Why Philadelphia is the Must-Visit Destination of 2021

Good things happen in Philadelphia, according to Condé Nast Traveler, recently naming Philadelphia one of eight must-visit destinations in the world for 2021. The popular magazine joined Viajes + Ocio, Esquire, Frommer's and others in raving about Philadelphia recently. The takeaway? Philadelphia should be on travelers’ 2021 must-visit lists thanks to a slate of openings, expansions and first-ever happenings, along with its iconic history, vast open spaces, resilient restaurant scene, cool neighborhoods and diverse hotel offerings.

In 2021, Philadelphia will emerge from the pandemic with so much to look forward to. In May, Independence Mall will welcome its newest attraction: the Centro de Descubrimiento Fe y Libertad. En junio, el PHS Philadelphia Flower Show will move outdoors for the first time in its 192-year history. And in the fall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, fresh off the unveiling of its Frank Gehry-designed renovation, will mount an exhibition of works by Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror, which will occur alongside a mirror exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Hotel openings include the city’s first Hotel W y un hotel boutique en un edificio histórico de interés nacional, el Hotel Guild House.

“In 2021, there are potentially 120 million domestic trips up for grabs, and 10% of these trips are from residents who live in northeast drive markets*,” says Jeff Guaracino, president & CEO, VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®. “Philadelphia is the perfect destination for first-time and repeat visitors eager to dip their toes back into travel. First off, it’s a town that’s easy to get to and easy to get around. Beyond that, it’s a classic but modern city filled with walkable neighborhoods, iconic attractions, green spaces galore, fun events, acclaimed hotels and some of the best chefs and restaurants in the U.S., many of which are James Beard Award winners.”

To make trips as easy as possible, visitors can book the Visita Philly Paquete de hotel con pernoctación, including free hotel parking and a buy-one-get-one offer on attraction tickets sold at the Independence Visitor Center. The package is available at more than 35 hotels through June 1, 2021. It is bookable at visitphilly.com/overnight.

Here’s a look at some of the major events, exhibits and openings taking place in Philadelphia in 2021. Find more information about these happenings and the latest on food, drink, retail and culture at visitphilly.com:

Attraction News:

Philadelphia’s attractions are as iconic as they come — think the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Rocky Statute and cheesesteaks, among others — making it a bucket-list destination for families, history buffs, movie fans, foodies and others. While a classic destination in every way, Philadelphia happily welcomes invention and reinvention, new and renewed, and that’s what these attractions will deliver in 2021.

• The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia’s beloved science museum begins the year with a world-premiere exhibit: Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition, a state-of-the-art experience that helps guests hone problem-solving skills and fosters creativity. Visitors will put their creative skills to action by testing solutions to problems based on current scientific research, including designing a ball that works for astronauts in low gravity, building a sustainable neighborhood and restoring sea life to coral reefs. February 13-July 18, 2021.
• Centro de Descubrimiento Fe y Libertad - Esta experiencia inmersiva de 40.000 metros cuadrados y $60 millones de euros es el último paso en la transformación del Independence Mall, que lleva décadas en marcha. Explorará los principios fundacionales de la nación compartidos en el S. Constitución, Declaración de Independencia y la La Biblia. El espacio incluirá galerías interactivas, un teatro en 3-D y un centro educativo. Entre los estadounidenses destacados: el Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., líder baptista y defensor de los derechos civiles, la activista católica contra la guerra Dorothy Day y el cuáquero William Penn, fundador de la Filadelfia colonial. El Centro también dirigirá a los visitantes a explorar la Ruta del Patrimonio de la Fe y la Libertad, que incluye algunas de las primeras instituciones religiosas del país, como la Iglesia Metodista Episcopal Africana Mother Bethel, sede de la congregación fundadora de la confesión, y Mikveh Israel, sede de la congregación judía más antigua de Filadelfia. 1 de mayo de 2021.
• Please Touch Museum - This year, the Please Touch Museum debuts an all-new, 5,000-square-foot permanent gallery that seeks to inspire creativity by telling the story of innovation at the Centennial of 1876, which took place in Fairmount Park right outside of the museum. The gallery’s centerpiece will be a scale model of the Centennial exposition created by dozens of artisans in 1889 that depicts exactly how it looked on July 4, 1876. Primavera de 2021.
• Renovación del Centro de Visitantes Valley Forge National Historical Park - The site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington, Valley Forge National Historical Park welcomes 2 million-plus visitors annually to explore its 3,600 acres of historic structures, objects and sprawling grounds. A gateway to Montgomery County, the welcome center hasn’t seen a significant upgrade since opening in 1976. In 2021, a four-year, $14 million upgrade project is expected to be complete with a full renovation of the official Visitor Center for Valley Forge and Montgomery County; a new five-part museum exhibit and film; and an expanded trail system with interpretive signage, a new shelter and overlook. Verano de 2021.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art - In 2021, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s much-anticipated Frank Gehry-designed master plan comes to fruition. Dramatic changes taking place inside the iconic building include the opening up of spaces not seen by the public for decades. Among the highlights: a soaring forum, with its inaugural installation of Terecita Fernandez’s Fire (United States of the Americas) (2017); 20,000 square feet of new gallery space to be filled with art that rethinks the story of Philadelphia and the nation; a renovated Lenfest Hall; views that show off the city skyline from inside the building; and an outdoor portico overlooking the Schuylkill River. Later in the year, the museum will partner with the Whitney Museum of American Art on simultaneous exhibitions of the work of Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror, considered the country’s most significant living artist. Originally scheduled to show in 2020, the unprecedented collaboration will chronologically show paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, books and costumes that mirror the other’s display, creating an immersive exhibition that itself, is a study in Johns’ fascination with reflections. Exhibit: September 29, 2021–February 13, 2022.

