Things to Do in Philadelphia and the Countryside
The birthplace of the nation, and a big city with a serious appetite.
See top-rated activities »About Philadelphia
Philadelphia was the largest city in the American colonies and the country's capital for most of the 1790s, and its Old City still has the buildings to prove it. Independence National Historical Park holds Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and signed, and the Liberty Bell, displayed in its own glass pavilion across Chestnut Street. Entry to both is free; Independence Hall uses timed tickets for much of the year. Nearby, the Museum of the American Revolution displays George Washington's field tent, and Elfreth's Alley, a narrow lane of 18th-century houses, is one of the oldest continuously lived-in streets in the country.
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway runs from City Hall, topped by a statue of William Penn, to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Along the way are the Barnes Foundation, with its dense collection of Impressionist and early modern paintings, the Rodin Museum and the Franklin Institute, a hands-on science museum with a giant walk-through heart. Many visitors run up the art museum's front steps, as Rocky did, and pose with his bronze statue at the bottom.
Eastern State Penitentiary, a castle-like prison that opened in 1829 and once held Al Capone, is now a museum known for its audio tour and its Halloween season. For food, Reading Terminal Market has been feeding the city since 1893, the Italian Market in South Philadelphia is lined with butchers and cheese shops, and the cheesesteak debate between Pat's and Geno's carries on at the corner of 9th and Passyunk.
Outside the city, Valley Forge National Historical Park marks the winter encampment of 1777-78 with rolling fields, reconstructed huts and Washington's stone headquarters. Bucks County, to the north, has the riverside arts town of New Hope and the towpath of the Delaware Canal, while the Brandywine Valley to the southwest has Longwood Gardens, one of the great public gardens in the country.
Don’t Miss
Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and Congress Hall in the blocks where the nation was founded.
The story of the Revolution told through objects including Washington's headquarters tent.
One of the largest art museums in the country, with the famous Rocky steps out front.
Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse hung in the collector's own dense arrangements.
A crumbling 1829 prison with an audio tour and a well-known Halloween event.
A hands-on science museum with a walk-through heart and a planetarium.
The 1777-78 Continental Army encampment, with driving and biking loops.
Huge conservatories, fountains and seasonal displays in the Brandywine Valley.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Philadelphia
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TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Pennsylvania Travel Guide may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Philadelphia — FAQ
Do I need tickets for Independence Hall?
Entry is free, but for much of the year the National Park Service uses timed tickets, which can be reserved online for a small fee or picked up on the day at the visitor center. The Liberty Bell needs no ticket.
Pat's or Geno's?
Both have been selling cheesesteaks across from each other in South Philadelphia for decades. Many locals prefer places like John's Roast Pork or Dalessandro's; our dining page lists a few.
How far is Valley Forge from Philadelphia?
About 20 miles northwest, or 30 to 45 minutes by car depending on traffic.
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