3 days in Philadelphia

Day by day

1. Day 1: Independence Hall and Liberty Bell Center

   Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center and Museum of the American Revolution, then Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Independence Hall

      The Georgian brick State House where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the US Constitution was drafted in 1787 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   2. Late morning

      Liberty Bell Center

      Lines are shortest first thing; after closing you can still see the bell through the glass from the Chestnut Street side.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cheesesteak

      Pat's and Geno's face each other at 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue; many locals prefer neighbourhood shops and the stalls in Reading Terminal Market.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of the American Revolution

      A modern museum at 3rd and Chestnut Streets that tells the story of the Revolution through weapons, letters and immersive galleries, including a replica Boston street and a privateer ship children can board.

   5. Evening

      Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail

      See the lit-up boathouses from the art museum's rear terrace or the far bank on West River Drive after sunset.

2. Day 2: Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rocky Steps and Eastern State Penitentiary

   Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rocky Steps, Eastern State Penitentiary and Reading Terminal Market, then Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rocky Steps

      Run the steps and take the photo with the Rocky statue at the bottom right early in the morning, before the queue forms.

   2. Late morning

      Eastern State Penitentiary

      Opened in 1829, this castle-fronted prison pioneered solitary confinement with cell blocks radiating from a central hub, and held Al Capone in a furnished cell in 1929–1930.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Roast pork sandwich

      DiNic's in Reading Terminal Market and John's Roast Pork in South Philadelphia are the best-known addresses.

   4. Afternoon

      Reading Terminal Market

      Arrive before noon on weekdays; at weekend lunchtime the aisles and the DiNic's queue get very crowded.

   5. Evening

      Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing

      Go around dusk on a summer evening, when the lights come on over the water.

3. Day 3: Elfreth's Alley and Christ Church and Burial Ground

   Elfreth's Alley, Christ Church and Burial Ground and Barnes Foundation, then Fishtown and Northern Liberties in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Elfreth's Alley

      A narrow cobbled lane off 2nd Street lined with about 30 small brick houses built between the 1720s and 1830s, often described as the country's oldest continuously inhabited residential street.

   2. Late morning

      Christ Church and Burial Ground

      You can see Franklin's grave through the railings on Arch Street without entering the burial ground.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hoagie

      Italian delis in South Philly and the Italian Market, and Wawa convenience stores across the region.

   4. Afternoon

      Barnes Foundation

      Albert C.

   5. Evening

      Fishtown and Northern Liberties

      Breweries, music venues such as Johnny Brenda's and the Fillmore, and late bars along Frankford Avenue.

Before you go

• Independence Hall: Entry is free but by timed ticket for much of the year; reserve online in advance or collect same-day tickets at the Independence Visitor Center early.
• Eastern State Penitentiary: The autumn Halloween Nights event sells out on weekends; book well ahead if you want it.
• Barnes Foundation: Entry is by timed ticket; book online, especially for weekends.

If it rains

• Swap in The Franklin Institute (Benjamin Franklin Parkway): Go on a weekday afternoon after school groups have left, and pair it with the Academy of Natural Sciences across Logan Square.
• Swap in Academy of Natural Sciences (Logan Square): Younger children love the fossil dig in the Dinosaur Hall; arrive early in the day to have it to yourselves.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Old City keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Rittenhouse Square ($$$$) suits couples, luxury, food lovers and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–20 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Philadelphia
• 2 days in Philadelphia

Questions travellers ask