Popular Events Return:

Every year, the region’s events provide irresistible reasons for visitors to come to Philadelphia. That couldn’t be the case in 2020, but Philadelphia’s popular events, pro sports and live entertainment will return in 2021 — some with a new twist and some just as they’ve always been: awesome. Among them: Wawa Welcome America, el Relevos de Pennsylvania, Regata Head of the Schuylkill y Philly Semana de la Tecnología.

• Exposición floral PHS de Filadelfia - The nation’s longest-running horticultural event is making history in 2021 by moving its show outdoors for the first time in its 192-year history. The 2021 show, themed “Habitat: Nature’s Masterpiece,” will use South Philadelphia’s expansive FDR Park as the setting for displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. Also new this year: Butterflies Live, giving 40 people at a time the chance to spend 20 minutes with butterflies in a natural setting. As always, the annual gardening celebration will feature top-of-the-line horticulture and landscape design, demonstrations, entertainment, themed nights and a marketplace. Del 5 al 13 de junio de 2021.

The Great Outdoors:

Philadelphia is a big city with easy access to sprawling parks, magnificent gardens and well-traversed trails, and never have these assets been more important than they were in 2020. Here’s a look at some upgrades coming to Philly’s great outdoors this year:

• Indego Expansion - Philadelphia’s bike-share system recently announced a five-year expansion plan that will increase its fleet of bikes, expand its neighborhood reach and introduce electric bikes to the mix. The first part of the expansion comes in 2021, when Indego will add about 30 new stations, largely in West Philadelphia and South Philadelphia, and welcome 300 electric bikes to its offerings.
• Sendero del río Delaware - Once completed in 2021, the central portion of the Delaware River Trail will run between Washington Avenue and Spring Garden Street on the east side of Columbus Boulevard. The multi-use trail will provide a protected lane for walkers, joggers and cyclists, as well as a link between waterfront destinations like Muelle de Race Street, Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest y Winterfest, Spruce Street Harbor Park Sustained by Univest y Muelle de la Avenida Washington. Las características clave del diseño incluyen un carril bici bidireccional separado por un bordillo y una acera peatonal independiente, así como nuevo paisajismo, iluminación peatonal y mobiliario urbano. Otoño de 2021.

Alimentación:

Philadelphia’s restaurants showed serious resilience in 2020, pivoting to take-out food and drink, erecting elaborate pop-up spaces for outdoor dining and collaborating with friends in the business to thrive amid the pandemic. While several beloved restaurants closed both temporarily and permanently, others emerged onto the scene — a trend that will continue into 2021.

