Historic sites abound throughout Greater Philadelphia, but the two most iconic ones are the jewels of Independence National Historical Park: Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Liberty Bell. These two Philadelphia stalwarts are must-dos for visitors — whether it’s their first time or 50th time to the city — but getting inside to see them up close requires a bit of planning as safety precautions remain in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some tips for visiting two of Philly’s most famous sites; for more information, go to visitphilly.com:
Liberty Bell:
- No tickets are required to access the Liberty Bell Center, though a 20-person capacity limit (that’s about 130-150 people per hour) — implemented to keep both visitors and staff safe — has reduced access to this popular site. Pro tip: Visitors increase their odds of avoiding a long line by visiting early in the day.
Independence Hall:
- Advance reservations are required for 15-20-minute tours of Independence Hall. Tickets are available by calling (877) 444-6777 from 10 a.m. to midnight or by logging onto recreation.gov. While tickets to Independence Hall are free, the administrative fee is $1 per ticket. Tickets must be presented in printed form or on a mobile device. Visitors are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes before their tour time to go through security screening.
- Tickets for available four months in advance. Weekend tickets sell out quickly, so it’s best for visitors to reserve their preferred day and time as soon as possible.
Bell & Hall:
- Masks are required inside all Independence National Historical Park buildings regardless of vaccination status.
- Signs in the queue indicate wait times at the one-hour, two-hour and three-hour point for Independence Hall, and at the 90-minute point for the Liberty Bell Center.
- Visitors wait outside the Bell and Hall in an uncovered area, so it’s best to check the weather in advance to determine rain-gear needs.
- There are few places to sit while waiting in line, so visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes or bring a light chair if unable to stand for long periods.
- Large groups are split up when visiting the Bell and Hall.
VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.
On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets. 6th & Market Streets, (800) 537-7676
Note to Editors: For high-resolution photos and high-definition B-roll of Greater Philadelphia, visit the Photos & Video section of visitphilly.com/mediacenter.