A Big Guide to Museums & Attractions in Greater Philadelphia

The centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park is world-famous Independence Hall, where America’s Founding Fathers gathered to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Eleven years later, representatives from the new states returned to lay the framework for the U.S. Constitution.

Among the site’s rooms open to the public are the Assembly Room (where both documents were adopted), the Supreme Court Chamber, the Long Gallery and the Governor’s Council Chamber.

Good for: Crossing off a must-visit site from your bucket list
Know before you go: Free guided tours are available year-round, but visitors must reserve timed tickets (with a $1 service charge) online or by phone in advance for entrance.

The iconic Liberty Bell — first cast in England in 1752 and recast in Philadelphia a year later — originally hung atop the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall). Abolitionists, suffragists and justice-seekers across the globe quickly adopted the iconic image as an enduring symbol of freedom. 

The bell was moved to a pavilion across the street in 1976 and then to the current Liberty Bell Center three decades later. Visitors can view the bell and tour the center’s exhibits for free year-round.

Know before you go: No tickets are required to visit, but guests must first pass through security.
Vibe: Let freedom ring

The President’s House memorializes the paradox of slavery and freedom at the site of the nation’s first executive mansion, in which Presidents George Washington and John Adams lived during their terms and where nine enslaved people served the first president.

While the original building was demolished in 1832, the foundation was unearthed in 2000 during construction of the Liberty Bell Center and now serves as a free outdoor exhibit. 

Good for: A more complete telling of history
Know before you go: The National Park Service removed the interpretive panels at the President’s House on January 22, 2026. Approximately half of the original panels were restored on February 20, 2026. Following a series of federal court rulings, the National Park Service completed the replacement of the original interpretive panels with a new exhibit on July 15, 2026.

Known as the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park (INHP) sits on the site where many of the seminal events that formed the fledgling nation took place, as it eventually gained its footing as a global leader of democratic ideals.

In addition to Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell Center (see above), the expansive park features close to 20 other attractions, including the newly re-opened First Bank of the United States.  

Know before you go: Certain INHP attractions open seasonally or have limited public hours. Plot out your visit ahead of time by checking INHP’s official site, or head to the Independence Visitor Center at 6th & Market streets to see which sites are open.
Don’t miss: Taking a stroll or having a picnic at Washington Square park, one of William Penn’s original five squares

Christ Church was the first parish of the Church of England in Pennsylvania, operating as a house of worship for prominent early Americans including George Washington, Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin. Absalom Jones would later be ordained here as the nation’s first African American Episcopalian priest. 

Colonial America broke with the Church of England here when Christ Church members committed the treasonous act of crossing out the king’s name on the church’s copy of the Book of Common Prayer on July 4, 1776.

Good for: Exploring stunning architecture and learning about the church’s connection to America’s path to democracy.
Know before you go: Christ Church Burial Ground — the final resting place of many of the nation’s first history makers, including Franklin himself — is a short walk from Christ Church.

Dedicated to the four most critical pages in America’s history, the National Constitution Center takes a deep dive into what “We the People” truly means. 

Museum-goers can explore exhibits and artifacts, view an original copy of the Bill of Rights, walk among 42 life-size bronze statues of the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and learn more about the Constitutional amendments that ended slavery (13th Amendment) and granted the right to vote to Black men (15th Amendment) and some women (19th Amendment).

Good for: A deep dive into the Constitution’s history and legacy
Don’t miss: Checking out the attraction’s newest galleries: America’s Founding and Governing the Nation

Telling the story of the Revolutionary War through personal accounts, the Museum of the American Revolution delves into the world-changing conflict through immersive exhibits and an unmatched collection of relics — including weapons, documents, personal items and works of art. 

With powerful films, digital touchscreens and historical vignettes, the museum recreates the drama surrounding the country’s climactic birth. See the institution’s signature artifact — George Washington’s war tent, which served as his shelter, battlefield home, strategic meeting place and office headquarters — inside the site’s theater.  

Good for: Revolutionary history beyond the battles
Know before you go: Check the museum’s official website for the latest information on current exhibits and programming.  

Founded in 1976, the groundbreaking African American Museum in Philadelphia was the first institution built by a major U.S. city to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage and culture of people of African descent in America. 

The museum’s permanent exhibit, Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776-1876, takes a bold look at early African Americans and their oft-unheralded impact in the nation’s founding, while visiting and rotating exhibits examine contemporary racial, societal, economic and cultural issues surrounding diasporic Africans.

Good for: A more complete exploration of American history
Know before you go: AAMP rotates exhibits and programming regularly, so check the website to see what’s on. 

Take a journey through 360 years of Jewish history in the U.S. at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, which is filled with more than 1,200 artifacts and documents, 2,500 images, 30 original films, and 13 interactive media displays — all free to visit (with suggested donation). 

The experience delivers rich tales that trace the path of the nation’s Jewish diaspora from struggling immigrants to integral citizens. 

Don’t miss: Snapping a selfie with Deborah Kass’ cheeky OY/YO sculpture installed outside of the museum entrance
Know before you go: The museum also hosts rotating ticketed exhibitions and programming, so check the official site ahead of a visit.

