18 Romantic Date Ideas in Philadelphia

It doesn’t matter what the date ideas are: Plan on packing light for a big getaway in Philadelphia. The Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — makes it easy to start a city stay with bae or your S.O. thanks to free hotel parking, worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia, and choose-your-own-adventure perks like free museum tickets. Or maybe you’d prefer to pay for two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the perfect-for-a-long-romantic weekend Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.

Philadelphia is one of the most enticing food cities in the world, perfect for exciting, fun and romantic dates with no need for extravagance as long as it’s delicious, like these tasty walkable spots in charming Rittenhouse Square.

• Kick off your dinner date dining adventure with appetizers and drinks during trendy Harp & Crown’s popular happy hour at the 32-seat main room bar … or head downstairs to the two-lane throwback bowling alley and cocktail speakeasy to roll a few frames.
• What better spot for a romantic main course than a restaurant called The Love.? Legendary restaurateur Stephen Starr’s take on American comfort fare includes items like hush puppies, ricotta ravioli and Lovebird buttermilk fried chicken.
• Finish up your dreamy dinner crawl with after-dinner digestifs at sleek old-school cocktail bar Andra Hem, an inconspicuous and imitate spot serving Scandinavian bites, named one of the Best Bars in America by Esquire.
• Settle back in at the AKA Rittenhouse Square, a 12-story historic landmark that balances the hospitality of a boutique hotel with the comfort of a luxurious residence (plus it’s cattycorner to romantic Rittenhouse Square Park and above critically acclaimed a.kitchen + bar).

Get to know your date and a favorite Philly neighborhood. Philly’s dynamic and diverse communities offer endless fun, including these spots in Fishtown.

• Enjoy a couple of Philly’s best hoagies at Middle Child Clubhouse in a cozy booth for two or while challenging each other to some pool (or Nintendo 64 on the big screen!).
• Save room for cake slices, cookies, pastries and more from Cake Life Bake Shop’s unique selection including Gritty cupcakes, cannoli poppin’ tarts and Nanaimo bars.
• Couples who laugh together stay together, so test that theory at Punch Line Philly where big-name comics and up-and-comers grace the stage nightly.
• Relax back in a smartly-appointed room at Wm. Mulherin’s Sons hotel above the acclaimed eponymous restaurant carved out of a 19th-century whiskey bottling factory. Don’t miss weekend brunch including smoked salmon pizzette and Prosecco mimosas.

Any season is perfect for a romantic ramble along the Delaware River waterfront with a bevy of attractions, eateries, pubs, historic sites and more all within a short walking distance for you and your date to explore hand-in-hand.

• Take yourself and your date back to the 18th century with a stroll past the 32 historic homes of Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the nation. Extend your stay with a stop into the Elfreth’s Alley Museum.
• Continue your walk over at Race Street Pier, a 600-foot-long pier park with a multi-tiered seating area offering romantic views across the Delaware River from underneath the Benjamin Franklin Bridge atop a 12-foot-high overlook.
• Head back into Old City for cozy dinner at Royal Boucherie, a classic brasserie featuring homestyle French fare, a raw bar and charcuterie for two. Finish upstairs at the second floor garden during warmer months for wine and oysters.
• One more stroll back to your comfy bed at the boutique luxury Lokal Hotel Old City.

Explore colonial Philly as a couple or on a group date while walking the charming alleys, historic sites and cobblestone streets of Philadelphia’s Historic District.

• Experience Philly by foot, 15-passenger bike, Segway or more on a professionally guided or self-guided tour that highlights culinary landmarks, historic streets and revered attractions throughout the nation’s birthplace.
• Sweeten up your date with handmade ice cream, egg creams, floats and milkshakes in old-timey flavors at Franklin Fountain, a beloved year-round confectionary where antique equipment offers a tasty history lesson.
• Enjoy stunning views of Independence Hall and Washington Square in the heart of Independence National Historical Park from your room at Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel, boasting modern, elegant luxury and convenience to the city’s most iconic attractions.

Sometimes, doing less is enjoying it more. Trade a hectic night out for a luxurious day of much-needed pampering, like this inclusive stay on the Comcast Center campus.