• Apertura de nuevas cervecerías - El Gran Filadelfia se alarga ruta de la cerveza artesanapronto crecerá aún más con la inauguración de nuevas cervecerías y ampliaciones dentro y fuera de la ciudad. Cada destino ofrece una experiencia totalmente diferente. En 2021, busque Victory Brewing Company en la Benjamin Franklin Parkway; Cerveza Cartesiana para venir a East Passyunk; Mystic Ways Brewing en Perkasie; y Aristaeus Craft Brewing Co. en Langhorne.
• Apertura de nuevos restaurantes - El panorama gastronómico del Philly no deja de mejorar, a pesar de que 2020 ha sido el año más duro para la restauración. Entre las incorporaciones más destacadas para 2021 se incluyen: Madreselva del chef y artista Omar Tate (Esquire de la revista Chef del Año); The Landing Kitchen and the Lark en Bala Cynwyd del chef Nicholas Elmi (Laurel) y Fia Berisha (Éter); Cafetería Lost Breadin Rittenhouse; Gracia y propiedad en el Italian Market del equipo detrás de Hawthorne y Cambridge; Lamberti Pizza & Market en Washington Square West; Bagels & Co. at the Piazza in Northern Liberties; and El jardín de Lola en Suburban Square en Ardmore de Hospitalidad FCM. Además, busque nuevas ubicaciones de lugares como DiBruno Bros. (Wayne) y Estufa y grifo (West Chester), with much more in the works from Philadelphia’s intrepid restaurateurs later this year.

Nuevos hoteles:

From 2018 through 2020, the region added 25 hotels and nearly 4,000 rooms to its supply. The new

additions are a mix of big-name brands, luxury properties, budget accommodations and small boutique hotels. Despite a rocky 2020, that growth will continue into 2021 as Philadelphia welcomes four new hotels to the scene.

• ¡Vive! Casino & Hotel Filadelfia - A brand-new, 1.5 million-square-foot hotel and casino opens in South Philadelphia in early 2021. Conveniently located within walking distance to Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia houses more than 200 upscale hotel rooms, plus more than 2,100 slots and electronic table games, a FanDuel^® Sportsbook, and dining and entertainment venues. 11 de febrero de 2021.
• Hotel Guild House - Coincidiendo con el Mes de la Historia de la Mujer, se inaugura un hotel boutique en un edificio histórico nacional que perteneció y honrará a un grupo de apoyo y defensa de las mujeres trabajadoras del siglo XIX conocido como New Century Guild. Las habitaciones y suites -12 en total- del hotel Midtown Village llevan los nombres de miembros del Gremio, entre los que se contaban notables abolicionistas, sufragistas, activistas, poetas y artistas. Entre ellos: Eliza Sproat Turner, profesora, escritora y fundadora del New Century Guild; Florence Kelley, miembro fundadora de la NAACP; y Emily Sartain, artista y directora de la Escuela de Diseño para Mujeres de Filadelfia (actual Moore College of Art and Design). Este hotel de servicio invisible ofrece productos de lujo para el baño y el cuerpo, cafés, tés y chocolates especiales, itinerarios personalizados, servicio de recogida en el aeropuerto y otras experiencias bajo petición. June 6, 2021.
• W Filadelfia - A menos de una manzana del emblemático City Hall, este hotel de 295 habitaciones aportará lujo moderno con una elegante dosis de vitalidad y arte Philly. Entre las instalaciones, que incluyen el gimnasio FIT, el salón de cócteles Living Room y la terraza del bar, se encuentra una piscina climatizada durante todo el año, es decir, al aire libre. Primavera de 2021.
• Hotel Element Philadelphia - La mayor propiedad global de Element abre sus puertas en pleno centro de Center City, junto a su propiedad de doble marca, el W Hotel Philadelphia. Los huéspedes de Element disfrutarán de cocina en todas las habitaciones y suites, el emblemático Westin Heavenly...^® cama, restaurante italiano Dolce y desayuno gratuito cada mañana y copa de vino o cerveza cada noche. Primavera de 2021.

*Source: Tourism Economics

VISITE FILADELFIA^® es nuestro nombre y nuestra misión. Como agencia oficial de marketing turístico de la región, damos a conocer el Gran Filadelfia, atraemos visitantes e impulsamos la economía.

En visitphilly.com y uwishunu.com, el sitio web y el blog oficiales para visitantes del área metropolitana de Filadelfia, los visitantes pueden explorar cosas que hacer, próximos eventos, itinerarios temáticos y paquetes hoteleros. Las atractivas fotografías y vídeos, los mapas interactivos y la información detallada sobre los visitantes convierten estos sitios en eficaces herramientas de planificación de viajes. Junto con los canales de medios sociales de Visit Philly, las plataformas en línea se comunican directamente con los consumidores. Los viajeros también pueden llamar y pasar por el Centro de Visitantes de Independence para obtener información adicional y entradas. 6^th y las calles Market, (800) 537-7676

Nota para los redactores: Para ver fotos de alta resolución y material de archivo de alta definición del área metropolitana de Filadelfia, visite la sección Fotos y vídeo de visitphilly.com/mediacenter.