One of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in America, Elfreth’s Alley is a charming 400-foot cobblestone walk lined with 32 quaint private households — once inhabited by figures like Dolly Madison, Betsy Ross and Stephen Girard and still occupied by everyday Philadelphians — built between 1720 and 1830. 

While closely surrounded by a modern city, the alleyway preserves three centuries of evolution through old-fashioned flower boxes, shutters, Flemish bond brickwork and other architectural details. 

Don’t miss: The pair of adjacent circa-1755 homes now operating as the Elfreth’s Alley Museum
Know before you go: Pick up timed tour tickets in person at the museum and mark your calendar for two annual events when residents open their doors to the public: the first Saturday in December and Fete Day in June. 

Another of Penn’s original squares, Franklin Square offers a bevy of modern outdoor fun. Take a mini-tour of Philadelphia as you putt-putt through scale models of iconic landmarks at Philly Mini Golf or enjoy a nostalgic ride on Parx Liberty Carousel — a tribute to Philadelphia’s carousel-making heritage. 

There’s also a large fountain (featuring seasonal shows and nighttime light displays), a burger stand and lots of open space. 

Good for: Date night or a family outing
Know before you go: Summer visitors shouldn’t miss the annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, while winter wanderers should earmark a visit to explore the Winter in Franklin Square programming.

America’s most famous flag maker greets guests at her 18th-century upholstery shop, part of the diminutive dwelling which today is the Betsy Ross House museum, where visitors can enjoy programs, storytelling and activities to learn about Ross’ life and legend. 

Visit the seamstress’ bedroom, kitchen, courtyard, fabrication studio and basement (filled with displays about her house and history). Self-guided tours come with general admission or add an audio tour for a few dollars more.

Good for: A deep dive into Betsy’s history
Don’t miss: Seeing the sewing table Betsy may have used to stitch the very first American flag, now part of the museum’s permanent collection 

A fixture in Old City since 2000, the National Liberty Museum’s galleries and exhibits spark dialogue and encourage visitors to engage with some of the most meaningful topics of our time — from liberty and equality to critical thinking and the value of collaboration.

The museum’s eight galleries showcase rotating interactive exhibits alongside works of contemporary art, all surrounded by stories of 2,000 changemakers like Jackie Robinson, Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai.

Know before you go: The museum changes exhibitions annually, so check the official website to see what’s on.
Don’t miss: The 21-foot Flame of Liberty glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly and an exact replica of the Liberty Bell, both part of the museum’s permanent collection.

An abandoned 19th-century bank in Old City has been transformed into an immersive, six-story work of art called Ministry of Awe, featuring interactive installations, immersive soundscapes and more. 

Inside, visitors can try their hand at a forgery, feel a super-sized exhale while standing below a ginormous nose or chase stars in a room-wide mural that responds to human interactions. Global artist and creative mind behind the transformative art experience, Meg Saligman, collaborated with more than 100 artists to create the massive work.

Good for: Hours of awe-inspiring wonder
Know before you go: Hidden rooms and secret spots abound. 

One of the nation’s largest and most recognizable art institutions, the Philadelphia Museum of Art rises majestically from the head of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Inside are vast collections, including Renaissance, impressionist and modern and contemporary galleries featuring works from van Gogh, Manet, Cassatt, Duchamp, Dalí and Picasso, plus rotating exhibitions and tons of special programming. 

Meanwhile, outside are views of the museum’s stunning Greek Revival architecture, the one-acre Sculpture Garden and, of course, its staircase made famous by Rocky Balboa (see below).

Good for: Seemingly endless exploration of world-class art and artifacts
Know before you go: Check the official website for designated pay-what-you-wish days, typically the first Sunday of each month.

Alongside a visit to the Liberty Bell (see above) and Pat’s King of Steaks (see below), one of the most iconic Philadelphia experiences is running up the legendary Rocky Steps fronting the East Terrace entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Race up the 72 stairs just as Sylvester Stallone famously did in the 1976 film and celebrate by spinning around with your fists in the air. Then snag a selfie with the eight-foot bronze Rocky Statue at the top.

Good for: An iconic Philly photo op
Don’t miss: Learning about the real-life inspiration for Rocky at the Joe Frazier statue at the foot of the steps 

At home in the first American city to exhibit his creations, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s Rodin Museum houses the largest public collection of Auguste Rodin’s works outside of Paris, including 20 of the French master’s sculptures, plus exhibits highlighting drawings, paintings and academic studies. 

The museum’s Outdoor Gardens sculpture collection includes more masterpieces, like The Age of Bronze, a bronze cast of The Thinker and one of only three original casts of The Gates of Hell in North America.

Know before you go: The museum offers pay-what-you-wish entry, while the gardens are free and open to the public.
Don’t miss: Seasonal happenings like the Rodin Garden Bar and pop-up programming

The gallery at the Barnes Foundation (dating back to 1961, and on the Parkway since 2012) holds one of the world’s most important collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modernist paintings by renowned artists like Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso, van Gogh, Matisse, Rousseau, Degas, Rubens, Gauguin, Goya, Manet and Monet. 

The museum also showcases American paintings and decorative arts, metalwork, African sculpture, and Indigenous textiles, jewelry and ceramics — all presented in philanthropist and lifelong Philadelphian Albert C. Barnes’ distinctive and specific arrangements.

Don’t miss: Taking one of the Barnes’ tours to learn more about the collection’s history
Know before you go: The museum’s mobile guide, Barnes Focus, allows visitors to use their smartphones to instantly access info about works of art.

One of the leading science museums in the nation — and one of the oldest, dating back to 1824 — The Franklin Institute specializes in how science affects every aspect of daily life. 

Regular rotating special exhibitions add to the museum’s appeal, in addition to beloved hands-on permanent exhibits like Your Brain, Sir Isaac’s Loft, Amazing Machine, Franklin Air Show, Wondrous Space, the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive, the iconic Giant Heart, the Fels Planetarium and mesmerizing four-story Foucault’s Pendulum. 

Don’t miss: Snapping a photo with the museum’s namesake at the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
Know before you go: Tickets are required for entry. Spending some time sightseeing in Philly? The Franklin Institute is one of the sites included in the City Pass, offering access to three to five attractions at a big discount. 

The oldest natural history museum in the Americas, the Parkway’s Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, was founded way back in 1812. Today, visitors can meet live animals and see three continents of wildlife in their natural habitats, as well as enjoy a myriad of exciting rotating visiting exhibitions. 

But the institution’s centerpiece is Dinosaur Hall, complete with 30 different species of dinosaurs and prehistoric reptiles, a fossil preparation lab, a dig site and a fully reconstructed 42-foot Tyrannosaurus rex.

Know before you go: Save money when you buy your tickets online ahead of a visit.
Don’t miss: Checking out the museum’s event calendar to see the most up-to-date programming

Once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, the massive Eastern State Penitentiary operated from 1829 to 1970 and introduced Americans to the concept of prison as a reform (penitentiary for “penance”) tool. 

Today, the site — which once housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and Willie Sutton — offers self-guided tours that explore the attraction’s history, along with modern social justice issues that surround incarceration. 

Know before you go: Take an audio tour, a guide-led tour or a self-guided tour, included with admission.
Don’t miss: If your visit brings you in the fall, be sure to experience the site’s popular Halloween Nights immersive haunted house experience.

Joining the cavalcade of world-renowned art institutions along Philly’s version of the Champs-Élysées in Paris, Calder Gardens opened on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in September 2025.

The new cultural destination features an 18,000-square-foot reflective metal building with gallery space to showcase a rotating selection of native Philadelphian Alexander Calder’s masterworks — including mobiles, stabiles, sculptures and paintings. A tree-filled meadow-like landscape surrounds the building. Tickets are required.

Vibe: A peaceful place, perfect for mindful meandering
Know before you go: Calder Gardens is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Philadelphia’s City Hall — once the tallest building in the world — has served as city headquarters since 1901 and remains the world’s largest municipal building and masonry structure.

The elaborate 14.5-acre site features over 250 exterior sculptures — including the statue of William Penn (the tallest statue atop any building on earth) above the clock tower. 

On the western-facing apron, Dilworth Park is the hall’s “front yard” with tree groves, benches, cafes, a spray fountain and an ice-skating rink in winter.

Know before you go: Take a ground-level tour to explore the art and architecture of City Hall.
Don’t miss: Getting a bird’s-eye view of the city from the Tower Tour observation deck

Diagonal from City Hall, John F. Kennedy Plaza gets its nickname — LOVE Park — from Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE statue that sits within the space (one of Philly’s most Instagrammable spots, particularly for couples). 

Serving as the grand entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the park features a Visitor Center, a lighted fountain, gardens, a great lawn, and plenty of spots to sit or enjoy an alfresco lunch. Come winter, LOVE Park transforms into the beloved Bavarian-style Christmas Village.

Good for: A LOVE-ly Philly photo op
Know before you go: Don’t be surprised if you happen upon a wedding. The iconic spot hosts ceremonies seasonally each Wednesday from March through November.

Across Penn Square from City Hall, the massive Norman cathedral-style Masonic Temple has stood tall since 1873. The imposing structure is no church, but the Grand Lodge headquarters of the Freemasons of Pennsylvania, with 14th-century roots and a membership that included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington — whose statues stand outside its entrance. 

Hour-long guided tours highlight the ornate interior’s wondrous Renaissance-, Egyptian-, Moorish- and Corinthian-influenced architecture, plus its impressive artwork collection and a museum displaying Masonic artifacts dating back to the American Revolution.

Good for: Seeing stunning architecture and hearing historic tales
Know before you go: The National Historic Landmark has limited days and hours of operation. Check online before you go.

Since 1893, Reading Terminal Market — one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most beloved public markets — has offered a smorgasbord of dining choices from restaurants, bakeries, ice creameries and delis, for dine-in or takeout. 

The bustling food hall offers over 80 vendors serving up tastes from scores of cuisines including hoagies, cheesesteaks, Cajun fare, Italian dishes, Middle Eastern favorites, Filipino classics, sushi, fresh produce and plenty of traditional Pennsylvania Dutch specialties.

