Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love, is the largest city in Pennsylvania. The city is especially known for its rich history. If you are an art connoisseur or if you love culture, you will love Philadelphia. We have compiled a list of places to visit and things to do in Philadelphia. There are many that we are still exploring, however you cannot go wrong with this list.

Exploring Downtown Philadelphia

My favorite mode of transport is PHLASH. Why use PHLASH?

• Runs every 15 minutes.
• Has 22 stops in Philadelphia including stops near Penn’s Landing, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, The Franklin Institute, Reading Terminal Market, the Philadelphia Zoo, One Liberty Observation Deck and many more.
• Only $2 per person per ride or $5 for an all-day pass. Children 4 and under and seniors are always FREE.
• And the best for the last, SEPTA pass and key card holders ride FREE.

Read more at PHLASH official website. The website has detailed information of all the stops and a map of the route.

My 2nd option is to rent a bike from INDEGO. Their network is well connected in Philadelphia downtown. You can buy a daily pass that costs $10 and includes unlimited 30 minute trips. Head over to INDEGO to learn more about the passes available.

You can use SEPTA, Uber, Lyft and taxis. There are a cluster of attractions that are pretty close to each other. So you can explore all of those attractions by walk.

Tip:- If you are an Amex Platinum User you get $15 Credits for Uber rides every month.

Museum of Art

Museum of art is one of the best known attractions in Philadelphia. And it is one of the must visit as well. The architecture of the Museum is mind blowing. You can spend an entire day exploring various artifacts in the museum. We spend around 6 hours and it was great. Some of the paintings feels so real. Check out pictures of few of the paintings, artifacts and exhibitions!!

Apart from paintings there are numerous other artifacts at the Museum. I was amazed by the armory section, the artifacts from India, Japan and China. These artifacts are so well preserved.

For Bank of America Debit or Credit Card holders you can visit the museum for free on the first full weekend of every month.

There are a host of new and unique exhibitions at the Museum. Do check out the website to get more details on ongoing and upcoming exhibitions.

The exterior of the museum offers incredible views of Philadelphia. You may all know the famous Rocky Statue and the Rocky Steps that leads to the Museum entrance. A picture with the statue and at the top of the stairs is a must if you are visiting Philly. Make sure you run up the stairs like Rocky. You also get a great view of the Eatkins Oval.

On the first Sunday of the month and every Wednesday after 5 p.m., admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is pay-what-you-wish.

Penns Landing

It is a waterfront area along the Delaware River. You get a great view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from Penns landing. Spruce Street Harbor Park is one of the main attractions at Penn’s Landing. The park has a boardwalk along the Delaware River. You can get some really cool pictures from Penns Landing.

It is one of the most happening places in Philadelphia. In winter it spots an ice skating ring which is really fun. There are lot of other events happening all year round. Check out the website to learn more about this awesome place in Philly.

Take some time and visit the Independence Sea Port Museum as well. Tour the National Historic Landmark ships Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna

Independence Hall

During my visit to the Independence Hall i learned a lot about the important role that the City of Philadelphia played in America’s history. It was a great learning experience. Have you heard about “Underground Railroad?” When I first saw it on the wall, my first thought was that it was, well, an underground rail road. Man, I have never been so wrong.

Here is what the history channel website has to say

The Underground Railroad was a network of people, African American as well as white, offering shelter and aid to escaped slaves from the South. It developed as a convergence of several different clandestine efforts. The exact dates of its existence are not known, but it operated from the late 18th century to the Civil War, at which point its efforts continued to undermine the Confederacy in a less-secretive fashion.

So plan a visit and you can learn a lot about Philadelphia. And it is Free entry.

Liberty Bell Center

You get a 360 degree view of this historic symbol of freedom. There is a video that plays in 9 different languages about the history of the bell. Admission is free. If you love history this is a must visit place.

Reading Terminal Market

I made the mistake of visiting the market on a weekend. It was so crowded. I couldn’t even walk without bumping into other people. It is a must visit.

The Market offers an incredible selection of locally grown & exotic produce, locally sourced meats and poultry, finest seafood, cheeses, baked goods, and confections. You will also find a wide variety of restaurants. All under one roof. If possible visit during a week day.

NMAJH (National Museum of American Jewish History)

Like Independence hall, the museum gives you a flashback to the life of the early Jews who immigrated to the shores of US, the struggles of the early Jewish settlers and how their life evolved over the years. I loved my visit to the Jewish Museum.

Entry fee is $15. Plan to spend around 4 – 5 hours.

China Town

Not the biggest in USA. We have been to SF and NY china towns that are considerably bigger than what we have in Philadelphia. Nevertheless you will find authentic Chinese restaurants and shops. It is pretty close to Reading Terminal Market.

More Places To Visit

There are a lot more places to visit in Philly. I will be updating the blog frequently. Here are a few that we are planning to visit soon.

• Philadelphia Zoo
• African American Museum
• Franklin Institute
• Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

And here are a few pictures of Philadelphia. Have you been there? Let us know the best that you love about Philly. There are a lot more places to visit in and around Philadelphia. We will updating this post with more details. So keep checking for more updates and pictures.