Philadelphia Things To Do

An excellent way to see Philadelphia and its fascinating historical sights, an organised tour can be just the thing to get the most out of a trip to the city, and guarantees seeing all the major attractions. A particularly good way to learn all about the events in the historic district, there are always numerous tour options around Independence Hall. Choose from walking tours, bus and trolley tours, horse and carriage tours, amphibious 'duck' tours, river cruises, and even helicopter tours.

 

Philadelphia is home to around 90 museums, with displays and exhibits to suit all kind of visitor, young and old. The most famous is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with others including the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Atwater Kent Museum of History, the Please Touch Museum, the Rosenbach Museum and the Rodin Museum. 

 

There's plenty of bike and skate rental in town, and facilities for swimming, tennis, fitness centres and ice-skating, with kayaking available on the Delaware River. Spectator sports include watching the professional Philadelphia baseball, American football, basketball and ice-hockey teams, depending on the season.

 

As one would imagine, everything from antiques and designer clothes to souvenirs and arts and crafts can be found in Philadelphia, with numerous shopping centres, smart boutiques and quaint neighbourhood stores. There's plenty of fresh regional food at the local delis, with the bustling and traditional Italian market a major attraction, and discount outlet malls in the north-eastern part of the city.   

 

Philadelphia has gained a well-deserved reputation as a major culinary centre, with everything from cosy neighbourhood trattorias and authentic dim sum, to glittering establishments opened by nationally-renowned chefs. Home of the famous Philly cheesesteak, there are plenty of places in which to sample these loaded sandwiches, with most visitors to the city visiting one of the local joints for a casual lunch or dinner.  

 

Tour the collection of the local neighbourhoods to experience all the city has to offer, especially Chinatown, South Philadelphia, Old City, Society Hill and University City. Other sights to see in Philadelphia include the Zoo, Fairmount Park, the Tyler Arboretum, and the US Mint.