Know before you go: Head to the popular market early on weekday mornings to experience the quietest time and shortest waits.
Vibe: So much delicious food, so little time

One of the city’s most infamous science institutions is the Mütter Museum in Center City (part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia), established to help the public understand the mysteries of the human body and treatment of disease. 

Among the museum’s “disturbingly informative” collection (many not for the faint of heart) are a tumor removed from President Grover Cleveland, the death cast of conjoined twins Chang and Eng, tissue samples from John Wilkes Booth, and slices of Albert Einstein’s brain.

Good for: Seeing the evolution of American medicine
Know before you go: Due to the graphic nature of some exhibits, families should note that the museum recommends visitors be at least 10 years old.

The nation’s first art museum and first art school, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has served as one of Philadelphia’s most important artistic hubs since 1805.

The museum’s Frank Furness-designed Historic Landmark Building remains one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in the Americas.

Inside, the permanent collection spans a range of media from well-known artists — like Winslow Homer, Kehinde Wiley, Jacob Lawrence, Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassatt and more — including paintings, sculpture and works on paper.

Don’t miss: Artist Gilbert Stuart’s famous Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington
Know before you go: Check the museum’s official site to see what’s currently on exhibition.

In 1751, Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond founded Pennsylvania Hospital to treat Philadelphia’s poorest residents, free of charge. Their legacy lives on at the nation’s oldest hospital — now with a newly opened museum on the historic campus.

The Pennsylvania Hospital Museum, opened in 2026, transforms the Pine Building into a series of galleries showcasing the evolution of modern medicine and the hospital’s long legacy of care, having treated patients from the American Revolution through today.

Know before you go: Purchase timed tickets online ahead of your visit.
Don’t miss: Guided tours and ongoing events

To many, no stroll is more Philly than a rove through gorgeous Rittenhouse Square — another of Penn’s five original squares and the centerpiece of the chic same-name neighborhood.

The Beaux-Arts-style diagonal wheel-and-spoke walkways and central oval are filled with ample benches, manicured lawns, shady trees and historic sculptures.

Named for astronomer and clockmaker David Rittenhouse, the family-friendly park remains one of the most lovely and peaceful spots in which to paint, read, relax on a park bench or catch up with friends. 

Know before you go: The site hosts numerous annual events, so check the calendar to see what’s coming up.
Don’t miss: Checking out the array of public art throughout the square

The Schuylkill River Trail — a 30-mile uninterrupted recreational path popular with bicyclists, runners, hikers and amblers — runs along the Schuylkill River from Center City to Montgomery County.

The trail passes by famous sites like Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. One of the most beautiful spots along the trail is Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk, a 15-foot-wide, 2,000-foot-long ADA-compliant concrete path that juts out over the river, providing a connection between Locust Street and the South Street Bridge.

Know before you go: When finished, the trail will hug the entire 120 miles of the Schuylkill River from its headwaters in Schuylkill County to its confluence with the Delaware River.
Don’t miss: Views from the stunning Christian to Crescent cable-stayed connector bridge

Warm weather waterfront oasis Spruce Street Harbor Park is a popular spring-to-fall destination on the Delaware River. 

The buzzy park features a boardwalk with concessions, food trucks, giant board games, a beer garden, a cocktail bar, a performance stage, weekend craft markets and more.

But the highlight is the numerous spaces to just chill — in Adirondack chairs overlooking the waterfront, in flat-bottomed net lounges above the river or in the woodsy cove featuring a hundred cozy tree-slung hammocks under thousands of LED lights.

Good for: Riverside relaxation
Know before you go: Spruce Street Harbor Park is free to visit with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions.

Whether summer or wintertime, lace up at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, a seasonal park along the Delaware River waterfront offering beachy vibes and roller skating during Summerfest and holiday festivities and ice skating at Winterfest. 

The riverside space also features a double-decker carousel, a 60-foot Ferris wheel (with soaring views of the river and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge), mini-golf, a bustling midway with boardwalk games, and plenty of fair treats like fried Tastykakes, cheesesteaks and crabfries, plus a cocktail bar.

Good for: Date night or family fun
Know before you go: It’s free to visit the RiverRink, with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions. 

Dive into Philly’s maritime history at the Independence Seaport Museum, where you can climb aboard and explore two vessels docked in the Delaware along Penn’s Landing — the 19th-century Navy Cruiser USS Olympia (the nation’s oldest steel warship) and World War II-era USS Becuna (a 300-foot Balao submarine).

The museum holds one of North America’s largest maritime collections, featuring more than 25,000 artifacts across a half-dozen hands-on exhibits including a working boat shop and a collection of large-scale model ships.

Good for: Understanding the Delaware River’s role in Philly history
Know before you go: A self-guided tour of the Olympia comes with general admission, while a visit on the Becuna requires an additional purchase.

Serene 600-foot-long parklike Race Street Pier on the Delaware River waterfront features two levels of recreational space, including a 12-foot-high multi-tiered seating area for picnics, yoga classes or just watching the tide roll in. 

