Grand guide des musées et attractions de la région métropolitaine de Philadelphie

La pièce maîtresse de Parc historique national de l'Indépendance est mondialement connu 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.

Bon pour : Crossing off a must-visit site from your bucket list
Sachez avant de partir : Gratuit des visites guidées sont proposées toute l'année, mais les visiteurs doivent réserver billets à heure fixe (avec des frais de service de $1) en ligne ou par téléphone à l'avance pour l'entrée.

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 Centre Liberty Bell three decades later. Visitors can view the bell and tour the center’s exhibits for free year-round.

Sachez avant de partir : No tickets are required to visit, but guests must first pass through security.
Vibe : Let freedom ring

La Maison du Président commémore le paradoxe de l'esclavage et de la liberté sur le site de la première résidence exécutive du pays, dans laquelle les présidents George Washington et John Adams ont vécu pendant leur mandat et où neuf personnes réduites en esclavage ont servi le premier président.

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. 

Bon pour : Une vision plus complète de l'histoire
Sachez avant de partir : Le Service des parcs nationaux a retiré les panneaux d'interprétation de la Maison du Président le 22 janvier 2026. Environ la moitié des panneaux d'origine ont été remis en place le 20 février 2026. À la suite d'une série de décisions rendues par des tribunaux fédéraux, le Service des parcs nationaux a achevé le remplacement des panneaux explicatifs d'origine par une nouvelle exposition le 15 juillet 2026.

Connue comme le berceau de la démocratie américaine, la ville de Philadelphie est une des plus grandes villes d'Europe. Parc historique national de l'Indépendance (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.  

Sachez avant de partir : Certain INHP attractions open seasonally or have limited public hours. Plot out your visit ahead of time by checking Site officiel de l'INHP, ou rendez-vous sur le Centre des visiteurs d'Independence at 6th & Market streets to see which sites are open.
À ne pas manquer : Taking a stroll or having a picnic at Washington Square parc, one of William Penn’s original five squares

Église du Christ Ce fut la première paroisse de l'Église d'Angleterre en Pennsylvanie, qui servit de lieu de culte à d'éminentes personnalités des débuts des États-Unis, notamment George Washington, Betsy Ross et Benjamin Franklin. C'est ici qu'Absalom Jones fut plus tard ordonné, devenant ainsi le premier Afro-américain épiscopalien prêtre. 

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.

Bon pour : Exploring stunning architecture and learning about the church’s connection to America’s la voie de la démocratie.
Sachez avant de partir : Le cimetière de l'église du Christ — où reposent bon nombre des premiers acteurs de l'histoire du pays, dont Franklin lui-même — se trouve à quelques pas de Christ Church.

Consacré aux quatre pages les plus importantes de l'histoire des États-Unis, le 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).

Bon pour : A deep dive into the Constitution’s history and legacy
À ne pas manquer : Checking out the attraction’s newest galleries: America’s Founding and Governing the Nation

Racontant l'histoire de la guerre d'Indépendance à travers des récits personnels, la 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 — La tente de guerre de George Washington, which served as his shelter, battlefield home, strategic meeting place and office headquarters — inside the site’s theater.  

Bon pour : Revolutionary history beyond the battles
Sachez avant de partir : Check the museum’s site officiel for the latest information on current exhibits and programming.  

Fondée en 1976, cette entreprise révolutionnaire 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.

Bon pour : Une approche plus approfondie de l'histoire des États-Unis
Sachez avant de partir : AAMP rotates exhibits and programming regularly, so check le site web pour voir ce qui passe. 

Faites un voyage à travers 360 ans d'histoire juive aux États-Unis au 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. 

À ne pas manquer : Snapping a selfie with Deborah Kass’ cheeky OY/YO sculpture installed outside of the museum entrance
Sachez avant de partir : The museum also hosts rotating ticketed exhibitions and programming, so check le site officiel ahead of a visit.

L'une des plus anciennes rues résidentielles continuellement habitées d'Amérique, La ruelle d'Elfreth 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. 

