Philadelphia: places to go and things to do

Getting around Philadelphia

Walk within Old City or Center City, then use SEPTA for longer neighborhood changes. The museum district sits northwest of the historic core; Bartram’s Garden is farther southwest. Check the actual start and finish of a river route instead of using a general trail pin.

Plan for the weather

Summer heat and winter wind both make an indoor break useful. Cobblestones in historic streets can be uneven, and riverside routes are exposed. Check park or trail notices after storms and choose one museum or market as a weather alternative rather than moving the whole day outdoors.

Places covered in these guides

• Liberty Bell Center

  Old City · Historic attraction. A visitor center interpreting the Liberty Bell and its changing significance.

• Independence Hall

  Old City · Historic building. A historic building associated with the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution.

• Elfreth’s Alley public street

  Old City · Historic residential street. A small historic residential street with separately operated museum houses.

• Reading Terminal Market

  Center City · Food market. An indoor public market with independent food merchants and produce stalls.

• Philadelphia Museum of Art

  Museum district · Art museum. An art museum with wide-ranging collections near the Schuylkill River.

• Schuylkill Banks public trail

  Schuylkill riverfront · Riverside trail. Public riverfront paths and a boardwalk section for walking and observing the Schuylkill.

• Bartram’s Garden grounds

  Southwest Philadelphia · Garden and riverfront grounds. A garden and community landscape on the Schuylkill River in southwest Philadelphia.

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway public walk

  Center City / museum district · Civic streetscape. A central boulevard linking civic spaces and the city’s museum district.