Next door is Cherry Street Pier, a bustling indoor-outdoor mixed-use public space, home to artist studios, a marketplace and alfresco refreshments at the pier end’s patio café. 

The attractions both offer absolutely transcendent views of the Philly skyline, the majestic river and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Know before you go: Both piers are stops along the four-mile Delaware River Trail.
Don’t miss: Check out Cherry Street Pier’s calendar of events to see the latest offerings. 

Two million gallons of water and thousands of aquatic animals — including two hippos and the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast — lie just across the Delaware River at Adventure Aquarium, one of the top aquariums in the U.S. 

Feel like you are one with the sea creatures at the Ocean Realm exhibit, a 760,000-gallon tank of sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and schooling fish with viewing windows the size of movie screens. 

Know before you go: The daily schedule of events — like hippo feeding time — is posted at the ticket check-in.
Don’t miss: Holidays and special events at the aquarium

Visit the country’s most decorated combat vessel — the Battleship New Jersey — docked just across the Delaware River in Camden, now serving as a floating museum ship.

Built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the eight-decade-old 887-foot, 45,000-ton gunboat offers guided tours and interactive exhibits displaying artifacts of the ship’s active past (from World War II to Korea to Vietnam to the Gulf War) and the impressive 16-inch turret, where 2,700-pound shells were fired at targets up to 23 miles away.

Know before you go: The attraction offers numerous ways to experience the site, from self-guided tours to immersive overnight stays.
Don’t miss: For an additional cost, see what it feels like to fire a saluting gun.

Mosaicked from floor to ceiling in handmade tiles, international folk art, reclaimed bicycle tires and more by late artist Isaiah Zagar, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Museum and Magic Gardens Studio glisten with limitless creativity.

One of Philly’s most popular urban public art installations, the museum spans half a city block along famous South Street and features two indoor galleries and an unforgettable sculpture garden. One mile away, Zagar’s former workspace represents his largest masterpiece, three times the size of the flagship museum.

Know before you go: Check out the site’s calendar for tour times and special events.
Don’t miss: Keep your eyes peeled for hundreds of Zagar’s mosaics across the city.

Down (and around) South 9th Street is South Philadelphia’s Italian Market, the internationally renowned curb market made famous when Sylvester Stallone galloped through in Rocky. 

Decades-old family-owned groceries, butcheries, fishmongers, fromageries and confectionaries line blocks of awning-covered sidewalks between Fitzwater Street and Wharton Street. 

Italian immigrants established this open-air marketplace in the early 1900s, but the historic strip — America’s oldest street market — now reflects the neighborhood’s modern multicultural makeup, offering Mexican, Vietnamese, African and Korean eats alongside Italian restaurants, bakeries and cafés. 

Don’t miss: Casa Mexico from James Beard Award winner Cristina Martínez, among many other can’t-miss eats.
Know before you go: Not sure where to start? Take a one-and-a-half-hour community-led tour with Our Market Tours, offered year-round in English, Spanish or Vietnamese.

One does not simply visit Philadelphia without eating at least one cheesesteak. How about two? 

Across the street from each other in East Passyunk, find famous friendly cheesesteak rivals Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, both open 24/7. 

Pat’s is still owned by the legendary Olivieri family, whose eponymous founder invented the steak sandwich in 1933. Geno’s opened up across the pointed intersection in 1966 — slinging thinly sliced rib-eye under a cacophony of neon lights — and a historic rivalry was born. 

Good for: Trying a cheesesteak from both spots and choosing your cheesesteak champion.
Know before you go: When you order, it’s important to clarify which cheese you’d like (Whiz, provolone or American) and whether or not you’d like onions (wit’ or wit’ out). For example: I’ll take one Whiz wit’. 

North America’s oldest surviving botanical garden, Bartram’s Garden (dating back to 1728), first belonged to Quaker John Bartram, Sr. (self-taught botanist to King George III), who cultivated and sold plant specimens from North America to European aristocrats. 

Originally seasonal fishing grounds for the Indigenous Lenape, the free-to-access site in Southwest Philly’s Kingsessing neighborhood includes the 18th-century Bartram family house, a 17-acre meadow, a greenhouse, a dock with a boathouse, and an array of naturalistic, woodland and formal gardens. 

Know before you go: Runners, cyclists and hikers also love the garden’s scenic mile-long Bartram’s Mile Trail.
Don’t miss: The hand-carved stone cider mill hiding in plain site near the waterfront

Escape the city bustle for a tranquil retreat at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, the largest freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania.

The country’s first urban wildlife refuge spans 1000 acres with 10 miles of trails, offering an endless array of outdoor activities to enjoy from hiking, biking, running and walking to canoeing and fishing.

The refuge also provides respite for tired and hungry birds migrating along the Atlantic flyway, which means birdwatchers have a constantly rotating list of avians to spy. 

Know before you go: The refuge is free to visit daily from sunrise to sunset.
Don’t miss: Up-close views of wildlife from the site’s observation tower and boardwalks

Dr. Fred Simeone’s impressive collection of racing cars like Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Bugattis, Porsches and Aston Martins, and muscle cars like Corvettes and Mustangs, led to the creation of Southwest Philadelphia’s Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, one of the world’s greatest collections of historic racing cars.