À ne pas manquer : The pair of adjacent circa-1755 homes now operating as the Musée Elfreth's Alley
Sachez avant de partir : 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 ou profitez d'une balade nostalgique sur Carrousel Parx Liberty - un hommage à l'héritage de Philadelphie en matière de fabrication de carrousels. 

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

Bon pour : Date night or a family outing
Sachez avant de partir : Summer visitors shouldn’t miss the annual Philadelphie Fête des lanternes chinoises, tandis que les randonneurs hivernaux devraient prévoir une visite pour explorer le L'hiver en Franklin Square programmation.

La plus célèbre fabricante de drapeaux des États-Unis accueille ses invités dans son atelier de tapisserie du XVIIIe siècle, qui fait partie de la petite demeure qui est aujourd'hui le Maison Betsy Ross 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.

Bon pour : A deep dive into Betsy’s history
À ne pas manquer : En voyant til table de couture Betsy may have used to stitch the very first American flag, now part of the museum’s permanent collection 

Un élément incontournable dans Old City depuis 2000, le Musée national de la liberté’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.

Sachez avant de partir : The museum changes exhibitions annually, so check the site officiel pour voir ce qui passe.
À ne pas manquer : The 21-foot Flamme de la liberté 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 Ministère de la Crainte révérencielle, avec des installations interactives, des paysages sonores immersifs et bien d'autres choses encore. 

À l'intérieur, les visiteurs peuvent s'essayer à la falsification, ressentir une expiration surdimensionnée en se tenant sous un nez gigantesque ou chasser les étoiles dans une fresque murale qui réagit aux interactions humaines. Meg Saligman, artiste mondiale et créatrice de cette expérience artistique transformatrice, a collaboré avec plus de 100 artistes pour créer cette œuvre gigantesque.

Bon pour : Des heures d'émerveillement
Sachez avant de partir : Hidden rooms and secret spots abound. 

L'une des institutions artistiques les plus importantes et les plus reconnues du pays, le Philadelphia Museum of Art s'élève majestueusement depuis la tête du Promenade Benjamin Franklin.

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).

Bon pour : Seemingly endless exploration of world-class art and artifacts
Sachez avant de partir : Vérifier le site officiel for designated pay-what-you-wish days, typically the first Sunday of each month.

En plus d'une visite au Liberty Bell (voir ci-dessus) et au Pat's King of Steaks (voir ci-dessous), l'un des les expériences les plus emblématiques de Philadelphie is running up the legendary Les marches rocheuses fronting the East Terrace entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

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

Bon pour : An iconic Philly photo op
À ne pas manquer : Learning about the real-life inspiration for Rocky at the Joe Frazier statue at the foot of the steps 

Dans la première ville américaine à exposer ses créations, le 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. 

Le musée Jardins extérieurs sculpture collection includes more masterpieces, like L'âge du bronze, a bronze cast of Le penseur and one of only three original casts of Les portes de l'enfer in North America.

Sachez avant de partir : The museum offers pay-what-you-wish entry, while the gardens are free and open to the public.
À ne pas manquer : Seasonal happenings like the Bar du jardin Rodin and pop-up programming

La galerie du 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.

À ne pas manquer : Taking one of the Barnes’ tours to learn more about the collection’s history
Sachez avant de partir : The museum’s mobile guide, Barnes Focus, allows visitors to use their smartphones to instantly access info about works of art.

L'un des principaux musées scientifiques du pays — et l'un des plus anciens, datant de 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 Planétarium Fels and mesmerizing four-story Foucault’s Pendulum. 

À ne pas manquer : Snapping a photo with the museum’s namesake at the Mémorial national Benjamin Franklin
Sachez avant de partir : Les billets sont obligatoires 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. 

Le plus ancien musée d'histoire naturelle des Amériques, le Parkway's Académie des sciences naturelles de l'université de Drexel, 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 Salle des dinosaures, 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.

Sachez avant de partir : Save money when you buy your tickets online ahead of a visit.
À ne pas manquer : Checking out the museum’s event calendar to see the most up-to-date programming

Autrefois la prison la plus célèbre et la plus coûteuse au monde, l'imposante 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. 

Sachez avant de partir : Take an audio tour, a guide-led tour or a self-guided tour, included with admission.
À ne pas manquer : 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, Jardins de Calder opened on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in September 2025.

