Outdoors · Philadelphia · United States
7 best outdoor things to do in Philadelphia
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Rodin Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences and Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 10–14 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–14 hours
- Areas
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Logan Square and Fairmount Park
Outdoors in Philadelphia
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Museum · Benjamin Franklin Parkway
1.Rodin Museum
Even if you skip the galleries, the garden and gateway make a calm stop on a walk up the Parkway.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
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Museum · Logan Square
2.Academy of Natural Sciences
Younger children love the fossil dig in the Dinosaur Hall; arrive early in the day to have it to yourselves.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Waterfront · Fairmount Park
3.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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Active
Zoo · Fairmount Park
4.Philadelphia Zoo
Visit in spring or autumn mornings when the animals are most active and the paths are shaded.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Park · Rittenhouse Square
5.Rittenhouse Square
Grab takeaway coffee and pastries nearby and eat on the benches on a weekday morning.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
Waterfront · Penn's Landing
6.Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing
Go around dusk on a summer evening, when the lights come on over the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Experience · Citywide
7.Mural Arts walking tours
If you are short on time, walk the blocks around South Street and Washington Square West, where murals and mosaics are densest.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Franklin Parkway | Rodin Museum | 45 minutes |
| Logan Square | Academy of Natural Sciences | 2 hours |
| Fairmount Park | Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail and Philadelphia Zoo | 1–2 hours + 3–4 hours |
| Rittenhouse Square | Rittenhouse Square | 30–60 minutes |
| Penn's Landing | Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing | 1–2 hours |
| Citywide | Mural Arts walking tours | 1.5–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Philadelphia Zoo; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Logan Square and Fairmount Park): Rodin Museum → Academy of Natural Sciences → Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Fairmount Park and Rittenhouse Square): Philadelphia Zoo → Rittenhouse Square, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Penn's Landing and Citywide): Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing → Mural Arts walking tours, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- September: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm, drier and often sunny; one of the best months for walking the city.
- October: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds. Crisp, clear days and autumn colour along Kelly Drive and in Fairmount Park.
- May: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 11 rainy days, busy crowds. One of the most pleasant months, with warm days and outdoor dining; university graduations fill hotels on some weekends.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Rittenhouse Square — Leafy square, Walnut Street shops and the city's most polished restaurant strip
More of Philadelphia
All things to do in Philadelphia · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Philadelphia?
Rodin Museum. Opened in 1929, this small Beaux-Arts museum and garden holds one of the largest Rodin collections outside Paris.
+Which of these are free in Philadelphia?
Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail, Rittenhouse Square and Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing.