s history, take a Constitutional Walking Tour. Spend the day uncovering archaeological mysteries. Then, finish the day with food done Philly-style. It’ll be difficult to run out of fun things to do in Philadelphia in just one day.

Fun things to do in Philadelphia today include:

• Tour the Eastern State Penitentiary, which at one time housed some of America's most notorious criminals
• Bike across the Benjamin Franklin suspension bridge that crosses the Delaware River between Downtown and Old Town
• Watch mollusks in their natural habitat and dig for archaeological treasures at the Academy of Natural Sciences
• Eat a Philly-style bagel boiled in a mixture of water and Yards IPA at Philly Style Bagels
• Rent a kayak and float down the Schuylkill river on a guided tour

Night owls and party people won’t tire of a night out in this hoppin’ city. Fill up on food at a well-loved restaurant before cheering on dancers in a cabaret performance. Full of things to do in Philadelphia at night, your hours of darkness will be filled with adventure.

Nighttime activities near Philadelphia include:

• Splurge on a night of authentic Peruvian cuisine at Vista Peru
• Hold your putter in one hand and your beer in another at Keystone Mini-Golf & Arcade
• Head to Passyunk Avenue to visit the Manatawny Still Works tasting room for a sip of locally brewed beer
• Socialize around the firepit after a quirky cabaret show LaPeg
• Enjoy smooth jazz and shrimp po’ boy at SOUTH restaurant

The City of Brotherly Love doesn’t skimp on kid-friendly attractions. Discover world-class museums and under-the-radar playgrounds that offer fun things to do in Philadelphia with kids.

Family-Friendly things to do near Philadelphia include:

• Make friends with Beau, the baby giraffe, at the Philadelphia Zoo
• Watch penguins swim and play from the underwater viewing area at Adventure Aquarium
• Learn all about folk-art and explore a giant mosaic at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
• Encourage curiosity at the Please Touch Museum
• Visit the eight-story castle-themed playground at Doylestown Central Park

Unwind with one of Philly’s many indoor activity options. Eat fresh pasta and cannolis at Termini Brothers or book a relaxing spa treatment at Ame Salon and Spa.

Philadelphia things to do indoors include:

• Discover The Dream Garden, a giant mural that covers an entire wall within the Curtis Center
• Wine and dine at Bank and Bourbon inside the opulent Loews Hotel
• Learn how the constitution came to exist at the National Constitution Center
• Tour the city and learn its history on a trolley that allows riders to bring their own booze
• Belay with a friend up the indoor climbing walls at Go Vertical

Get outside in The Cradle of Liberty! Horseback ride through a nature preserve or unwind on the hammocks at a local park.

Things to do outside in Philadelphia include:

• Play mini golf or ride the carousel at Franklin Square
• Pack a picnic to enjoy on the grass at Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania
• Ride horses through more than 50 miles of of trail that run near the creek at Wissahickon Valley Park
• Swing on the hammocks with a beer in hand at Spruce Street Harbor Park
• Enjoy waterfall views at the summit of the 3.2 mile hike near Cresco, PA to find Devil’s Creek Park