Season guide · Philadelphia · United States
Philadelphia in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Cold with occasional snow, but holiday markets, the Mummers Parade and quiet museums at the lowest hotel prices of the year. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 32 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -3°C (27°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C (41°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 11 | 9.6 h | 1/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 10 | 10.6 h | 1/5 |
| December | 7°C (45°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 11 | 9.3 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 6°C (43°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 32 of the year's roughly 121 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Mummers Parade — costumed string bands and brigades on Broad Street (New Year's Day)
- February: Black History Month programmes at museums and historic sites
- December: Christmas Village at City Hall (through December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks on the Delaware waterfront
Good choices for winter
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Museum · Logan Square
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
Gallery · South Street
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar covered a lot on South Street with a maze of tiles, mirrors, bottles and bicycle wheels, creating an immersive outdoor labyrinth and indoor galleries.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Photo spot
- Couples
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Museum · Old City
Museum of the American Revolution
Time your visit to catch the tent presentation early, before it fills with school groups.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Fairmount
Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rocky Steps
The Greek Revival temple at the top of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (long known as the Philadelphia Museum of Art) holds Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Cézanne's The Large Bathers and the world's leading collection of Marcel Duchamp, plus period rooms and armour.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
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Market · Center City
Reading Terminal Market
Arrive before noon on weekdays; at weekend lunchtime the aisles and the DiNic's queue get very crowded.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Day trips in winter
- New York City (About 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by Amtrak) — Fast trains make a day in Manhattan practical: arrive mid-morning for a walk through Midtown, the High Line or a single big museum, and return in the evening.
- New Hope (About 1 hour by car) — A riverside town on the Delaware with galleries, antique shops and a steam railway, linked by a footbridge to Lambertville, New Jersey.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Philadelphia?
It is a trade-off: Cold with occasional snow, but holiday markets, the Mummers Parade and quiet museums at the lowest hotel prices of the year. The best months overall are May–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Philadelphia in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.