Cette nouvelle destination culturelle se compose d'un bâtiment métallique réfléchissant de 18 000 pieds carrés et d'une galerie qui présente une sélection tournante d'artistes originaires de Philadelphie. Alexander Calder’s des chefs-d'œuvre - notamment des mobiles, des stabiles, des sculptures et des peintures. Le bâtiment est entouré d'une prairie arborée. Les billets sont obligatoires.

Vibe : A peaceful place, perfect for mindful meandering
Sachez avant de partir : Les jardins Calder sont fermés tous les mardis et mercredis.

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

Sachez avant de partir : Prendre un ground-level tour to explore the art and architecture of City Hall.
À ne pas manquer : Getting a bird’s-eye view of the city from the Plateforme d'observation Tower Tour

En diagonale par rapport à City Hall, John F. Kennedy Plaza tire son surnom — AMOUR Parc — tiré de l'œuvre emblématique de Robert Indiana AMOUR 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 Centre d'accueil des visiteurs, une fontaine illuminée, des jardins, une grande pelouse et de nombreux endroits où s'asseoir ou profiter d'un déjeuner en plein air. En hiver, AMOUR Le parc se transforme en un lieu très apprécié de style bavarois. Village de Noël.

Bon pour : A LOVE-ly Philly photo op
Sachez avant de partir : 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 Temple maçonnique 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.

Bon pour : Admirer une architecture époustouflante et écouter des récits historiques
Sachez avant de partir : Ce site classé monument historique national a des jours et des horaires d'ouverture limités. Consultez en ligne avant de partir.

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.

Sachez avant de partir : Head to the popular market early on weekday mornings to experience the quietest time and shortest waits.
Vibe : Tant de bonnes choses à manger, si peu de temps !

L'une des institutions scientifiques les plus tristement célèbres de la ville est le Musée Mütter en Centre ville (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.

Bon pour : Seeing the evolution of American medicine
Sachez avant de partir : Due to the graphic nature of some exhibits, families should note that the museum recommends visitors be at least 10 years old.

Le premier musée d'art et la première école d'art du pays, le Académie des beaux-arts de Pennsylvanie est l'un des centres artistiques les plus importants de Philadelphie depuis 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.

À ne pas manquer : Artist Gilbert Stuart’s famous Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington
Sachez avant de partir : Check the museum’s site officiel to see what’s currently on exhibition.

En 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.

Le Musée de l'hôpital de Pennsylvanie, opened in 2026, transforme le Pine Building en une série de galeries présentant l'évolution de la médecine moderne et le long héritage de l'hôpital, qui a traité des patients depuis la Révolution américaine jusqu'à aujourd'hui.

Sachez avant de partir : Achat billets à heure fixe en ligne avant votre visite.
À ne pas manquer : Visites guidées et événements en cours

Pour beaucoup, rien ne vaut une balade à travers de magnifiques paysages. Rittenhouse Square — another of Penn’s five original squares and the centerpiece of the chic même nom quartier.

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. 

Sachez avant de partir : The site hosts numerous annual events, so check the calendar pour découvrir les prochaines actualités.
À ne pas manquer : Checking out the array of art public throughout the square

Le Sentier de la rivière Schuylkill — 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 Promenade des rives de la rivière Schuylkill, un chemin en béton conforme aux normes ADA, large de 4,5 mètres et long de 600 mètres, qui surplombe la rivière et relie Locust Street au pont South Street Bridge.

Sachez avant de partir : 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.
À ne pas manquer : Views from the stunning Christian to Crescent cable-stayed connector bridge

Warm weather waterfront oasis Parc portuaire de la rue Spruce 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.

Bon pour : Riverside relaxation
Sachez avant de partir : Spruce Street Harbor Park is free to visit with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions.

Que ce soit en été ou en hiver, lacez vos chaussures à Croix Bleue Indépendante RiverRink, a seasonal park along the Bord de mer du fleuve Delaware offering beachy vibes and roller skating during Summerfest and holiday festivities and ice skating at Fête de l'hiver. 

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 et frites de crabe, ainsi qu'un bar à cocktails.

