25 Philadelphia Attractions with Spanish-Language Guides & Tours

This natural history museum provides a Spanish translation of the tour brochure and a Spanish-speaking staff member for general inquiries.

Some 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 16 Modiglianis and 7 Van Goghs, along with textiles, metalwork and African sculpture make the Barnes one of the world’s greatest art repositories. Tour operators may bring their own translator for docent-led collection tours, and the venue supplies information sheets and guidelines in French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin.

Spanish-speaking visitors catch every sound effect or eerie-sounding narration while creeping through the fortress-like former American prison. Both the audio tour and a written translation of the tour — which guests read while listening to the original, theatrical, English version — are available.

Before touring one of America’s most celebrated science museums, visitors can head to the museum’s website to download a map in English and Spanish. Upon arrival, visitors find printed maps and some internal signage in Spanish.

The new and expanded memorial pays tribute to the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust. The memorial plaza’s additions include six paired pillars that contrast American constitutional values with incidents of the Holocaust, original train tracks from the railroad adjacent to the Death Camp of Treblinka and other symbolic features. Information about the memorial is available in Spanish through the IWalk app, an interactive educational program that guides visitors through the site using Holocaust survivor testimony (available on iTunes App Store and Google Play).

For those travelers touring America’s first federal government buildings — Independence Hall, Congress Hall and Old City Hall — a two-page Spanish guide available at the National Park Service desk at the Independence Visitor Center (IVC) introduces parts of these famous historic sites. What’s more, Spanish-speaking tourists can read up on the park and the buildings it manages on the park’s website.

Multilingual Visitor Services Representatives can assist with all trip-planning needs at the official visitor center for the Greater Philadelphia region, which also operates satellite locations. Visitors can speak with Spanish-speaking staff and pick up the Official Philadelphia International Guide Filadelfia Guía de Filadelfia Para Visitantes, offering both broad and in-depth looks at the essential city. In addition to the IVC, visitors can get assistance at the City Hall Visitor Center (1 S. Penn Square, Room 121), Sister Cities Park Visitor Center (open May through October; 200 N. 18th Street) and at the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s Visitor Information Desk during some conventions (1101 Arch Street).

Spanish speakers can marvel at the impressive performing-arts venue during a guided English-language building-and-theater tour with a written guide in Spanish that includes all the tour information. Free tours begin daily at 1 p.m.

A tour through the iconic Liberty Bell Center inspires visitors by telling the story of how liberty came to be in the United States — and how people seek freedom around the globe. The site’s free, 10-minute video about international struggles for liberty is translated into Spanish, as is a one-page brochure about the Liberty Bell itself. After hours, Spanish-speaking visitors can listen to a brief audio recording about the Bell outside of the building on the east side.

Serving as one of the nation’s largest public gardens, Longwood Gardens enlightens Spanish-speaking horticulture-lovers with a free brochure that provides descriptions of the garden’s highlights, the story of how the garden evolved and logistical information to help them navigate.

The Historic District’s newest museum tells of the struggles and successes of forming a new nation via gallery guides in Spanish. Items on display include works of art, manuscripts, interactive exhibits and the tent George Washington used as his wartime command center.

Before touring the world’s only museum about the U.S. Constitution, visitors can head to the museum’s website for a visitor’s guide in Spanish and other languages.

Visitors immediately notice a striking glass façade reflecting the accessibility of the museum, the open nature of America and the fragility of democracy. Inside, the museum offers translated visitor guides in Spanish, Hebrew, simplified Chinese and Korean, as well as private, guided tours in Spanish, Hebrew and French. Those interested should call ahead to arrange.

This attraction offers visitors a “Philly from the top” experience at 57 floors above street level. Five multilingual, interactive touch screens feature a panorama of the cityscape, where Spanish-speaking visitors can zoom in on a point of interest or find a favorite Philly locale to learn more in their native language.

Upon entering the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Spanish-speaking guests can acclimate themselves by picking up a building-and-gallery map in Spanish and talking to bilingual staff members for more information about exhibitions, ticketing and directions.

Many of the children’s museum’s temporary exhibits are multilingual, including in Spanish. Visitors are encouraged to check the museum’s website before touring for the most current temporary exhibits.

This beloved 125-year-old indoor public market offers a simplified version of its English directory translated into Spanish. It’s exactly what visitors need to navigate the stands selling meats, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, Amish delicacies and Philly classics.

One of the earliest national parks to offer a Spanish cell phone tour is Valley Forge National Historical Park, the site of General George Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment of 1777-1778. The free audio tour consists of two- to three-minute messages that share information about the park’s monuments, natural history and historical attractions. It can be accessed by calling (484) 396-1015. A Spanish translation of the official park brochure is available at the park’s visitor center.

Thanks to this program, Philadelphia is globally known as “The City of Murals.” By arranging for a Spanish guide in advance, Spanish-speaking art lovers can enjoy a private walking or trolley tour of a selection of the city’s thousands of public art works.

For a top-rated historical tour through Philadelphia, as voted on by the Philadelphia Concierge Association, Spanish-speaking tourists can hire Philadelphia Personal Tours, led by Tom Walker. The informative and fun private tours navigate the city by car or limo and include an interpreter. (The tour costs $40 per hour above the price of an English tour.)

Bright red open-top buses make 28 stops in a 16-mile city loop, passing dozens of attractions during a narrated, one-and-a-half-hour tour. One-, two- or three-day passes come with off-and-on privileges and automated, earphone-based translation in Spanish, French, German and/or Mandarin, ensuring every attraction gets its due.

Private tours of Center City Philadelphia are available with a Spanish-speaking guide. Groups can charter a private trolley or double-decker bus with a guide or book a private walking tour. Guests can choose a Philadelphia Trolley Works vehicle, a walking tour or a tour guide in their own vehicle.

Home to nearly 1,300 animals, the zoo offers Spanish-language, docent-led tours by reservation (for an additional $5 per person, Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Whether visitors are interested in learning about the mating habits of big cats, what rhinoceros eat or the zoo’s history, they have plenty of guided tours from which to choose.

This tour, available on select Big Buses in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German and Mandarin, whisks visitors after dusk past lit-up attractions in a one-and-a-half-hour timeframe. The single stop lets passengers climb the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art — the perfect spot to take in the city’s electric skyline. Walk-ups are welcome; reservations are recommended.

Multi-themed, custom-designed, private walking and driving tours through Philadelphia and the Countryside are this company’s specialties. Spanish-speaking guides are available for an additional $25. Tours are offered in six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and Italian.