Philadelphia is famous for the historic events that led to the forming of the United States of America. This is where the founding fathers declared independence and later signed the constitution.  Many visitors come here to relive those momentous events and walk in the footsteps of giants.

But Philly is much more than a window on the past. Today’s Philadelphia offers a lot of food, culture and entertainment. A visit to this city is not complete without trying the variety of Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, visiting a museum or catching a symphonic performance.

Read more about the city of Philadelphia here

Philadelphia is famous for the historic events that led to the forming of the United States of America. This is where the founding fathers declared independence and later signed the constitution.  Many visitors come here to relive those momentous events and walk in the footsteps of giants.

But Philly is much more than a window on the past. Today’s Philadelphia offers a lot of food, culture, and entertainment. A visit to this city is not complete without trying the variety of Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, visiting a museum, or catching a symphonic performance.

You can enjoy all this history and culture without driving. Most of the main attractions are within a walking distance of the city center. If you decide to go further you can always take a bus or a subway.

This is an overview of Philly’s history and fun attractions. You can get more details about the history here – and about fun things to do here.   

The history

The city was founded by William Penn, who wanted a capital for Pennsylvania that avoids the horrors of urban areas. He picked a location between 2 major rivers – the Delaware and the Schuylkill – and tried for a low-density population.

The name Philadelphia means Brotherly Love in Greek, which fitted in nicely with William Penn’s dream of creating a city of tolerance and religious freedom. Read more about the city’s history here.  

Interesting Facts: Philadelphia is the city of many firsts like the first hospital in 1751, first Zoo in 1859, the first daily newspaper in 1784 and first general use computer in 1946.

Later the city became known as the center of the American Revolution, the declaration of independence, and writing the Constitution.  You can find many more historic Philly sites at the Visit Philly website here.

To experience this history, a visit to the Liberty Bell Center, National Constitution Center, and Independence Hall is a must. Read more about the city’s history here.  

Interesting Facts: Liberty bell originally was called the State House Bell. It wasn’t referred to as Liberty Bell until the 1800s as part of the abolitionist movement.

Attractions

Philly is not only about the founding of this nation. It is a vibrant city with lots of attractions, art, and entertainment. Read more about fun activities and attraction in Philly here.

You can walk to most of those destinations - located within a few blocks from each other. If you get tired from walking you can jump on a bus, a subway or hire an Uber. So, if you have a car, park it somewhere and forget about it for a while.

Start by visiting City Hall - One of the most distinctive government buildings in the US. It was built in 1901 and still houses a big portion of the Philadelphia government. Don’t forget to go to the observation deck for a great 360-degree view of the city.

Interesting Facts: William Penn’s Statue (the founder of Philadelphia) is still considered the tallest status in the World.

Reading Terminal Market is a year-round indoor market is overflowing with food vendors from around the world and it is also a place to buy produce, meat, fish, cheese, and candies.

At Rittenhouse Square, you can enjoy immaculate gardens, pool,s and statutes.

To get an amazing view of the city from above, go to the One Liberty Observation Deck. From the enclosed observation deck, you can gaze down at an interesting mix of historic buildings and ultra-modern skyscrapers. Very prominent between the tall building is City Hall with William Penn’s statue.

For some fun at the waterfront, a visit to Penn's Landing is a must. You can enjoy a stroll along the waterfront or spend some time at Spruce Street Harbor Park. The park is only open in Spring and Fall but during those times you can relax in a hammock, watch a movie, dine on floating barges or have a drink at a Beer Garden.

Interesting Facts: The city collected many nicknames over the years: Philly, The Birthplace of America, The City that Loves you Back, The Quaker City, The Cradle of Liberty and The City of Brotherly Love.

At night the park turns into a dazzling show of light with colorful LED lights hanging from the trees and ships showing off their decorations.