The collection features over 75 historic (and just plain cool) rides, along with rotating exhibits showcasing the history of sports cars and racing machines and an extensive automobile library.

Good for: Car enthusiasts
Don’t miss: Returning to the museum on a Demo Day

America’s first zoological garden and a foremost conservation organization, the Philadelphia Zoo is home to nearly 1,300 animals, from African lions to Western gorillas to golden tamarins, including many rare and endangered species. 

Highlights across the dozen exciting exhibits are Big Cat Falls, Outback Outpost, Water is Life and the newly renovated Francis J. Carey Bear Country. Plus, grab a bite at the many onsite eateries and add on a guided tour or behind-the-scenes experience.  

Know before you go: Heads up! Don’t be surprised to see a big cat, primate or bear walking overhead through Zoo360’s mesh-enclosed pathways, the world’s first animal travel and exploration trail system.
Don’t miss: Check out the zoo’s attraction’s page for extras and add-ons. 

The nearly 140-year-old Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania exhibits over 1 million relics and works of art from around the globe, including art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Greco-Roman World, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Items on display include Sumerian cuneiform clay tablets (some of the world’s oldest writing), 4,500-year-old jewelry from a Mesopotamian queen and the massive 3,000-year-old Sphinx of Ramses II.

Don’t miss: The newly opened Native American gallery explores “the political, religious, linguistic and artistic self-determination” of America’s Indigenous peoples.
Know before you go: Check the museum’s calendar for the latest talks, tours and programs.

Also located on the University of Pennsylvania’s West Philadelphia campus, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is a free-admission art museum founded in 1963 that’s been instrumental in showcasing the work of underrepresented, emerging and under-recognized artists. 

Luminaries on display here over the years include Robert Mapplethorpe and Cy Twombly, museum debuts by Laurie Anderson and Robert Indiana, and Andy Warhol’s first-ever solo exhibit (which nearly caused a small riot). 

Know before you go: Presented in kunsthalle style, ICA houses no permanent collection, which means every visit brings a fresh experience.
Don’t miss: Artist talks and community reset workshops

Housed inside Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall (constructed for the 1876 Centennial), the Please Touch Museum (opened during the 1976 Bicentennial) offers kids two floors of interactive zones — like Fairytale Garden and River Adventures — among two dozen permanent and rotating exhibitions where kids are invited to touch everything. 

Looking for a great place to celebrate holidays? The museum — voted one of the best children’s museums in the U.S. — has events for everything from Earth Day to Pride to Halloween.

Know before you go: The site offers regular “Play Without Boundaries” events with dimmer lights and sounds for children with sensory challenges.
Don’t miss: Taking a whirl on the restored 115-year-old carousel and checking out the 20-by-40-foot scale model of the 1876 World’s Fair

Tucked into West Fairmount Park, the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center boasts stunning grounds, gardens, a tiered waterfall and a koi pond underneath its signature decades-old weeping cherry tree.

Visitors must purchase timed tickets to visit the namesake Shofuso building — a post-World War II gift of peace to America from Japan, modeled after a traditional 17th-century Japanese house.

The site also hosts exhibitions, classes and annual festivals, like the Children’s Day Festival during AAPI Heritage Month.   

Know before you go: The site is one of the best places in Philadelphia to see blooming cherry blossoms each spring alongside the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia.
Vibe: Like visiting Japan without the 16-hour flight

One of the nation’s largest urban parks, 2,052-acre Fairmount Park spans both sides of the Schuylkill River from Boathouse Row to East Falls and West Philadelphia to Strawberry Mansion. 

The park features a near-endless list of attractions and experiences, including: historic sites (Park Charms and Laurel Hill Cemetery); museums (the Please Touch Museum and the Underground Railroad Museum); live entertainment (the Dell Music Center and Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts); and outdoor recreation (athletic fields, Treetop Quest and the Equestrian Center), plus miles and miles of trails.

Know before you go: Check out our extensive guide to help you make the most of a visit to Fairmount Park.
Don’t miss: Seeing Belmont Plateau’s stunning views or riding down the wooden slide at Smith Memorial Playground

Connect with nature without leaving the city in Wissahickon Valley Park’s 2,000 forested acres, perfect for hiking, cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding and mindful meanderings. 

The sparkly Wissahickon schist bedrock along the same-named creek provides the foundation for more than 50 miles of trails that range from ruggedly steep to gentle rolling hills. 

Traverse the length of the park on Forbidden Drive, a five-mile, mostly flat, packed gravel trail offering great creekside views. 

Don’t miss: The Thomas Mill Bridge — located near the park’s Bell’s Mill entrance — is the last remaining covered bridge in any major American city.
Vibe: I can’t believe I’m still in the city!

Located along scenic Kelly Drive, Boathouse Row’s picturesque collection of 19th-century boathouses lines the east bank of the Schuylkill River, setting it aglow with dazzling LED lights once night falls. Each building of the National Historic Landmark still hosts a local rowing club, whose members frequently practice on the river.