• Book a serene Forbes’ Five-Star rated afternoon at The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia on the Comcast Technology Center’s 57th floor for a rejuvenating massage, cleansing facial, energizing crystal treatments or a dip in the 30,000-gallon infinity-edge pool.
• Take a cozy seat at James Beard Award winner Greg Vernick’s Vernick Fish, a modern take on an American oyster bar with a hyper-seasonal menu and stellar wine list on the ground floor of Comcast Technology Center.
• Head on back up for a quiet night in luxurious accommodations at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center featuring top-notch amenities, sleek modern furnishings, deep-soaking tubs and unrivaled panoramic city views from 48 to 56 stories up.

The heart of gay Philly is the Gayborhood district, the perfect spot for a date day and night of shopping, history, dining and dancing.

• Fuel up at LGBTQ+-owned brunchtime fave Winkel, a beloved spot for classic breakfasts and Dutch fare like herring on rye, open-faced uitsmijters sandwiches with eggs, cheese, ham and spicy chicken, and Winkel’s famous tangy and buttery Jonny bread.
• Do some shopping (or browsing) at some of the Gayborhood’s many LGBTQ+-owned boutiques, including Duross & Langel for natural beauty products, kitschy home goods and apparel at Open House, or jewelry and accessories (and artisanal chocolate) shop Verde.
• Learn about Philadelphia’s most important LGBTQ+ people, places and events on this 90-minute guided History Tour with stops at historic Giovanni’s Room Bookstore, Writer’s Block Rehab and lots of murals (tours begin and end in front of legendary Bud & Marilyn’s).
• Grab dinner right there at Bud & Marilyn’s, or one of many spots along 13th Street including modern Asian Sampan, El Vez for upscale Mexican, Double Knot’s sushi and pan-Asian cuisine, Mediterranean favorites at Barbuzzo or Trinidadian-Indian fusion Flambo.
• Saunter back to one of a dozen suites at Guild House Hotel, inside the former turn-of-the-century New Century Guild women’s club, each themed after an iconic female historical figure.

If you and your beloved are a little headier and maybe a bit nerdy, there are scores of options around Philadelphia for those looking for a quiet couple’s night of reading, gaming, comics, role playing, sci-fi and more, like this excursion through Queen Village.

• Philly is a booklover’s haven, so if you both love to read (or just browse), take this mini-bookstore crawl together with stops at Mostly Books, Black and Nobel, Brickbat Books and Head House Books.
• Release your inner geek at Queen & Rook Game Cafe, a full-fledged game emporium with puzzles and board games to play in their analog game room while sipping on a craft beer, fantasy-themed cocktail or eclectic coffee.
• Wrap up your evening at Marrakesh with eat-with-your-fingers shared Moroccan dishes, lounging on rug-covered banquets adorned with vibrantly colored pillows (accompanied by belly dancers on weekends!).
• Lay your weary heads down for the night at buzzy YOWIE, an apartment-style suite hotel featuring a small collections boutique and neighborhood day café Wim.

Whether dancing the night away during singalong numbers or holding each other tight to a favorite love song plays, there are lots of options for date night concerts across Philadelphia including some great small venues in Callowhill.

• Kick off concert night with an early dinner at Prohibition Taproom, a casual gastropub with a menu featuring locally farmed comfort food, small plates, sandwiches and more.
• Walk off dinner at The Rail Park, an elevated greenway built atop the former Reading Viaduct with a meandering pathway, rustic plantings, comfy swings and plenty of spots to hold hands and enjoy stellar views.
• Pre-game your concert at Poison Heart, a new spot offering cocktails, wines and craft beers with intimate vibes.
• Head on over to a concert at 1,200-capacity Union Transfer or 650-size Underground Arts, featuring the best of rock, pop, rap, indie, country, R&B and more most nights.
• Rest those dancing feet back in your comfy room at the intimate boutique The Maj Hotel, a short rideshare away in Fairmount.

Whether a CEO or a contractor, suburban parent or city millennial, foodie or art lover, nearly everyone lives or dies with Philly’s pro sports teams. Bring that passion to a game (and post-game) on a great sports date in South Philly.

• Pick a season and you’ll find a rowdy and rocking game at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex most days. Catch a home run ball at a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, cheer on the E-A-G-L-E-S at Lincoln Financial Field or grab a seat for excitement with the Flyers or 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
• The fun continues post-game at XFINITY Live! where you and your ride-or-die can celebrate (or commiserate) at one of eight bars and restaurants inside the massive 80,000-square-foot facility.
• When you’re ready for some more personal wins, take the short walk to Live! Casino & Hotel, Philly’s newest gaming palace featuring over 2,000 slot machines and 140 live action table games open 24/7.
• Feel free to play away late into the night because your accommodations are just a few floors up in the guest room portion of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

Take a romantic day trip to the charming Upper Bucks shopping and dining hamlet of New Hope along the Delaware River, a long-time favored locale for lovers both new and old.

• Start by hopping aboard one of New Hope Railroad’s locomotive excursions-to-nowhere through the countryside that include drinks and light bites like the Wine & Tapas Train or the Grapevine Express (serving wine and cheese) in the lounge and dining cars.
• Take in a show at historic Bucks County Playhouse (founded 1751), a theater on the river presenting both local and touring productions that has seen the likes of Grace Kelly, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Redford, Liza Minnelli and more grace its stage.
• After the show, head over to intimate farm-to-table Stella for drinks and a late dinner with panoramic views overlooking the Delaware River.
• End your day with a relaxing stay at the quaint 230-year-old River House at Odette’s, named number one among Travel + Leisure’s Readers’ 10 Favorite Mid-Atlantic Resorts.

Enjoy the charm and fresh air of Philadelphia’s Countryside, home to some of the best eats, good drink and exciting activities in the region, like these in Chester County.

• Enjoy a sunrise view from a mile up on a romantic hot air balloon flight from Lancaster Balloon Rides, with a complimentary champagne toast on landing.
• Order up one of 15 specialty pizzas and 20 craft beers at Sly Fox Brewing Company’s Pottstown production brewery and taproom which offers brick-oven specialties to pair with pours.
• Test your compatibility and competitiveness by tossing a few hatchets at Phoenixville’s Angry Jack’s Axe Throwing Club. Make it full date night with B.Y.O. drinks and eats from one of the many spots along Bridge Street.
• Head back to your comfy and convenient room at the Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Valley Forge/Collegeville.

There is so much for couples to do in the corner of southwestern Montgomery County, home to locales like Valley Forge and King of Prussia where you can both get outdoors in history and nature together and explore a vast indoor shoppers’ paradise.

• Famous Valley Forge National Historical Park is a great spot for couples’ outdoor recreation, offering 35 miles of hiking trails, 19 miles of bike trails and 17 miles of horse trails that wind past both gorgeous natural scenery as well historic sites like the National Memorial Arch and Artillery Park.
• After that, kick back with some vino at one of Montco’s delicious and gorgeous wineries. Evansburg Vineyards of Collegeville, Cardinal Hollow Winery in West Point or Blue Bell’s Karamoor Estate Vineyard & Winery are just a short drive away.
• Then it’s time to do some window (or actual) shopping in the over 450 stores inside King of Prussia, the third-largest mall in America, as you stroll to a dinner of any cuisine and any atmosphere you agree on at one of the facility’s 17 restaurants.
• Stay the night nearby in comfort at nearby Element Valley Forge King of Prussia hotel.

Fun fact: The Philadelphia region’s climate and topography are ideal for wine production. Wineries and vineyards throughout the Countryside host tastings, tours and events to help couples dial up the romance, which can be enjoyed at spots such as these in beautiful Bucks County.

• Kick off a countryside wine date at a Bucks County vineyard like nearly 60-year-old Buckingham Valley Vineyards & Winery, famous for their award-winning sparkling wine, or Crossing Vineyards and Winery in historic Washington Crossing which has garnered a Best of Bucks designation for 13 straight years.
• Head on over to 42-acre food-and-shopping haven Peddler’s Village in Lahaska to browse the 60-plus independent shops, finishing up with a stop at Nissley Vineyards Wine Shop & Tasting Room which offers wine workshops and live music.
• Grab a meal at one of Peddler’s Village’s 16 dining spots, then “wine” down for the night at the on-site traditional style Golden Plough Inn.

