In Philadelphia, there’s no shortage of fun and interesting things to do right outside your Philadelphia rental apartment. There’s first-class dining and entertainment, arts and culture, nightlife, shopping, sightseeing, history and so much more.
To get you started, we’ve assembled a list of the 10 best things to do in Philadelphia. Our suggestions come from travel guide ratings, online customer reviews, and of course, personal experience.
So come with us as we take a virtual tour of fun things to do in Philly.
Want to make a day absorbing art from Europe, Asia and the Americas? How about in excess of 240,000 pieces of it?
Spread across a number of locations, the Philadelphia Museum of Art houses photographs, textiles, drawings, glasswork, costumes, prints, ceramics and furniture dating back 2,000 years. Several special exhibitions are on display every year.
Since 1893, Reading Terminal Market has been the place to gather for fresh fish, meat and produce; bakery items; prepared foods and even beer, wine and cocktails.
Spend hours inside the expansive building eating, drinking, admiring the architecture of this National Historic Landmark Building, discovering exotic foods, meeting people and watching the culture of Philadelphia come to life.
If you like the outdoors and mosaic design, then don’t miss this Philly landmark. Three city lots have been converted to an open-air sculpture garden filled with tiles, mirrors, odd objects…all dreamed up by artist Isaiah Zagar.
Other artists’ works are also periodically exhibited, which are not only beautiful, but educate visitors about other cultures, religions, heritages and artistic techniques.
If you’d like to leave the kids at home and venture out for a macabre night of ghosts, horror and history, we’ve got just the thing for you.
Grim Philly hosts a number of adult tours in Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia Walking Tour, rich with vampires, ghosts and history. Maybe serial killers are your thing: if so, book a Serial Killer and Sightseeing Tour. If you like beer with your ghosts, check out a Haunted Pub Crawl.
Home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Kimmel Center is just one of Philadelphia’s many live music and concert venues.
You can catch a comedy, opera, rock, jazz or pop show at the Verizon Hall or Perelman Theater, both of which are housed within the Kimmel Center. Get there via the Broad Street Line, enjoy a wide range of featured events and a cocktail with the show.
Who wants to spend time in an old prison…or any prison for that matter?
You might want to make an exception for this one (pictured above).
Once the most costly and infamous prisons in the entire world, Eastern State Penitentiary now stands abandoned and in ruins. But if you’d like to see where Al Capone and Slick Willie Sutton slept, schedule a day or nighttime tour.
Dine from a buffet with contemporary flair as you cruise the Delaware River, taking in the stunning Philly skyline. Dance to all your favorites, spun by an onboard D.J.
Any time of the year, you may reserve a table on the Spirit of Philadelphia for lunch, dinner, a moonlight cruise or special event.
- Citizens Bank Park (home of the Philadelphia Phillies)
Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks…you know the rest. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy the All-American pastime in a 43,500-seat stadium, overlooking a natural grass field and Philly’s skyline?
Named “Best Ballpark” by Food Network, kid-friendly and filled with Phillies nostalgia, Citizens Bank Park brings together all that is America.
With their home ice at Wells Fargo Center, the Stanley-Cup-Champion Flyers have been part of the NHL since 1967.
Catch all the action—up-close and personal if you choose—October through April, as the Flyers compete for the East Division title.
If fresh air and open spaces are on your Philly to-do list, then you’ll want to spend the day at the city’s largest municipal park.
This 2,000-acre park in the middle of Philadelphia consists of West Park and East Park, with the Schuylkill River running between them. You can hike, off-road cycle, visit the zoo, tour a Japanese garden, marvel at mansions and boathouses…you can even take a yoga class, rent a bike, attend a concert or take in a gallery event.
So Much to Do in Philadelphia
This is just the beginning of the fun things waiting for Philadelphia’s visitors and residents. There’s also The Liberty Bell, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Zoo, Eagles football, cheesesteaks, Spruce Street Harbor park, City Hall, One Liberty Observation Deck, Independence Hall, Elfreth’s Alley, Rodin Museum, National Constitution Center and much, much more.
When you live in Philadelphia, you’ll never have to wonder what to do. On any given day, you can take in some live music, catch a game, explore history, absorb some culture, eat world-class cuisine…or simply kick back and be amazed at the beauty of the city and its people. Join us. A good time is waiting for you!