Philadelphia is one of the popular tourist destinations in the United States and is the second-largest city in the Mid-Atlantic after New York City. Nicknamed the City of Brotherly Love, it is Filled with Historic and Iconic places in the City, as the city served as the Nation's capital until 1800. The city is known for its arts, culture, cuisine, and colonial and Revolution-era history; Philadelphia has recovered from the pandemic and tourism is expected to return by 2025 or 2026, as the greater Philadelphia region saw a 21% increase in tourists from the previous year as more than 36 million people visited the region. Here are some places you should visit in Philadelphia
HISTORICAL SITES TO VISIT
Many of the most popular tourist attractions in Philadelphia also happen to be historical sites because a lot of the most important events in U.S. History occurred in this very city.
Established in 1948, Independence National Historical Park covers more than 51 acres in downtown Philadelphia. The Park was created to protect the historic places associated with the birth of the American republic, standing as icons of freedom and democratic ideals for people around the world. Independence National Historical Park included many historical sites including the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
Before doing the tour of Independence Hall, you should definitely take the chance to visit the Liberty Bell Center, which is free to enter, but there is usually a long wait for a photo op. The State House bell, now known as the Liberty Bell, rang in the tower of the Pennsylvania State House, now that building is known as the Independence Hall. No one recorded when or why the Liberty Bell first cracked, but the most likely explanation is that a narrow split developed in the early 1840s after nearly 90 years of hard use.
A tour of Independence Hall is a must if you have not done so. The tour is about 20 minutes long, there are 60 tickets for each tour, visitors should arrive 30 minutes before their tour time to clear security screening, and Visitors will see the Assembly Room (where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed) on the first floor of the building. During the blistering summer of 1776, 56 courageous men gathered at the Pennsylvania State House and defied the King of England. Eleven years later, representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution, finally creating one unified nation.
Tickets are required for entrance to Independence Hall from March through December, from 9am to 5pm, but if you go in January and February, no tickets are required, with the exception of holiday weekends. Tickets should be purchased in advance online, and there is a 1.00 per ticket handling fee for tickets. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both debated and signed inside Independence Hall, which makes it worthy of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Besides the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell Center, the other places that you will visit on a tour of Independence Hall are Congress Hall, the Great Essentials Exhibit, Old City Hall, Second Bank of the United States, President's House Site, Franklin Courtyard, Franklin Court Printing Office, Washington Square, Merchants Exchange Building, Free Quaker Meeting House, City Tavern, Germantown White House, Bishop White House, Dolley Todd House, First Bank of the United States, Declaration House and the New Hall Military Museum.
The Benjamin Franklin Museum explores Benjamin Franklin's life and legacy through his character traits. The exhibit area is divided into five "rooms" with each room focusing on a particular trait: Passionate and dutiful, ambitious and rebellious, motivated to improve, curious and full of wonder, and strategic and persuasive. Admissions to the Museum cost $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children, ages 4 through 16.
Across the street from Independence Hall is the National Constitution Center, which serves as America's leading platform for constitutional education and debate. The building is dedicated to the four most powerful pages in America’s history, and the National Constitution Center is dedicated to honoring and exploring the U.S. Constitution. From January 4 – March 31, visitors can enjoy discounted admission of $10 for Adults; to visit the Museum tickets must be purchased in advance.
This historical journey would be incomplete without a walking tour of the Old City. Located next to Independence Mall, Old City still boasts charming cobblestone streets and plenty of 18th-century charm, along with an independent streak evident in everything from its owner-operated shops to its edgy art scene. Its proximity to the Liberty Bell, Penn’s Landing and Benjamin Franklin Bridge makes Old City a favorite for out-of-towners and its residents who call it home. People love the neighborhood for its fashionable boutiques, great restaurants, eclectic galleries and theaters, and vibrant nightlife.
Walking down these two blocks of Philadelphia makes it seem like you are back in the 1800s and is quite a unique feeling to experience.
ARTISTIC GEMS
Home to one of the largest collections in the country, Philadelphia is a premier destination for public art.
