This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2015. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
If you ask anyone what to do in Philadelphia, chances are they’ll mention the Liberty Bell.
And while I did tick off the city’s most famous landmark, it was everything I discovered afterwards that completely changed my impression of Philly.
My husband and I had a whole weekend to explore, and as much as I enjoyed tracking down filming locations from National Treasure, I quickly realised there was so much more to the city than its most iconic attraction. From colourful street art and quirky mosaics to historic markets and fascinating museums, Philadelphia turned out to be far more creative and photogenic than I ever expected.
My camera (which had been sitting in the dark for a little while) certainly got a much-needed workout. Everywhere I turned there seemed to be another mural, hidden laneway or beautiful historic building worth stopping to photograph.
If you’re looking to discover more of the city after visiting the Liberty Bell, these are my favourite things to do in Philadelphia beyond its most famous landmark.
Quick summary:
Philadelphia has far more to offer than the Liberty Bell. This guide shares my favourite places to visit beyond the city’s most famous attraction, from colourful street art and quirky mosaics to bustling food markets, historic landmarks and some of Philadelphia’s most photogenic spots.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🎨 Philadelphia Murals and Street Art Tour – Explore colourful South Philly murals before finishing at the iconic Philadelphia Magic Gardens.
🌭 Philadelphia Food Tour – Sample the iconic Reading Terminal Market while discovering local favourites and hidden food gems.
🏛️ Eastern State Penitentiary Admission – Wander one of America’s most famous historic prisons with a self-guided audio tour.
Best things to do in Philadelphia
1. Mural Mile
I get rather excited about cities that are filled with street art. Philly was no exception – I was surprised at the number of murals that covered the sides of seemingly unfinished buildings.
A self-guided walking tour of Philadelphia’s Mural Mile took us through old town to see some of the best artworks, and included a bunch of super cute cobblestone streets, too.
2. Magic Gardens
The Magic Gardens stands out as one of the best Philadelphia activities. It’s truly one of Philadelphia’s hidden gems!
What was once an ugly, empty block on South Street has been beautified with mosaics by artist Isaiah Zagar. Everything surface is covered with items that were once trash, and are now compiled into a wonderfully magical maze of colour. Definitely worth the small entry fee.
🎨 To see more of the colourful neighbourhood, you can do a Philadelphia Murals and Street Art Tour which includes a guided visit to the Magic Gardens.
3. South Street
While you’re on South Street, check out some of the bars and shops around the area. You can do some art spotting as you walk down the street, and you might notice that the mosaics of the magic gardens has spread throughout the neighbourhood.
Check out the Tattooed Mom bar for some crazy graffitied walls, and if you’re veggie and want to try a famous Philly cheesesteak, you’ll find a vegan option on the menu here!
4. Boathouse Row
The above photo was the best one I got of Boathouse Row (and I’m supposed to be good at photography?).
We figured we’d drive along the river then pull over and take a photo, but apparently that’s not possible. Driving along the highway, we spotted Boathouse Row – then realised there was nowhere to pull over and nowhere to turn around.
We got our glimpse, then gave up. Still, the pretty row of lit up riverside buildings were lovely to see even if we didn’t get the photo we were hoping for.
5. Art Museum (and Rocky steps)
Ok this one is kind of touristy because people who are obsessed with Rocky tend to act out the movie scene where he runs up the stairs and pumps his fits into the air, but I like this spot purely because it’s so damn pretty.
From the top of the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, looking back down Benjamin Franklin Parkway gives you a nice view of City Hall with the buildings of downtown beside it.
6. Reading Terminal Market
Reading Terminal Market was super crowded when we wandered in for Saturday lunch, so I would recommend trying it on a weekday if you have that option. Even with the crowds, the market had tempting smells coming from every stall and a smorgasbord of vendors to cater for every taste, and the vintage signage hanging above our heads looked great in photos.
I ended up going with a portobello burger from Hunger Burger (because the line was long and in New York that means that the food must be good), but I wasn’t all that impressed. That aside, there are about a million other food options to choose from.
🌭 You can sample the goods from these markets on a Philadelphia Food Tour which visits 5 fabulous food spots including Reading Terminal Market.
7. Eastern State Penitentiary
We accidentally drove past the penitentiary and thought it was a castle wall (totally not a castle, by the way). America’s most historic prison is in Philadelphia, and there you can see things like Al Capone’s old lavish cell.
When I was there in 2015, the audio tour was narrated by Steve Buscemi (that creepy-looking guy from Con Air) and had stories from former wardens, guards and inmates. It was honestly excellent.
We spent a good 2 hours in the penitentiary, wandering down each of its long halls. I walked out feeling as though the tour was as every bit as good as Alcatraz in San Francisco. Definitely a Philadelphia attraction worth paying for, in my opinion!
🏛️ Your Eastern State Penitentiary entry ticket includes an audio tour and self-guided walking route through the old prison complex.
8. City Hall
Philadelphia’s City Hall is grand in scale and beautiful in design. This impressive municipal building is located in the middle of downtown and is hard to miss with its ornate facade and clock tower. This could definitely be considered one of the best Philadelphia photo spots, especially if you’re into photographing historic architecture.
9. 30th Street Station
We actually visited 30th Street Station by chance as we arrived to catch our bus back to New York. What a find! At 5PM, the sun had set and the lights of the station and the city behind it looked freakin’ spectacular.
Not only that, inside the station was just as stunning. If you want some good city photos, this is the perfect place to get them.
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