30 Self-Guided Walking & Driving Tours of Greater Philadelphia

The National Park Service’s free official app offers a complete guide to what’s been dubbed the most historic square mile in the United States. Choose from one of five self-guided audio tours (on topics like civil rights and Benjamin Franklin) or use the interactive map to explore the 35 included sites at your own pace. Bonus: Kiddos can sign the Declaration of Independence, ring the Liberty Bell and more in a separate Junior Ranger app.

No battles were fought in Valley Forge, but the time the Continental Army encamped here in 1777 and 1778 went down as one of the Revolutionary War’s most trying periods. Take a deep dive into Valley Forge’s history at your own pace via the park’s official audio tour, available for purchase to stream or on CD. Drive through the park, accompanied by period music, while character voices help you envision the 18th-century encampment during a 60-minute tour.

The art and history experience Legacy Reclaimed: A 7th Ward Tribute honors the lives — and lesser-known history — of 19th-century Black residents of Philadelphia’s old 7th Ward. An important part of the Underground Railroad and Great Migration, the 7th Ward was the former home to 15,000 Black residents including Octavius V. Catto and W.EB. Du Bois. Legacy Reclaimed’s self-guided tour brochure takes you to two dozen historically significant homes, landmarks and institutions throughout what is now known as Society Hill and Washington Square West.

Philadelphians were heavily involved in the abolitionist movement, and the Underground Railroad passed through the city, helping enslaved people find freedom here and north into Canada. Two free audio tours from The Philadelphia Inquirer guide people through Old City and Society Hill and around Northwest Philadelphia to visit anti-slavery landmarks like Congo Square (now Washington Square), a convening space and burial ground for the Black community; and Germantown’s Johnson House Historic Site, which served as an Underground Railroad stop and may have even hosted Harriet Tubman.

Philadelphia’s history is rich with important moments involving the Black community, many of which aren’t tied to a specific attraction. Fortunately, historical markers around the city help preserve these legacies. This map from The Philadelphia Inquirer can help you wind your way through the city and learn more about 19th- and 20th-century painter Henry Ossawa Tanner; the Christian Street YMCA, where a young Wilt Chamberlain got his start; and Laura Wheeler Waring, who painted portraits of W.E.B. DuBois and Marian Anderson.

Part walking tour, part high-tech scavenger hunt, Sweet Chariot empowers visitors to uncover history that is often hidden in plain sight. Using a map and a smartphone app, visitors search for murals, plaques and other landmarks to unlock immersive videos and clues as they trace hidden stories of the Black struggle for freedom in Philadelphia. The experience begins in Washington Square and ultimately leads to the final resting place of Amelia Brown, who was uncovered in an 18th-century graveyard during a construction project in 2013.

Philadelphia was the site of the country’s first major demonstration for LGBTQ+ rights, the Annual Reminders, in 1965. But Philly’s history of equality activism long predates that and continues today, as evidenced by the city’s public art, historical markers and notable LGBTQ+ institutions that honor people and events that paved the way. This self-guided LGBTQ+ history tour from The Philadelphia Inquirer visits many of these sites, including the historic marker for John Fryer, who helped declassify homosexuality as a mental illness, and Giovanni’s Room, the country’s longest-running LGBTQ+ bookstore.

Founded in 1768, Old Pine Church became known as “the Church of Patriots” during the Revolutionary War, thanks to parishioners like John Adams and other prominent Founding Fathers. Today, the church grounds serve as the final resting place for more than 200 veterans of the Revolutionary War. Visitors can download a free smartphone app to hear narrated stories about those who are buried at Old Pine and their enduring impact on the nation’s history.

Tour the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza with interactive testimonials from real Holocaust survivors and witnesses. The IWalk app offers custom self-guided tours of the space spanning three major topics (history, propaganda and antisemitism) along with historical pictures, contexts, maps and discussion questions. All tours are available in both English and Spanish, and tours can be tailored to middle school, high school or general public audiences. IWalk is free to download and available on iOS or Android.

This circa-1836 Northwest Philly cemetery with picturesque views of the Schuylkill River offers more than pleasant outdoor strolling. Download the cemetery’s free app and venture out on one of three themed tours — Art & Architecture; Pop Culture & Contemporary Stories; and Lore & Legends — to visit permanent residents like Sarah Josepha Hale (author of Mary Had a Little Lamb) and former Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas. Pair a visit with gorgeous bike- and pedestrian-friendly Kelly Drive via the park’s southwest entrance, or explore nearby East Falls’ dining offerings (like pasta at the romantic BYOB Fiorino, or rustic wood-oven pizza from In Riva).

Before highways and new construction, Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront was a national hub of trade and commerce. There, businesses were built, deals were struck, fortunes were made and devastating diseases were spread. This 2-mile audio tour along the Delaware River waterfront dives deep into Philly’s maritime history, from the enterprises that began on Philly’s riverside to the long-lost caves where early Quakers once lived.

As the nation’s birthplace, nearly every brick and stone in Philly has a story to tell, and Philadelphia Historic Architecture Tours offer two compelling self-guided tour options. The Road to Revolution: A Colonial Philadelphia Walking Tour explores some of the most significant events that took place in and around Old City, while the Philadelphia Architecture Tour: From the Gilded Age to the Postmodern Present highlights the stylings of iconic buildings throughout Center City and around City Hall, spanning Baroque, Victorian Gothic, Art Deco and more. Tours are available to purchase through VoiceMap website or via the VoiceMap iOS and Android app.

Have you checked out the historic barns of Bucks County? No? Well, you’re missing out. Our partners at Visit Bucks County have partnered with the Heritage Conservancy to create this self-guided driving tour of more than 30 historic barns, split between Upper and Central Bucks County. Look forward to rolling hills, pretty back roads and, as promised, cute barns.

Charming covered bridges dot Chester County’s Brandywine Valley, located south and west of Philadelphia. Explore 14 of them — with one dating all the way back to 1850 — via this self-guided driving tour from our partners at the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau. Don’t forget your camera!

Bucks County, less than an hour north of Philadelphia, is home to 12 picturesque covered bridges, each over 150 years old. Visit Bucks County’s self-guided driving tour guides you through the preserved bridges (literally), as you explore the innovative construction style pioneered by legendary American architect Ithiel Town. Each bridge also has its own story to tell, from the illuminated Pine Valley bridge (nearly 200 years old!) to the totally-not-haunted Van Sant bridge.

Seven free and enlightening self-guided walking tours of Philly await online, courtesy of the nonprofit Independence Hall Association. Each comprehensive tour shines a small light on sights both iconic (Independence Hall, LOVE Park) and sometimes overlooked (American Street in Society Hill, Musical Fund Hall in Washington Square West) in Center City and Northwest Philly.

For a comprehensive look at one of Philly’s most history-rich neighborhoods, check out the SelfTour of Historic Philadelphia (available for $9.99 for both Apple and Android). Users embark on a two-and-a-half-mile journey to more than 50 sites, including stops at lesser-known spots like the Dolley Todd House and the site where Ben Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment. Bonus: Hear a recreation of the sound of the Liberty Bell, last heard in 1846. Can’t do it all in one day? Maybe a stay in one of the district’s hotels is in order.

Learn more about the many historic sites throughout Philadelphia’s Historic District on this 75-minute, 1.25-mile self-guided walking tour from the folks behind the popular Constitutional Walking Tours. More than 20 attractions are included, from the iconic (Independence Hall) to the lesser-known (Old City Hall). The app costs $18.99 and is available for both Android and Apple.

Explore the living history of Philadelphia starting from atop the iconic steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art via this free augmented reality app. Created by public art and history studio Monument Lab, the app offers self-guided tours of the space and art around the museum through three different tour options guided by Philly poet-activist-heroine Ursula Rucker. The app is currently available for iOS and for Android.

See how Philadelphia earned its “City of Murals” moniker on one of two free self-guided tours from Mural Arts Philadelphia. The Mural Mile tour guides users to 50 Center City murals mostly on or near Broad Street, while the Love Letter Market Frankford Trail Line follows 30 lovely West Philly murals that can be viewed from the elevated Market Frankford subway line or on foot. Or create your own tour using the site’s mobile-friendly interactive map (then learn more about specific artworks here).