Just as famous as the statue are the steps leading to the east entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, aka “The Rocky Steps.” Each year, tens of thousands of people recreate the scene from the legendary movie and make the trek up the steps. At the top of the Staircase from the front of the Museum. you can get a picture-perfect view of the Philadelphia skyline. Right next to the steps of the Museum is the Rocky Statue.
The Rocky Statue is a larger-than-life bronze sculpture immortalizing the fictional character who has become the city's unofficial underdog mascot, the inspirational tale of a boxer, Rocky Balboa. Originally created for the movie Rocky III in 1982, this statue has become one of Philadelphia’s most famous pieces of public art. In short, visiting the statue, running up the steps and taking a picture at the top is a must on any first visit to Philadelphia. Consider it a rite of passage.
Another popular Museum to visit is The Rodin Museum, which is administered by the Philadelphia Art Museum, and has the largest collection of works by French artist, Auguste Rodin, such as The Gates of Hell and a bronze caste of The Thinker. You will find 120 of the French master’s sculptures here, as well as a fascinating collection of drawings, paintings, and studies.The variety of works on hand offers the perfect opportunity to contrast and compare the ways in which Rodin used and re-used the same stances, and even body parts, throughout his work.
In addition, The city has thousands of artworks thanks to organizations like the Association for Public Art, celebrating 150 years in 2022, and Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art program. If you want to check out several works at once, consider a tour from Mural Arts, the Association for Public Art, or the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
The most popular of which is Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, a mosaicked visionary art environment, gallery, and community arts center that preserves, interprets, and provides access to Isaiah Zagar's unique mosaic art environment and his public murals. The Magic Gardens site is Zagar's largest artwork and includes a fully tiled indoor space and a large outdoor mosaic sculpture garden that spans half a block on Philadelphia's famous South Street.
Another very popular exhibition of street art in Philadelphia is the LOVE Sculpture, which is an iconic symbol synonymous with Philadelphia and one of its best-known landmarks. The Love Sculpture first came to Philly in 1976 when Robert Jones, a pop artist, loaned the piece to the city for the U.S. bicentennial celebration. It is located in LOVE Park on 15th & Arch streets.
There are many more places in Philly to see street murals, but if you only have a day in the city, the Rocky Statue and LOVE Sculpture are iconic enough to represent Philadelphia.
FOOD MARKETS
Food halls around the nation starting to be a trend again, but Philadelphia has been ahead of the curve since the late 19th century. The city has several very popular food halls including the Reading Terminal Market, and 9th Street Italian Market, as well as many more food halls within Philly.
Another historic market in the city is Philadelphia's Historic S. 9TH Street Italian Market. Ir is America's Oldest & Continuously Operating Outdoor Market, locate in South Philadelphia's Bella Vista & Passyunk Square communities. It has a collection of nearly 200 individual businesses situated between 2 Public Parks & 2 beautiful Churches. The Market spans over 20 city blocks including 8th, 9th & 10th Streets from Fitzwater Street thru Wharton Street. The Market proudly hosts Philadelphia's Largest & Best Block-Party, the S. 9th St. Italian Market Festival.
Ardmore Farmers' Market and The Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square are two places you look for a bite to eat as well. Ardmore has a diverse selection to choose from including Middle Eastern, seafood, sushi, Thai, baked goods, Saxby's coffee, and a full array of DiBruno Bros. made-to-order and grab-and-go items.
The Market at Liberty Place is an indoor market with a wide variety of treats including burgers, breakfast sandwiches, shakes, tacos, pizza, and even wine and cider by the glass, courtesy of Paradocx Vineyard.
Food Halls are quite popular in Philadelphia as well; here are some of the most popular Food Halls:
- The Bourse Food Hall
- Chinatown Square
- Franklin's Table Food Hall
With so many options and so many varieties of food to choose from in Philadelphia, you really could spend a full day on a food tour.
THE IDEAL DAY IN PHILLY
If you are only in Philadelphia for a day, the perfect itinerary would be to start at the Philadelphia Arts Museum, which naturally means you would see the Rocky statue. After visiting the museum, go over to Reading Terminal Market for Lunch, and then finish the day off strong with a tour of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. If you are able to visit these sites, I would consider it a pretty solid itinerary.
Helpful sites to use when planning a trip:
Trip.com
WayAway
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