What Philly's Updated COVID-19 Guidelines Mean for You

Starting May 21, 2021

The City of Philadelphia begins to lift restrictions on May 21, 2021, allowing for more capacity inside restaurants; ending density limits at stores, bowling alleys, museums and libraries; and increasing occupancy at theaters and casinos, among other changes.

Starting May 21, bars in Philadelphia can serve alcohol without also serving food.   — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Plus, bars can resume serving alcohol without the requirement to also serve food.

What this means for you

• Expanded restaurant seating, both indoors and out, means potentially shorter wait times for tables.
• Happy hour is back! Plop down at your favorite bar without also ordering food. We recommend the Citywide Special or Philly’s signature clover club.
• Casino customers can ramp up the fun now that wait staff can serve alcohol at gaming tables again.
• Museum-goers may have an easier time reserving tickets to top attractions, as capacity restrictions have been eliminated.
• Masks are still required indoors (get more details here).

Starting May 31, 2021

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania lifts all mitigation orders starting May 31, 2021 — the unofficial start to summer. Capacity limits and social distancing can be a thing of the past in counties that align with state guidance. Some municipalities, including Philadelphia, have different timelines. Masks are still required indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.

What this means for you

• Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties no longer enforce social distancing or capacity limitations.
• The City of Philadelphia continues to uphold some additional health and safety guidelines in keeping with the guidelines that took effect on May 21, 2021 (see above).
• Fewer restrictions across the region mean easier planning to make up for all those missed celebrations of 2020.
• Attractions, restaurants and hotels may still have their own health and safety protocols, so be sure to ask for details and plan ahead.
• Get ready for soccer! The Philadelphia Union will begin hosting fans in Subaru Park at full capacity starting June 23.
• Don’t forget your mask! Individual attractions may set their own guidelines.

Starting June 2, 2021

The City of Philadelphia lifts most of its Safer-at-Home restrictions, including density and capacity limits, as well as social-distancing guidelines, citing some of the lowest COVID case counts to date.

What this means for you

• Clap your hands, everybody! The Sixers are dominating their NBA Playoffs series and the Wells Fargo Center can welcome fans at full capacity. The Phillies will follow suit at Citizens Bank Park starting June 4.
• Health and safety guidelines are the same across the Greater Philadelphia region — Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties — so traveling throughout the city and the countryside is much easier.
• Masks are still required indoors, and last call for bars and restaurants is 11 p.m.
• Spontaneity is back. Though it’s always good to check each attraction’s guidelines before visiting, you no longer have to plan every moment of your visit in advance.

Starting June 11, 2021

Just in time for Juneteenth and Fourth of July festivities, the City of Philadelphia lifts the final COVID-19 restrictions, effective June 11, 2021.

What this means for you

• The city no longer requires fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors; those who aren’t fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to continue masking.
• Restaurants and bars can once again stay open past 11 p.m.
• Masks are still required in health care facilities, indoor congregate settings and childcare facilities, and public transportation.
• Individual attractions, hotels and restaurants may still have their own health & safety protocols, so be sure to check in advance and plan ahead.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Visitor Tips

Summer is an exceptionally awesome time to visit and explore Greater Philadelphia.

Celebrations of freedom ring out in June and July, marking the place where American history began; locally grown blueberries and peaches fill seasonal restaurant menus and make for delicious farm festivals; major headliners bring live music to outdoor stages and the city’s stellar museums showcase groundbreaking art and installations.

Plus, the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is jam-packed with perks like free hotel parking and discounted tickets at the Independence Visitor Center to 29 top attractions.

In short: Now is the time to visit. Here’s how to make the most of your Philly experience:

• As capacity limits go away, visitors are eager to return to their favorite spots or see something new. Check to see if you need advance tickets for the attraction you want to visit.
• Air-conditioned museums and attractions are perfect during humid Philly summers (and yes, the art is cool too).
• The PHLASH runs all summer long, shuttling passengers to top attractions for just $2 a ride!
• LOVE Park’s all-new visitor center and the Independence Visitor Center make it super easy to plan your visit on the go.
• Plan to spend time outdoors. Philly is a city in a park (a 2,000-acre park, that is). Plus, two waterfronts mean double the ways to spend time on and nearby the water.
• Remember that Philly is the City of Brotherly Love. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are still in a recovery period and their staff members are working hard to give you the best experience as everyone adjusts to a new normal. Be patient — and tip well.