Take a deep dive into one of the largest collections of public art in America on the Association for Public Art’s free self-guided tours. The biggie is the Museum Without Walls audio program, which offers expert insight into more than 75 outdoor artworks in Center City and Fairmount Park (available via mobile app, phone, audio download or online.) The organization has also compiled eight smaller tours, focusing on works on Kelly Drive, around City Hall, around the Philadelphia Museum of Art and more.

A winding, tessellated labyrinth designed by local artist Isaiah Zagar, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Museum is known for its vibrant ceramics, colored glass, mirror tiles and found art. This free self-guided excursion takes you to see over a dozen different Zagar mosaic sites around South Street, and provides the stories, history and insights behind the artist’s distinct works.

Experience Philadelphia by retracing the steps of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. Stops on this self-guided tour include the Italian Market, Mickey’s gym, Adrian’s restaurant and the iconic “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Protip: The Rocky statue now rests at the bottom of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, so strike a pose and snap a picture before you run up those 72 stairs. Take the tour at your own pace, and feel free to provide your own soundtrack. Getting strong now!

This one’s for the foodies. Eat all the Philly staples on your own time with this self-guided edition of the popular Flavors of Philly food tour. The tour treats you to Philly history tidbits and fun food facts, and hits five different local stops, featuring classics like cheesesteaks, tomato pie, soft pretzels and snacks at Reading Terminal Market. Tour tickets are $16 and are good for one week after activation. All food items are pay as you go, but show your tour ticket to a cashier at any of the stops to get a sweet discount.

Eat your way across the globe with these two pay-as-you-go food tours along North 5th Street in North Philadelphia. The Where Global is Local Self-Guided Food Tour lets you sample some of the neighborhood’s best internationally inspired restaurants, from Korean barbecue at Kim’s to Colombian sweet treats at La Caleñita Bakery & Cafe. Or if you’re all about that cake life, the Bakery Blocks Self-Guided Food Tour connects you to some of the neighborhood’s tastiest sweet pastries and savory breads. Full belly making it hard to walk? The Route 47 bus runs down 5th Street every five minutes.

Augment your reality on this futuristic tour of North Broad Street. Install the free Lights of North Broad app, visit one of five featured locations along a 2-mile stretch of North Broad Street, tap the location in the app and watch history come alive. Through the magic of augmented reality, your virtual tour guide — NBC10’s Aunyea Lachelle — appears in front of you to explain the past, present and future of some of North Broad’s most pivotal spaces. Current stops can be found at The Rail Park (an urban greenspace built atop a retired railway), the Divine Lorraine (a historic hotel complex first opened in 1892), Blue Horizon (a legendary boxing venue) and more.

Charge up your mobile device (consider bringing a portable charger!) and put on your detective’s hat for this outdoor scavenger hunt that starts on Independence Mall. Great for solo adventure seekers or small groups, this 150-object hunt is a game, knowledge test and history lesson all rolled into one. Take photos of your finds to score points and complete the challenge.

Created and led by artist Michelle Angela Ortiz, the Our Market project is revitalizing Philly’s South 9th Street Italian Market (also known as the 9th Street Market) with public artwork, renovated produce stands, light installations and an archive of video interviews with the market’s diverse community members. Video interviews and art descriptions can be accessed online or via QR codes at eight different stores and stalls along Ninth Street.

Download this app from the App Store or Google Play for a walking introduction to Philadelphia. Concentrated in the Historic District and around City Hall, this two-hour tour provides a crash course on 13 top attractions. Use your mobile device as both a map and an audio guide for a two-mile walk to spots like Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and Reading Terminal Market.

Can’t get enough of these independent excursions? Satisfy your spirit of exploration (with no commitment) at any of Philly’s free attractions and public spaces. Many of these attractions also offer self-guided tours, like the self-guided tour of the United States Mint, which highlights America’s first coining press, stunning 120-year-old glass mosaics and a view of the coining operations on the factory floor. Or stroll verdant pathways, explore 50 acres of flora and view historic landscape photos with the self-guided tour and interactive map of Bartram’s Garden.