A prime spot for running, rock climbing, cycling and outdoor recreation, Kelly Drive runs alongside the river from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to Lincoln Drive.

Know before you go: Visitors can rent bikes, grab a snack, fill up a water bottle and use the facilities at Lloyd Hall Recreation Center.
Don’t miss: Public art along Kelly Drive, including a statue of its namesake, rower John B. Kelly

Head to Philly’s leafy Northwest to discover 20 historic homes, museums and green spaces that tell the story of Historic Germantown. Start your visit at the new Germantown Visitor Center, located within the Germantown Historical Society. 

Highlights include: the well-preserved 16th-century Johnson House Historic Site, a once crucial stop on the Underground Railroad; the six-acre estate surrounding Cliveden, the location of the Battle of Germantown; and Wyck, home to the oldest rose garden in the country still growing in its original design.  

Know before you go: The consortium has an active calendar of events, so check it out to see what’s happening ahead of your visit.
Don’t miss: Stopping by the Germantown White House, part of Independence National Historic Park (see above)

Designated Pennsylvania’s Official State Arboretum in 1988, Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ stunning 166-acre horticulture haven in beautiful Chestnut Hill offers tall trees, bountiful blossoms and gorgeous green spaces. 

The attraction features more than 13,000 labeled plants and trees of over 2,500 types, including some of the oldest and rarest in the region. 

Highlights include: the 19th-century Rose Garden, the eight-sided Victorian glass fernery, the creekside Dawn Redwoods and the whimsical miniature Garden Railway, a favorite with the littles.  

Don’t miss: The 450-foot-long and 50-foot-high Tree Adventure canopy walk and the site’s towering signature trees.
Vibe: Blissfully tranquil

The difficult 1777-1778 winter the Continental Army spent in Valley Forge went down as one of the Revolutionary War’s most trying periods. 

Today, Valley Forge National Historical Park honors those who encamped here with monuments and statues dotting the grounds along with landmarks like reconstructed soldiers’ huts, General Washington’s original headquarters, the National Memorial Arch and a Visitor Center that features artifacts from the future first President. 

The 3,500-acre park also includes scenic overlooks, picnic areas and miles of recreational trails.

Know before you go: Sign up for a trolley tour to get a fantastic overview of the site.
Vibe: Rolling hills and revolutionary history

Named the nation’s best botanical garden by Fodor’s and repeatedly earning top rankings in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Pierre du Pont’s tranquil horticultural oasis showcases nearly 10,000 varieties of plants among its indoor and outdoor grounds. 

Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience recently transformed 17 acres of the facility’s core conservatory. 

In addition to its picturesque plantscapes, whimsical woodlands and special exhibits, the gardens offer spectacular Illuminated Fountain Performances and elaborate seasonal installations like Orchid Extravaganza and A Longwood Christmas. 

Know before you go: Timed tickets are required for entry to the gardens.
Don’t miss: Finding inspiration at the site’s Idea Garden and seeing the stunning Water Lily Court in full bloom 

One of Delaware County’s last working farms, Linvilla Orchards is a 300-acre year-round family farmstead where visitors can pick-your-own seasonal fruits and vegetables; meet barnyard animals; cast a line into Orchard Lake; play a round of mini-golf; enjoy a hay, pony or train ride; and even buy fresh baked pies.

Stop by the daily farmers market, or enjoy seasonal events like fall’s Pumpkinland and Christmas Around the Farm’s holiday gift market. 

Don’t miss: The onsite Ship Bottom Beer Garden
Know before you go: Visiting the attraction is free, with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions.

The grounds are as breathtaking as the art at bucolic Brandywine Museum of Art, housed in a renovated 1864 gristmill surrounded by wildflower gardens and the meandering Brandywine River. 

Inside, works by lifelong Delaware County resident Andrew Wyeth sit beside other beautifully detailed illustrations, paintings and installations. 

Cross the road to visit the N.C. Wyeth House & Studio, the 1922 family home and workspace of Andrew’s father, a National Historic Landmark displaying Colonial Revival architecture, illustration tools and Wyeth relics.

Know before you go: The site recently announced a years-long reimagining and dramatic expansion of its space.
Don’t miss: The N.C. Wyeth Experience, a guided tour that takes visitors off campus to see Wyeth’s largest piece, the 19-by-60-foot Apotheosis of the Family.

Charming Bucks County play-shop-and-dine destination Peddler’s Village — voted the best shopping center in the country — welcomes more than 2 million yearly visitors to its 60-plus independent boutiques, specialty shops, wineries and restaurants ringing its 42 landscaped acres.

Stroll the winding brick pathways to browse vintage apparel and local art, take the kids to carnival-style indoor playscape Giggleberry Fair (with its century-old working carousel), stay the night at Golden Plough Inn or enjoy seasonal festivals popping up throughout the year. 

Know before you go: Check the site’s calendar to see upcoming festivals and events.
Vibe: Endless countryside charm

Recently celebrating its 100th anniversary, Elmwood Park Zoo is a 16-acre Montgomery County attraction housing over 100 animal species. 

