Philadelphia is famous for the historic events that led to the formation of the United States of America. Here, 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 Philadelphia is much more than a window into 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

In this article, I highlight the fun things you can do in Philly. You can also read more about the history here.

Attractions

Philly is not only about the founding of this nation. It is a vibrant city with many attractions, art, and entertainment.

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 or subway or hire an Uber. So, if you have a car, park it somewhere and forget about it for a while.

City Hall

One of the most distinctive government buildings in the US. It was built in 1901 and still houses most of the Philadelphia government.

Its tower holding the statue of William Penn made it the tallest habitable building in the world for a long time. Although it lost its tallest building, bragging rights later to the Eiffel Tower, Gulf Tower in Pittsburgh, and One Liberty Place in Philadelphia, it is still considered the largest municipal building in the USA.

Find your Philadelphia experience here.

The observation deck is open to the public during a guided tour. From 500 feet, you can get a good 360-degree view of the city.

Tip: To take part in the observation deck tour you must buy timed tickets online ahead of time here.

You can also visit some of the city's most ornate public rooms, such as the City Council Chamber or the Supreme Court Room.

During the holidays, the outside façade of the building turns into a light and sound celebration, and the grounds become a Christmas Market.

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

Reading Terminal Market

The best way to experience the food scene in Philadelphia is to visit the Philly Food Market. This indoor market is overflowing with food vendors from around the world and is also a place to buy produce, meat, fish, cheese, and candies.

The market opened in 1893, right under the elevated platform of the Reading Railroad Company. The trains are long gone, but the market still lives on and provides a respite from the harsh weather outside. The rest of the building is now part of the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Interesting Facts: Philly is considered the Mural capital of the USA with more than 2000 outdoor murals and many indoor.

Some vendors have been on location since opening day, but many new ones pop up yearly to keep this place interesting.

A visit to the city is not complete without trying the famous Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. This market offers a variety of those delights.

You can find ethnic cuisine here, including Chinese, Thai, Dutch, Middle Eastern, Italian, Greek, and Mexican.

You can visit the market any day of the week. Most vendors are open every day. The best way to experience this place is by joining a tour. Read about my experience with Taste of Philly here.

Elfreth's Alley

As you walk between the city center and the waterfront, you might stumble into this narrow cobblestone street, but if you don’t, make sure to find it anyway.

This little street has existed since 1702 and is a good example of early working-class Philadelphia homes and businesses. It is also considered the nation’s oldest residential street and is a National Historic Landmark.

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Interesting Facts: The first organized protest against slavery was held in Philly.

To get a deeper glimpse into this era, visit the Elfreth's Alley Museum, which is located on the same street. The museum is inside the restored home of two dressmakers and provides a window into life during this city's early days.

Rittenhouse Square

William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia, planned several open-space parks for his city, and most of them are still standing.

This city center park greets visitors with well-maintained gardens, a reflection pool, and many statues. It is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

The area around the square is considered one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the USA, with high-end apartments and great restaurants.

One Liberty Observation Deck

One of the best ways to learn about a new city is to find an observation tower and get a 360-degree view.

One Liberty Place is the tallest building in town and offers an unobstructed view of the city and surrounding area. From here, you can clearly see Philly spread out between two rivers.

Walking around the enclosed observation deck, you can observe the interesting mix of historic buildings and ultra-modern skyscrapers. City Hall, with William Penn’s statue, is prominent between the tall buildings.

Tip: A free guided tour is included with your admission, but you need to plan ahead because these tours are only offered at specific times. Go to their website for tour times.

Chairs and couches are available to just sit and enjoy the view. If you get the Sun & Stars ticket, you can return for a second visit to experience the view in daylight and at night. We enjoyed an amazing sunset and the twinkling city lights during our visit.

Once you are done with this breathtaking view, you can enjoy some shopping at the first-floor mall.

The Academy of Natural Sciences

This museum is the oldest natural history institution in the Americas, open since 1812. It has a wealth of exhibits and collections.

It is a great way to spend several hours with the kids gazing at the huge dioramas depicting animals in their natural habitat – or the huge dinosaur skeletons.

You can see and interact with live butterflies from many species in the butterfly garden. This enclosed exhibit is kept warm and humid to suit the inhabitants.

The Inside-Out is a children's play and discovery area suitable for ages 3 to 8. You can sit and relax while the kids explore, find fossils, or interact with live animals.

Some visiting exhibits require an extra ticket, but they might be worth the additional expense. For example, the Xtreme Bugs exhibit displays 20 huge, colorful, moving bugs. It ends on January 21, 2019. Check the website for more visiting exhibits.

Penn's Landing

Philadelphia sits between two rivers, so it is natural to want to enjoy the riverfront. At Penn’s Landing, you can find a lot of activities at any time of the year.

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.

You can take a yoga class nearby, enjoy a street performance, or go roller skating (or ice skating in winter).

You can also take a river cruise on one of the ships moored here from Penn's Landing. During my visit, I went on a lunch cruise on the Spirit of Philadelphia. The lunch buffet was very good, but I especially enjoyed the views and the dance floor.

Philly during the Holidays

During the holidays, Philadelphia becomes a magical place of celebration with lights, sounds, and Christmas markets.

City Hall’s west façade turns into a dazzling display of light synchronized with festive music. The show starts at 5:30 PM and runs every hour after that. Before and in between shows, enjoy the decorations and the Christmas market held on the grounds around the building.

At the Comcast Center lobby, enjoy another breathtaking holiday show on a giant super-high-resolution LED screen. The show combines portions of The Nutcracker with a sleigh ride over the city. There is always a crowd enjoying the show.

Another great light show is at Franklin Square. This historic square is decorated with 75,000 lights, a giant kite, and a carousel with lots of food and music.

See more holiday festivities here.