Frequently Asked Questions
When’s the best time of year to visit Philadelphia?
Winters in Philadelphia can be freezing, so it’s best to hold out until spring or autumn before visiting. Summer is by far the most popular time and brings with it the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts in June, and huge Independence Day celebrations at the Wawa Welcome America in July.
Which tourist attractions in Philadelphia are free?
The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are both free to visit, and many of the museums around the city have free and discounted visiting times. For example, every Wednesday from 5.00 until 8.45pm, admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is free.
What food is Philadelphia known for?
A large immigrant population has contributed to some of Philadelphia’s most iconic foods, including the Philly cheesesteak – sliced beef and melted cheese on an Italian roll – as well as stromboli, hoagies, soft pretzels, flavoured water ices and carbonated drinks such as Hires Root Beer, Black Cherry Wishniak or Vanilla Cream.
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States as we now know it, with a wonderfully rich history and equally vibrant culture in the present day. Explore the myriad museums throughout the city to enlighten you on American history, before heading off the beaten track to hang out in art spaces and independent coffee shops.
Why you’ll love Philadelphia…
- Visiting the birthplace of the United States at the Independence National Historical Park
- Descending into the eerie basement that inspired Edgar Allen Poe’s The Black Cat
- Immersing yourself in Amish culture on a trip outside the city to Lancaster County
- Examining the fascinating specimens at the Wagner Free Institute of Science
- Deciding between Geno’s and Pat’s as the true king of the Philly cheesesteak
- Being watched by tigers overhead in the world’s first animal walkways at Philadelphia Zoo
- Escaping the city to explore the tranquil Wissahickon Valley Park
- Taking a look inside the Eastern State Penitentiary, which once housed the notorious Al Capone
- Musing over the Picassos and Van Goghs in the $25 billion art collection at the Barnes Foundation
- Rubbing shoulders with the locals at foodie heaven, Reading Terminal Market
- Inspecting real slices of Albert Einstein’s brain at the Mütter Museum
- Posing like Rocky, after climbing the 72 steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Did you know?
- Philadelphia is a city of firsts. It hosted America’s first birthday, held the first ever Thanksgiving Day Parade, and opened the first newspaper, stock exchange, medical school, and even zoo.
- The Walnut Street Theatre is the longest continually running theatre in the English-speaking world, and the oldest in the United States.
- Roughly a quarter of America’s entire population lives within a five-and-a-half-hour drive of Philadelphia.
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