Bon pour : Date night or family fun
Sachez avant de partir : 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 (le plus ancien navire de guerre en acier du pays) et le navire de la Seconde Guerre mondiale USS Becuna (un sous-marin Balao de 300 pieds).

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.

Bon pour : Understanding the Delaware River’s role in Philly history
Sachez avant de partir : A self-guided tour of the Olympia comes with general admission, while a visit on the Becuna requires an additional purchase.

Parc paisible de 180 mètres de long Embarcadère de Race Street 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 Embarcadère de la rue Cherry, un espace public mixte intérieur-extérieur très animé, qui abrite des ateliers d'artistes, un marché et en plein air 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.

Sachez avant de partir : Both piers are stops along the four-mile Chemin de la rivière Delaware.
À ne pas manquer : Check out Cherry Street Pier’s calendrier des événements 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 Aquarium Aventure, l'un des Les meilleurs aquariums aux États-Unis. 

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

Sachez avant de partir : The daily calendrier des événements — like hippo feeding time — is posted at the ticket check-in.
À ne pas manquer : Holidays and événements spéciaux at the aquarium

Visit the country’s most decorated combat vessel — the Cuirassé 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.

Sachez avant de partir : The attraction offers numerous ways to experience the site, from self-guided tours to immersive overnight stays.
À ne pas manquer : 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 brillent d'une créativité sans limite.

One of Philly’s most popular urban public art installations, the museum spans half a city block along famous Rue du Sud et comprend deux galeries intérieures et un jardin de sculptures inoubliable. À un kilomètre et demi de là, l'ancien atelier de Zagar représente son plus grand chef-d'œuvre, trois fois plus grand que le musée principal.

Sachez avant de partir : Consultez le site site’s calendar for tour times and special events.
À ne pas manquer : Keep your eyes peeled for hundreds of Zagar’s mosaics across the city.

Down (and around) South 9th Street is Philadelphie Sud’s Italian Market, le marché aux puces de renommée internationale rendu célèbre par Sylvester Stallone a galopé à travers en 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. 

À ne pas manquer : Casa Mexico de Prix James Beard la gagnante Cristina Martínez, parmi many other can’t-miss eats.
Sachez avant de partir : Not sure where to start? Take a one-and-a-half-hour community-led tour with Nos visites de marchésLes cours de formation sont offerts toute l'année en anglais, en espagnol ou en vietnamien.

On ne peut pas simplement visiter Philadelphie sans eating at least one cheesesteak. How about two? 

Across the street from each other in East Passyunk, découvrez les célèbres rivaux sympathiques du cheesesteak Pat's King of Steaks et Steaks de Geno, 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. 

Bon pour : Trying a cheesesteak from both spots and choosing your cheesesteak champion.
Sachez avant de partir : 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’. 

Le plus ancien jardin botanique encore existant en Amérique du Nord, Le jardin de Bartram (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. 

Sachez avant de partir : Runners, cyclists and hikers also love the garden’s scenic mile-long Sentier Bartram's Mile.
À ne pas manquer : The hand-carved stone cider mill hiding in plain site near the waterfront

Escape the city bustle for a tranquil retreat at Refuge national de faune et de flore John Heinz à 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. 

Sachez avant de partir : The refuge is free to visit daily from sunrise to sunset.
À ne pas manquer : 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 Musée de l'automobile de la Fondation Simeone, one of the world’s greatest collections of historic racing cars.

La collection comprend plus de 75 véhicules historiques (et tout simplement cool), ainsi que des expositions tournantes présentant l'histoire des voitures de sport et des machines de course, et une vaste collection d'automobiles. bibliothèque.

Bon pour : Les passionnés d'automobile
À ne pas manquer : De retour au musée à l'occasion d'un Journée de démonstration

Premier jardin zoologique américain et organisation de premier plan dans le domaine de la conservation, le 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 expositions passionnantes 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.  

Sachez avant de partir : 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.
À ne pas manquer : Check out the zoo’s attraction’s page for extras and add-ons. 

Le presque 140 ans 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.

