Looking to extend your stay in Philadelphia?
Beside its being the birthplace of democracy, there’s lots to know about Philadelphia: the country’s first daily newspaper, The Philadelphia Packet and Daily Advertiser, started here in 1784; it’s home to America’s first zoo; and Philadelphia is also home to the first hospital and medical school in the US. And there’s a whole lot more: a thriving cultural scene, incredible restaurants, dozens of historic landmarks, and countless ways to enjoy yourself.
Franklin Institute
222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA
Founded in 1824, the Franklin Institute is one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States. Learn more at FI.edu.
Mütter Museum
19 S. 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA
The Mütter Museum is the dark side of medical history containing a collection of medical oddities, anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment. Photo © 2009 George Widman Photography LLC. Learn more at MutterMuseum.org.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA
The Academy of Natural Sciences is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the US. The Academy has amassed natural history collections of than 17 million specimens. Learn more at ANSP.org.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA
The museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by Marcel Duchamp; the greatest collection of sculpture by Constantin Brancusi outside Europe; and superb Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Plus, the famous Rocky steps and Rocky statue are part of the fabric of the museum. Learn more at PhilaMuseum.org.
The African American Museum in Philadelphia
701 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA
The African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution built by a major US city to house and interpret the life and work of African Americans. The AAMP features four galleries and an auditorium and houses more than 750,000 artifacts. Learn more at AAMPMuseum.org.
Liberty Bell Center
6th St & Market St, Philadelphia, PA
The Liberty Bell was cast in the Whitechapel Foundry in the East End of London before moving to Independence Hall. Last rung in 1846, this 2,080-pound icon features a biblical inscription and its famous crack. Learn more at NPS.gov.
The Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA
The Barnes museum holds one of the finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern paintings with extensive works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Rousseau. Learn more at BarnesFoundation.org.
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Eastern State Penitentiary was the most famous and expensive prison in the world, once held many of America’s most notorious criminals – including Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton – in its wagon wheel design. Learn more at EasternState.org.
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Completed in 1753, Independence Hall is the building where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted and was the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1783. Learn more at NPS.gov.
National Constitution Center
525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA
The National Constitution Center is a one-stop civic education headquarters that brings the story of “We the People” to life through a hands-on museum experience. Learn more at ConstitutionCenter.org
Boathouse Row
1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA
Rowers of all ages and skill levels flock to the Schuylkill River to practice, compete, learn, and enjoy the sport of rowing. Local boating clubs take great pride in their 19th-century boat houses, which line the Schuylkill River just west of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. At night, lights outline one of the city’s loveliest views, known as Boathouse Row. Learn more at Visit Philly.com.
Pat’s King of Steaks & Geno’s Steaks
1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA
1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA
Whatever the real history of the cheesesteak and its enduring importance to the City of Brotherly Love, the fact is, you cannot get an authentic Philly cheesesteak anywhere else. So you might as well get two and decide for yourself if you’re a Geno’s Steak or Pat’s Steak endorser. Read more about the Geno’s vs. Pat’s rivalry and get an inside view of the 10 best cheesesteaks in Philly.
Reading Terminal Market
51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Reading Terminal Market, an enclosed public market at 12th and Arch Streets, it hosts over 100 merchants who offer fresh produce, meats, fish, artisan cheese, ice cream, flowers, baked goods, crafts, books, clothing, and specialty and ethnic foods. Learn more at ReadingTerminalMarket.org.
The Betsy Ross House
239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA
The Betsy Ross House is a landmark in Philadelphia purported to be the site where the seamstress and flag-maker lived when she sewed the first American Flag. Learn more at HistoricPhiladelphia.org.
Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the 13th largest public library system in the US. Opened in 1927, the Parkway Central Library contains more than seven million items and many special collections. Learn more at FreeLibrary.org.
Rodin Museum
2151 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130
At The Rodin Museum you’ll find one of the world’s great collections of works by Auguste Rodin – and the only museum dedicated to his work outside of France. Learn more at RodinMuseum.org.
Rittenhouse Square
18th & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA
One of five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and Thomas Holme in the late 1600s, Rittenhouse Square is a neighborhood gem and one of the more beautiful urban public spaces in the US. Read more at VisitPhilly.com.
Adventure Aquarium (Camden)
1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ
Adventure Aquarium is just minutes from downtown Philadelphia on the Camden Waterfront – you’ll have to take a ferry or bridge across the Delaware River. The aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast and features one-of-a-kind exhibits with more than 8,500 aquatic species in two million gallons of water. Learn more at AdventureAquarium.com.