A world all its own, Delaware County — better known as Delco — has an interesting history, interesting landmarks and an interesting accent … plus plenty of romantic spots both indoors and out for interesting dates across its many charming towns and boroughs.

• Start your day at Delco’s Lancaster County Farmers Market — where Amish (and more) vendors stock fresh local produce, meats and baked goods — with a hearty brunch at Angelo’s Cafe, serving morning faves all day like Portuguese muffin egg sammies and banana French toast.
• Work off breakfast by exercising your mind at the Escape Room at Sproul Lanes (choose between Book of Secrets and Prison Break) or exercising your body with tumbling, rock climbing and more at Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park.
• Take your partner hand-in-hand as you hike some of the six miles of trails at the gorgeous 55-acre Natural Lands’ Hildacy Preserve in Media. Or, for a couples’ skate, head to the classic roller rink at Marple Sports Arena in Broomall.
• Change into your casual eveningwear and grab dinner at 118 North in Wayne for elevated bar food including burgers and flatbreads … and if it’s too early for bed, stay and see a live show from local and national touring bands most nights.
• Grab a good night’s sleep after a long day at The Inn at Villanova University, a campus-adjacent modern hotel located inside an historic 110-year-old stone manor.

Just because the weather outside is chilly, there’s plenty of love in Philly in winter to warm your heart. Ignite those romantic fires (or keep them burning) with a late lunch of comfort food at The Plough & the Stars while enjoying the cozy 40-foot glass-enclosed wood-burning fireplace roaring by the bar before bundling up for a chilly stroll along the outskirts of Independence National Historical Park to either the eminently Instagrammable and zany Museum of Illusions or the unique Museum for Art in Wood and its 1,200 wood art-related works. Warm back up with a cocktail and a plate from the raw bar at Jose Garces’ The Olde Bar until you’re ready to turn in up the street at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District.

Escape to leafy Chestnut Hill (as Philadelphians have been doing since the 1700s) as spring springs all around. Celebrate the warm weather with flora lovers’ mecca Morris Arboretum & Gardens, a 92-acre Victorian arboretum for a get-to-know-you date as you stroll through the 135-year-old Rose Garden and 13,000 other plants and trees, tackle the 450-foot-long Tree Adventure canopy walk 50 feet above the ground or just have a romantic picnic.

Finish with dinner and drinks at one of the dozens of restaurants and pubs along cobblestoned Germantown Avenue before turning in to a quaint room at the Chestnut Hill Hotel.

There’s no reason to hide from the thermometer when there’s so many cool things to do outdoors in the summer in Philadelphia. Have a full date afternoon at Spruce Street Harbor Park (SSHP) on the Delaware River challenging your date to bocce or shuffleboard, grabbing lunch and a drink or two at one of SSHP’s concession stands and food trucks (many from popular Philly restaurants), and either stretching out on romantic floating barges with over-the-water seating or in one of the tree-slung hammocks among colorful LED lights.

Haven’t had enough outdoor fun? Head to Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest at Penn’s Landing for sunset skating at the roller rink, a ride on the illuminated Ferris wheel or scoring your crush a plush animal on the Midway. Rest up from your full day of urban park fun at the nearby Philadelphia Marriott Old City.

There are few better locales in the Northeast to experience the beauty of fall’s colors than Greater Philadelphia’s gobsmackingly spectacular autumn foliage views. Join in some incredible leaf-peeping in the city at spots like Wissahickon Valley Park, Pennypack Park and throughout Fairmount Park, out in the countryside along the upper Schuylkill River Trail, around Valley Forge National Historical Park or at stunning Longwood Gardens. Trees show off their best reds and golds around mid-fall, ample opportunity for couples to take in the serenity of the city and the countryside from their chosen perch.

Add more foliage fun by embarking on one (or more!) of Visit Philly’s Fall Foliage Road Trips Through Philadelphia, complete with accommodation recommendations for each excursion.