Is Philadelphia worth visiting? Yes! Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is an excellent place to visit while touring America’s east coast. The city offers plenty of incredible sites, including historic landmarks, world-class museums and beautiful parks.

Philadelphia sits about 100 miles southwest of New York City and about 140 miles northeast of Washington D.C. at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Founded in 1682, Philadelphia is one of the oldest municipalities in the United States. The city played a key role in the American Revolution and is the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Today, Philadelphia is a city made up of many neighborhoods – each one with its own distinct culture and heritage.

From Independence Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, check out the top four things to do in Philadelphia.

1. Visit Museums

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Photo by Graydon Wood

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a legacy of the nation’s great Centennial Exhibition of 1876. In 1877, the museum opened to the public in Fairmount Park in what had served as the Centennial’s Fine Arts Pavilion, now known as Memorial Hall. In 1917, when the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was nearing its completion, the city approved the final design for a new facility and the museum’s main building opened its doors at its present location in 1928. Today, it has over 240,000 works, encompassing the departments of American art, contemporary art, costume and textiles, east and south Asian art, European decorative arts, European painting, the John G. Johnson Collection, the Rodin Museum, prints, drawings and photographs. Collection highlights include Thomas Eakins’ Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross, Henry Ossawa’s The Annunciation, Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Paul Cézanne’s The Large Bathers, Pablo Picasso’s Three Musicians and Grace Kelly’s Wedding Dress.

Barnes Foundation

© Tom Crane & Benjamin Riley

The Barnes Foundation is a nonprofit cultural and educational institution founded by Dr. Albert C. Barnes. It is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of modern European paintings. It also features African art, Native American ceramics, Pennsylvania German furniture, old master paintings, antiquities and decorative ironwork. Dr. Barnes arranged his collection in “ensembles,” creating unusual mixed-media groupings of objects from different cultures and time periods. Collection highlights include 181 works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (the largest single group of the artist’s paintings in the world), 69 works by Paul Cézanne (the largest single group of the artist’s paintings in the world), 59 works by Henri Matisse, 46 works by Pablo Picasso and 16 works by Amedeo Modigliani. The collection also features works by Henri Rousseau, Georges Seurat, Vincent van Gogh, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and Paolo Veronese.

2. Eat the Local Food

Cheesesteaks

Tony Luke’s, Photo by J. Varney for GPTMC

The Philly cheesesteak is one of the city’s most celebrated dishes. This indulgent sandwich is made using a long, crusty roll, or hoagie, filled with thinly sliced, sautéed beef, typically ribeye, with melted cheese. When ordering, there is a choice of cheese (provolone, American or Cheez Whiz®) and a choice of toppings (sautéed onions, cooked mushrooms, ketchup and sweet/hot peppers). Check out local favorites like Pat’s King of Steaks, Geno’s Steaks and Tony Luke’s.

Reading Terminal Market

Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia®

Reading Terminal Market opened in 1893 making it one of the oldest farmers’ markets in the United States. Located in a former railroad terminal in Center City, the market has been selling local produce, seafood, meats and cheeses for more than a century. The market also houses dozens of family-owned restaurants serving up a wide range of culinary treats with plenty of seating areas and takeaway options. In addition to fresh food, the food bazaar area features handmade crafts and locally-sourced goods. Don’t miss the roast pork sandwich at DiNic’s, doughnuts from Beiler’s and soft pretzels from Miller’s Twist.

3. See the Historical Sites

Independence Hall

Photo by J.S. Ruth for Visit Philadelphia®

In 1776, the Founding Fathers gathered at Independence Hall to sign the Declaration of Independence inside the Assembly Room. 11 years later, representatives from 12 states returned to lay the framework for the United States Constitution. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts visitors from around the world. A tour of the building takes visitors through the first-floor courtroom, the Assembly Room featuring George Washington’s “rising sun” chair and the West Wing featuring the actual inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence and an original draft of the Constitution. Independence Hall is part of Independence National Historic Park, which also includes the Liberty Bell Center, the President’s House, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, the National Constitution Center and more.

Museum of the American Revolution

Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia®

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers the compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality and self-government. Through the museum’s collection, galleries, theater experiences and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how the United States came to be. Encompassing 118,000 square feet, the space holds an expansive collection of art, manuscripts and printed works from the nation’s Revolutionary Period. It also displays a range of objects gathered from and pertaining to the Revolutionary War, including British, French and American weapons used in battle and personal diaries written in camps.

4. Take in the River Views

Cherry Street Pier

Courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation

Located on the Delaware River, Cherry Street Pier is a public area with a marketplace, art space, alfresco bar and café. This historic pier is located just south of Race Street Pier and offers excellent views of the river and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The indoor-outdoor space is open year-round. The space features artist studios housed in repurposed cargo shipping containers, and visitors can meet with the artists and view art-making demonstrations.

Spruce Street Harbor Park

Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia®

Open during the summer, Spruce Street Harbor Park is a waterfront space with lots of colorful hammocks – perfect for unwinding after a long day of sightseeing. Food is served from converted shipping containers that line the boardwalk, and craft beer is served in a garden area. The park offers plenty of games and activities, such as bocce, shuffleboard and giant Jenga, as well as kayak and swan boat rentals. Once the sun sets, the park lights up with hundreds of multi-colored LED lights hanging down from the trees. Its summer event calendar features pop-up art markets, outdoor movie screenings and musical performances.

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