Guests can check out bison, zebras, jaguars, red pandas and otters, plus zoo stars Noah and Reggie, bald eagles who serve as live mascots of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Families can feed giant giraffes, ride the zoo-themed carousel, and pet goats, sheep, and donkeys in the barn. Grownups can grab a craft beer at the Zoo Brew Bar & Beer Garden.

Know before you go: Bring your pampered pooch along during Dog Days.
Don’t miss: Check the site’s calendar for special events like live veterinary exams and breakfast with the animals. 

Former home to renowned archeologist and ceramist Henry Chapman Mercer, Fonthill Castle in Doylestown is an early 20th-century residence-turned-museum displaying Mercer’s massive collection of prints, books and hand-crafted ceramic tiles produced across the property at The TileWorks. 

The collection — including Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets dating back four millennia and bookcases carrying over 6,000 titles — is spread out among Fonthill’s 44 rooms. As impressive as its relics, the castle-like building features over 200 windows, 32 stairways, 18 fireplaces and 11 bathrooms.

Know before you go: Visitors can view Fonthill on a guided one-hour tour or check the calendar for “meander” days.
Don’t miss: Hands-on tours — with tile making — are available at The TileWorks.

After exploring Mercer’s Fonthill home (see above), explore his vast collection of artifacts at nearby Mercer Museum, divided into themed rooms dedicated to the pre-industrial tools and manual technologies of American life before mechanization.

Mercer founded the museum in 1916 to display his 40,000-piece collection, which includes a whaling boat, a 2,000-year-old whale oil lamp, a Conestoga wagon and an endless array of historic relics from everyday life.

Good for: A glimpse at the items early Americans used every day
Know before you go: The site’s modern gallery space hosts rotating exhibitions.   

Just across the street from the Mercer Museum, Pennsylvania impressionist paintings take center stage at the James A. Michener Art Museum — named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Bucks County native.

In addition to its impressionist collection, the museum — once home to a 19th-century prison — also features modern and contemporary works, photography, regional crafts and the tranquil Nakashima Reading Room, a memorial to local woodcrafter George Nakashima. 

The museum has a robust calendar of visiting exhibitions, so check what’s on before a visit.

Good for: Exploring historic and contemporary Pennsylvania art
Know before you go: Tickets are required, except on designated free museum days, typically the second Sunday of each month.

We’ll tell you how to get, how to get to Sesame Place — the only Sesame Street-themed amusement park in the nation east of California. Come meet the popular television show’s stars like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and Abby Cadabby as you enjoy sunny day fun and kid-level thrills at the 16-acre park. 

Enjoy 25 rides and attractions, interactive and educational games, daily parades, fireworks, character shows, a water park, and special celebrations like the popular seven-week-long A Very Furry Christmas.

Know before you go: As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place offers low-sensory spots and an accessibility guide to the entire park.
Don’t miss: Download the Sesame Place app to guide your planning and visit.

Explore your inner Legomaniac at the 33,000-square-foot Legoland Discovery Center at Montgomery County’s Plymouth Meeting Mall. 

Designed for kids ages 3 to 10, the indoor playground offers a dozen Lego-themed activities and attractions (including Imagination Express and the Great Lego Race VR Experience), a 4D cinema, build stations, workshops with master builders, and the Lego Ninjago Training Camp — plus toddler-friendly Duplo Park, a themed café and Lego store. 

Don’t miss: Miniland, with huge miniature recreations of Philly’s most iconic buildings and landmarks created from over 1 million Lego bricks
Know before you go: Grown-up Lego lovers without children can check the Events page for periodic adult nights. 

With over 450 stores and nearly 3 million square feet of retail space, King of Prussia, a Simon Mall is one of the largest malls in America and the East Coast’s premier shopping destination, located just a 30-minute drive from Center City. 

The retail hotspot welcomes over 22 million visitors each year to a mix of luxury, budget-friendly, national and international brands including anchor stores like Nordstrom and Primark, shops like Tiffany & Co. and Versace, and over 50 dining options.

Know before you go: The site offers ample parking spots (more than 13,000!).
Vibe: Shop till you drop.

Now this is how you Netflix and chill. King of Prussia, a Simon Property Mall now hosts one of only two Netflix House experiences in the nation.

The 100,000-square-foot attraction is a streaming lovers’ paradise with a 250-seat screening theater, four immersive experience rooms, set replicas, merch shops and Netflix-themed games like Wednesday-themed campus-wide quests. 

Admission is free with pay-as-you-go food, drink and experiences. Check the official site before a visit, as the attractions and experiences change regularly. 

Good for: Binge watchers who want to become their favorite characters
Don’t miss: Full-body VR to fully experience the worlds of Stranger Things, Rebel Moon and Squid Game …. Yikes!

Looking for more museums and attractions? Of course you are. 

Across the five-county region, there are dozens more fascinating sites to explore. How about the Antique Ice Tool Museum? The Herr’s Snack Factory Tour? Or the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site? 

Check out our article on the best off-the-beaten-path museums and attractions in Greater Philadelphia for more than 40 additional spots to explore.