À ne pas manquer : The newly opened Native American galerie explores “the political, religious, linguistic and artistic self-determination” of America’s Indigenous peoples.
Sachez avant de partir : Vérifier le calendrier du musée for the latest talks, tours and programs.

Également situé sur le campus ouest de l'université de Pennsylvanie, à Philadelphie, le Institut d'art contemporain (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). 

Sachez avant de partir : Presented in halle d'exposition style, l'ICA ne possède aucune collection permanente, ce qui signifie que chaque visite est une expérience nouvelle.
À ne pas manquer : Artist talks and community reset workshops

Logé à l'intérieur 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.

Sachez avant de partir : The site offers regular “Play Without Boundaries” events with dimmer lights and sounds for children with sensory challenges.
À ne pas manquer : 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 Centre culturel japonais Shofuso boasts stunning grounds, gardens, a tiered waterfall and a koi pond underneath its signature decades-old weeping cherry tree.

Visitors must purchase billets à heure fixe 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.   

Sachez avant de partir : The site is one of the best places in Philadelphia to see blooming cherry blossoms each spring alongside the annuel Festival des cerisiers en fleurs Subaru de la région métropolitaine de Philadelphie.
Vibe : Like visiting Japan without the 16-hour flight

L'un des plus grands parcs urbains du pays, d'une superficie de 2 052 acres 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 (Charms du parc et Cimetière de Laurel Hill); museums (the Please Touch Museum and the Musée du chemin de fer clandestin); live entertainment (the Centre musical Dell et Centre Highmark Mann pour les arts du spectacle); and outdoor recreation (athletic fields, Quête dans les arbres et le Centre équestre), plus miles and miles of trails.

Sachez avant de partir : Consultez notre extensive guide to help you make the most of a visit to Fairmount Park.
À ne pas manquer : Voir Plateau de Belmont’s stunning views or riding down the wooden slide at Terrain de jeux Smith Memorial

Connect with nature without leaving the city in Parc de la vallée de Wissahickon’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. 

À ne pas manquer : Le Pont Thomas Mill — 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.

Sachez avant de partir : Les visiteurs peuvent louer des vélos, prendre un en-cas, remplir une bouteille d'eau et utiliser les installations de l'hôtel. Centre récréatif Lloyd Hall.
À ne pas manquer : Public l'art along Kelly Drive, including a statue of its namesake, rower John B. Kelly

Head to Philly’s leafy Nord-Ouest to discover 20 historic homes, museums and green spaces that tell the story of Germantown historique. Start your visit at the new Germantown Visitor Center, located within the Société historique de Germantown. 

Highlights include: the well-preserved 16th-century Site historique de la maison Johnson, a once crucial stop on the Chemin de fer clandestin; 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.  

Sachez avant de partir : The consortium has an active calendar of events, so check it out to see what’s happening ahead of your visit.
À ne pas manquer : Stopping by the Maison Blanche de Germantown, part of Independence National Historic Park (see above)

Désigné arboretum officiel de l'État de Pennsylvanie en 1988, Arboretum et jardins de Morris’ 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 Jardin de roses, the eight-sided Victorian glass fernery, the creekside Dawn Redwoods and the whimsical miniature Garden Railway, a favorite with the littles.  

À ne pas manquer : The 450-foot-long and 50-foot-high Aventure dans les arbres 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. 

Aujourd'hui, Valley Forge National Historical Park rend hommage à ceux qui ont campé ici avec des monuments et des statues disséminés sur le terrain, ainsi que des sites emblématiques tels que des cabanes de soldats reconstruites, le général Washington siège social d'origine, le Arche commémorative nationale 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.

Sachez avant de partir : Sign up for a visite en trolley to get a fantastic overview of the site.
Vibe : Rolling hills and revolutionary history

Nommé le plus grand best botanical garden by Fodor’s and repeatedly earning top rankings in USA Today’s Prix des 10 meilleurs choix des lecteurs, Pierre du Pont oasis horticole paisible showcases nearly 10,000 varieties of plants among its indoor and outdoor grounds. 

Longwood réinventé : une nouvelle expérience dans les jardins 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 Spectacles de fontaines illuminées and elaborate seasonal installations like Orchid Extravaganza and Un Noël à Longwood. 

