Here are, according to us and our local team, the things to do and see in Philadelphia in order to get the real vibe, real essence of the city.
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1. Of course you could do all of the following or just register to our cultural scavenger hunt!
2. Take a look to this map of the city, to have a real idea on how it is built and organized.
3. Independence National Historical Park
Independence National Historical Park is quite possibly America's most historic square mile. Famous sites such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Congress Hall, along with many other important attractions line the cobbled streets of this old area.
Independence Hall has seen some of America's most important historical moments and hosted some of its most famous fathers. It stood witness to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the creation of the United States Constitution in 1787. It is flanked by Congress Hall, in which the first Congress of the United States met from 1790 to 1800 and George Washington and John Adams were elected President, and Old City Hall, which was never in fact the town hall but was the seat of the Supreme Court from 1791 to 1800.
To the north of Independence Hall extends the park-like Independence Mall, laid out in 1948. On its east side, at 55 North 5th Street, is the National Museum of American Jewish History. North of the museum, in Arch Street, is Christ Church Benjamin Franklin's
Visitors' first stop should be the Visitor Center off Dock Street near 3rd Street, for information and walking tour maps. For a truncated tour, visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Pavilion first. However, budget at least one full day to tour the park. Get Google maps directions>
4. Liberty Bell Pavilion
The liberty bell has long been a symbol of freedom and independence in the United States. It went on tour around the country in the late 19th C in an effort to inspire a sense of freedom and conquer divisions left by the Civil War. The bell completed its journey in Philadelphia in 1915, where it has remained. Get Google maps directions>
5. Independence Hall
Independence Hall originally served as the State House of the Colony of Pennsylvania and is best known as the place where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It was also where the Continental Congress met again 11 years later and wrote the United States Constitution. The highlight is Assembly Hall, where the Second Continental Congress met behind closed doors to discuss their desire for independence from the British. This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where George Washington was chosen as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. Across from Independence Hall is the Liberty Bell.
Get Google maps directions>
6. Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art contains one of the United States' largest collections of art. It is housed in a neoclassical building fronted by a broad set of stairs which became famous after they were used the classic American "Rocky" films.
Among the finest sections of the museum are the medieval galleries, which include pictures by Rogier van der Weyden and the van Eyck brothers. In other rooms are Renaissance and Baroque works and art of the 18th and 19th centuries, including pictures by Van Gogh, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Cezanne, Monet, and Degas. 20th century European art is represented by Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Miro, Paul Klee, and other artists. There is also American art by the Philadelphia artists Thomas Eakins, Charles Wilson Peale ("The Staircase Group", 1795) and many others. In addition, there are fine collections of Asian art, with porcelain, jade and Oriental carpets.
Get Google maps directions>
7. Eastern State Penitentiary
The Eastern State Penitentiary was built in 1829 with the aim of rehabilitating criminals through solitary confinement. At the time of its opening, it was considered the world's most expensive and high-tech prison. Willie Sutton and Al Capone were some of the prison's notable "guests". It closed in 1971. Today it is open to the public as a museum with tours of the facility showing some sections which remain much the same as they were during its operational years.
Get Google maps directions>
8. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum
This Fine Arts Museum features a strong collection of American Art from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries, including works by early American artists right through to Andy Warhol. The academy is also known for being the oldest of its kind in the United States. Get Google maps directions>
9. City Center
The Philadelphia City Center is home to some interesting areas and sites, both old and new. The main attractions are the landmark City Hall with its outstanding Gothic tower, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum, along with a modest Chinatown and numerous other architectural delights. Broad Street is a good place to start a walking tour. Though not as concentrated an area as neighboring Independence Historic National Park lying to the west, this area does contain a fair amount of important attractions, from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to the Civil War Library & Museum and the Reading Terminal Market. Other highlights in the City Center include the Gothic revival style Arch Street Methodist church, the African-American Museum in Philadelphia, the Masonic Temple, and Rittenhouse Square. Get Google maps directions>
10. Society Hill Historic District
This interesting neighborhood, south of Walnut Street and east of Washington Square, contains a unique blend of 18th Century buildings, restored warehouses, new homes, colonial homes, and apartments. Some of these are occupied by galleries and other tourist friendly retailers. Attractions in and around this area include Washington Square, the Polish American Cultural Center, and Old St. Mary's Church, along with the Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library.
In Washington Square, once the burial-place of those who died in the fight for independence, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolution, with an eternal flame. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the only tomb in America erected to the memory of the unknown Revolutionary War soldiers. Get Google maps directions>
11. Rodin Museum
With more than 100 works by famous French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, this museum contains one of the most extensive collections of his work outside of France. On display are bronze casts of some of his most famous masterpieces. Get Google maps directions>
12. Franklin Institute Science Museum
This creative museum is a tribute to scientist, Benjamin Franklin, complete with a huge marble statue of a seated Franklin located in one of the large halls. The Franklin Institute Science Museum, which is in fact several museums under one roof, displays many of Franklin's own experiments. It is particularly concerned with the physical bases of technology and offers visitors the opportunity to try their own experiments, in many fields - computers, information technology, space travel, astronomy, oceanography.
In addition to the museum, the center is also home to an IMAX Theater and the Fels Planetarium.
Get Google maps directions>
13. Fairmount Park
This lovely park along the Schuykill River and Wissahickon Creek is home
to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Rodin Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of
Art, and the Japanese House and Garden, along with numerous other
attractions. There are also gardens, ball fields, swimming pools, tennis
courts, hiking paths, picnic areas and playgrounds. Get Google maps directions>
14. Fort Mifflin
Near the junction of the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers is Fort Mifflin,
the sight of a Revolutionary War battle. It was built by the British in
1772. During the War of Independence it fell into the hands of the
American patriots and defended Philadelphia against British attacks.
Both Fort Mifflin and the hospital that is on the grounds are listed on
the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Get Google maps directions>
Get Google maps directions>
Arlow is our Philadelphia local representative, we asked her what an ideal day of leisure in Philadelphia could look like, what would she suggest doing from early morning to late at night?
Here is what she suggests. Don't hesitate to contact Arlow on Twitter @bigcitychase #Arlow #questionforArlow if you have questions for her, we may publish your conversation in this blog if she thinks it might be useful to other Philadelphia visitors.
Arlow from Philadelphia for Big City Chase Philadelphia :
"Hi guys, my Name is Arlow, I'm 23 and I lived all my life in Philadelphia, today I will suggest you a few spots to spend an ideal leisure day in here avoiding too many tourists :
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