Table of Contents
This past weekend I visited two of my best friends from high school at Villanova University! Even though I spent most of the weekend in Byrn Mawr where Villanova is located, I was able to see some new places! I ventured to Delaware (hello new state!!!) with my friend Sarah for dinner Saturday night and spent all of Sunday exploring Philadelphia! This post covers everything you must see during a day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and book through any of these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for reading and supporting my little corner of the internet!
Don’t have time to read the full guide? This Go City Explorer Pass is the BEST way (and one of the most affordable ways!) to see 3-7 of Philly’s top attractions in just one day.
Wilmington, DE
Sarah and I were only in Wilmington for a few hours, but I’m glad I could check Delaware off the list! Wilmington is only a 45 minute drive from Philly. Check out Chelsea’s Tavern for dinner if you ever find yourself in Wilmington.
If you happen to be staying the night in Wilmington, I highly recommend this historic walking and ghost tour! Wilmington is an older American city with a very historic port, so doing a tour like this is a must during your visit.
Interested in group travel? I used to work for EF & have traveled with them many times! I can’t say enough good things about EF Ultimate Break’s hundreds of affordable & fun group trip itineraries around the world. You can pay for the trips overtime each month, and fun fact — over 70% of travelers go solo! I am a proud EF Ultimate Break brand ambassador — Get $100 off your first trip by using my link here.
City Hall & Love Park
Begin a day in Philadelphia by sightseeing at Philadelphia’s City Hall. City Hall is the largest masonry-constructed building in the world! There was an iceskating rink set up in front of the building and a lot of families around enjoying the pleasant February weather when I visited!
Did you know? City Hall’s tower, which was completed in 1894, was once the world’s tallest building!
Next, make your way through Dilworth Park to Love Park, located across the street from City Hall. Here you’ll find Philly’s famous LOVE sculpture and a line of tourists waiting for the photo-op.
Pro-tip: Feeling hungry? Hit up nearby Reading Terminal Market for the best food in the city!
Philadelphia Museum Of Art
Next, make your way down Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This road is lined with countless museums, including a Natural History Museum, the Franklin Institute Science Museum, Rodin Art Museum, and the Barnes Foundation Art Museum.
At the end of this road is the Philadelphia Museum of Art! I didn’t have time to explore the inside of this museum, but the outside of it is extremely impressive! Here you’ll find the Oval — the art museum’s plaza full of various fountains, food trucks, the iconic statue of boxer Rocky Balboa, and of course, the Rocky Steps! Tourists will often run up these steps and pose for a photo like Rocky at the top. I really liked hanging out here because of the city views and lively atmosphere. Don’t miss it!
Pro-tip: If you’re looking to visit one or more of the museums in this part of the city, I definitely recommend purchasing a Go City Explorer pass for the day! This pass will give you access to 3-7 of Philly’s top attractions for a reasonable cost!
Pro-tip: If you have more than a day in Philadelphia, definitely take the time to explore this area. There is a sculpture garden behind the museum and Boathouse Row is only a short walk away along the river!
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
From the art museum, I hopped in an Uber and checked out Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens! Located on South Street in Philly, these gardens are super unique. There is an entrance fee, but there are a few discounts offered at the door, including a student one! There was a long line of people waiting for a guided informational tour, but I decided to check out the gardens on my own.
Pro-tip: If you’re interested in art, I recommend this South Philly Art tour that includes access to the Magic Gardens and also covers the city’s murals and street art scene.
The Magic Gardens span three city lots and is an indoor /outdoor eclectic mosaic gallery. Not only were the walls covered in beautiful glass, I also saw bottles, wheels, light bulbs, plates, dolls, etc. It seemed like the artist, Isaiah Zagar, expressed himself with anything he could find!
What was once Zagar’s personal studio is now a well-known, non-profit museum that opened to the public in 2008. Check it out when you’re in Philly and remember to always support local artists!
Jim’s Steaks
Hungry again? From the Magic Gardens, walk 0.5 miles down Philly’s lively South Street to Jim’s Steaks! There are so many famous spots in Philly to grab a cheesesteak (maybe you’ve heard about the famous rivalry between adjacent Pat’s and Geno’s?), but I think Jim’s tops them all.
First, a local told me to eat at Jim’s. Second, when I arrived, there was a line out the door. Not convinced yet? This cheesesteak was honestly the best thing I’ve EVER had. I recommend ordering the classic cheesesteak with whiz (cheese sauce) and adding onions! It was to die for.
Pro-tip: Jim’s is cash only!
Independence Hall
After Jim’s, I burned some calories by walking to Independence Hall. This historic landmark was #1 on my Philadelphia bucket list because it’s the place where the United States became… well, the United States!
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed and adopted here.
Want to visit? You’ll need to go through security and buy tickets for a guided tour. This is the only way to get inside of the building, but the 20 minute tour given by a National Park Ranger and was really informative!
Pro-tip: No tickets are required in January or February. I just had to go through security and wait in a short line for a free guided tour. Tickets are required from March-December. This historic walking tour will include a visit to this landmark, plus more!
Liberty Bell
Next, walk across the street to see the Liberty Bell! Admission to the museum where the Liberty Bell is located was also free.
The Liberty Bell is a symbol of freedom and pride for the United States. It was rung to celebrate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell has a large crack in it that people are unsure of the cause of. The bell is now on display for all to see and be reminded of our country’s values even though it hasn’t rung for hundreds of years.
Elfreth’s Alley
From Independence National Historical Park, I walked through Philly’s Old City to Elfreth’s Alley, passing Betsy Ross’s house along the way! Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest inhabited street in Philly. It’s a historic landmark dating back to 1702. The houses on this street are so charming!
That’s all for my Philly recommendations… and yes I did all of this in just one day! I hope this post inspires you spend a day in Philadelphia! Interested in exploring more of the northeast? Check out my travel guide covering New York City, Providence, Connecticut, and Washington DC!
Like this post? Pin it to save it for later and share with others!
Incredible photos, looking at them, I kind of was there. Thanks for this opportunity! I’m impressed!
Great Post!!! I truly believe that there is much more to explore new places. The world has incredible beauty which makes us visit new places for sure.
Author
Totally agree!