Sachez avant de partir : Billets à heure fixe are required for entry to the gardens.
À ne pas manquer : Finding inspiration at the site’s Jardin d'idées and seeing the stunning Water Lily Court in full bloom 

L'un des 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. 

À ne pas manquer : Sur place Brasserie en plein air Ship Bottom
Sachez avant de partir : Visiting the attraction is free, with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions.

Les jardins sont aussi époustouflants que les œuvres d'art exposées dans ce cadre bucolique. 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 Maison et atelier de N.C. Wyeth, the 1922 family home and workspace of Andrew’s father, a National Historic Landmark displaying Colonial Revival architecture, illustration tools and Wyeth relics.

Sachez avant de partir : The site recently announced a years-long reimagining and dramatic expansion of its space.
À ne pas manquer : Le 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.

Charmant Bucks County une destination pour jouer, faire du shopping et se restaurer Village de colporteurs — 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 Foire aux baies roses (avec son carrousel centenaire toujours en état de marche), passez la nuit à Auberge Golden Plough or enjoy seasonal festivals popping up throughout the year. 

Sachez avant de partir : Vérifier le site’s calendar to see upcoming festivals and events.
Vibe : Endless countryside charm

Ayant récemment célébré son 100e anniversaire, Elmwood Park Zoo est un terrain de 16 acres Montgomery County attraction housing over 100 animal species. 

Guests can check out bison, zebras, jaguars, red pandas and otters, plus zoo stars Noah et Reggie, des pygargues à tête blanche qui font office de mascottes vivantes de la Eagles de Philadelphie. 

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.

Sachez avant de partir : Bring your pampered pooch along during Dog Days.
À ne pas manquer : Vérifier le site’s calendar for special events like live veterinary exams and breakfast with the animals. 

Ancienne demeure du célèbre archéologue et céramiste Henry Chapman Mercer, Château de Fonthill en 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 Les 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.

Sachez avant de partir : Visitors can view Fonthill on a guided one-hour tour or check the calendar for “meander” days.
À ne pas manquer : Hands-on tournées — with tile making — are available at The TileWorks.

After exploring Mercer’s Fonthill home (see above), explore his vast collection of artifacts at nearby Musée Mercer, 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.

Bon pour : A glimpse at the items early Americans used every day
Sachez avant de partir : 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 Musée d'art James A. Michener — nommé d'après le lauréat du prix Pulitzer 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.

Bon pour : Exploring historic and contemporary Pennsylvania art
Sachez avant de partir : Les billets sont obligatoires, except on designated free museum days, typically the second Sunday of each month.

Nous vous dirons comment vous rendre, comment vous rendre à 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 Un Noël tout en fourrure.

Sachez avant de partir : As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place offers low-sensory spots and an accessibility guide to the entire park.
À ne pas manquer : Télécharger le Sesame Place app to guide your planning and visit.

Explore your inner Legomaniac at the 33,000-square-foot Centre de découverte Legoland 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 Express de l'imagination et le 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. 

À ne pas manquer : Miniland, with huge miniature recreations of Philly’s most iconic buildings and landmarks created from over 1 million Lego bricks
Sachez avant de partir : Grown-up Lego lovers without children can check the Events page for periodic adult nights. 

Avec plus de 450 magasins et près de 3 millions de mètres carrés d'espace commercial, King of Prussia, un centre commercial 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 options de restauration.

Sachez avant de partir : The site offers ample parking spots (more than 13,000!).
Vibe : Shop till you drop.

Maintenant cette c'est la façon de faire du Netflix et de se détendre. King of Prussia, a Simon Property Mall héberge désormais l'une des deux seules stations de radio de l'Union européenne. Maison Netflix de la nation.

Le 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 Mercredi-themed campus-wide quests. 

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

Bon pour : Les "binge watchers" qui veulent devenir leurs personnages préférés
À ne pas manquer : La RV du corps entier pour vivre pleinement les mondes de Stranger Things, Lune rebelle et Squid Game …. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah !

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? 

Consultez notre article sur les meilleurs musées et attractions hors des sentiers battus dans la région métropolitaine de Philadelphie for more than 40 additional spots to explore.