Philadelphia: a one day itinerary

Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in the United States of America, and is often referred to as the City of Brotherly Love. Located in the state of Pennsylvania in the country’s north-east, Philadelphia is known for being the birthplace of the U.S. Philadelphia was established in 1862 by William Penn, and was the site where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed into effect by the nation’s founding fathers. Today, the city is a very easy place to visit, being just about a two hour drive from New York City.

I recently visited Philadelphia on a day trip from the Big Apple, and though I wish I was in Philadelphia for longer, its worthwhile spending at least a day to see the main sites of the city. In this itinerary I’ll provide an overview of how to maximise your time in Philadelphia if you’ve only got a day to spare.

Where to stay

While I admittedly did not stay overnight in Philadelphia, I think your best bet would be to find a hotel near the City Center. This part of the city is where you’ll find all the old historical buildings that arguably serve as Philadelphia’s main draw to tourists. The city is quite compact and walkable and has an excellent public transport system. Of course, you can also get around using Uber/Lyft and other RideShare apps.

With that said, if you’re coming into the city on a day trip, chances are you’ll be arriving near 30th Street train station on the Schuylkill River. This beautiful station is almost on the level of New York’s Grand Central Terminal with its impressive architecture and is a wonderful way to start your day in Philadelphia. If you are only coming to Philadelphia for the day though, make sure you arrive early in the morning. You’ll want to maximise the hours you have to explore this historic city.

Philadelphia Itinerary – Morning

Start your day by heading to the Independence National Historical Park, where you’ll find the numerous buildings of the Old City – the birth place of the United States. Begin with perhaps the most important building in the city, Independence Hall. This beautiful structure is where the founding father’s signed the Declaration of Independence and later the Constitution of the United States. The building is instantly recognisable for its wooden bell tower and statue of George Washington outside.

While its worth checking out the building from the street alone, I highly recommend booking online in advance for a guided tour. Tours are only $1.00, but limited in capacity, hence the importance of organising this before your visit to ensure you get a time that suits you. Your one hour tour will begin in the East Wing and takes you through the halls of the building, set up exactly as it was on the day of the signing. Its the only way you can actually get inside Independence Hall, so don’t miss this. If you haven’t got a ticket online, you can try your luck at the Independence Visitor Center. Be warned though, they sell out quickly and you could be in for a long wait even if you do manage to score a tour group.

Follow up your Independence Hall tour by checking out the Liberty Bell Center across the street. Here you’ll find the famous Liberty Bell, which once hung in the bell tower of Independence Hall, but is now protected from the elements in a modern gallery. You’ll have to line up and clear a security check, but once you’re inside, the mini-museum does an excellent job of highlighting the continuing history of the cracked bell as an icon of liberty and equality for all. Expect to spend around 15-30 minutes here.

Got more time before lunch?

There’s a lot more that you can see in this part of the city, but if you’ve only got a day, you won’t be able to see it all. With that said, if you’ve got more time to explore before lunch, check out some of these suggestions:

• National Constitution Center: an excellent museum that explains the importance and history of the United States Constitution.
• Christ Church: the Nation’s Church, famous for Revolutionary-era leaders such as George Washington and Betsy Ross worshipping here. Nearby, you can visit the grave of Benjamin Franklin in the church’s burial ground.
• Benjamin Franklin Museum: located by the foundations of Benjamin Franklin’s house, this museum provides a comprehensive look into the life and legacy of one of the United States’ Founding Fathers.
• Elfreth’s Alley: the oldest inhabited street in the United States dating back to 1702.

Lunch time – Cheesesteak Goodness

So you’re in Philadelphia, and you’re getting hungry. You know where this is going. You can’t come to Philadelphia and not eat an authentic Philly Cheesesteak! There’s plenty of places where you can get it, so the difficulty can be deciding where to go. With so many options, I got mine at Campo’s Philly Cheesesteaks on Market Street and it was delicious. I’ve also heard good things about Sonny’s Famous Steaks and Jim’s Steak’s. I’d honestly just choose one that doesn’t have an excessively long line when looking for where to try this local delight.

Philadelphia Itinerary – Afternoon

So you’ve explored historic Philadelphia. You’ve eaten the city’s signature sandwich. What else is Philly famous for? Yep, its Rocky time. For the next part of your day you’ll want to make your way down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This scenic boulevard is where you’ll find the majority of the city’s museums and galleries. While you could spend far more than an afternoon here exploring sites like the Rodin Museum and Barnes Foundation, if you’ve only got a day, you’ll be spending it at the most famous one. That’s the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Inside you’ll find wonderful art from all over the world including impressive Renaissance, American, Impressionist and Modern collections.

The museum may have the distinct honour of being even more famous for its exterior than what is actually inside though. This is due to it being situated on top of the “Rocky Steps”. For those that haven’t seen the 1976 blockbuster film starring Sylvester Stallone, these steps were featured in a significant scene, and you’ll no doubt see somebody following in Balboa’s footsteps by jogging up them. The iconic movie is also commemorated by the nearby Rocky Statue so make sure you stop by for a photo after spending an hour or two checking out the museum.

After spending your afternoon at the museum, if you’ve still got time to see Philly, head over to the One Liberty Observation Deck. Located in the tallest tower in the city, this 57th floor viewing area provides an amazing vantage point of Philadelphia from above. Tickets are timed, so again, organise these in advance. If you manage to time your visit for sunset, you’ll be rewarded with a particularly beautiful birds eye view to finish up your day in Philadelphia.

Have more than a day to spend in Philly?

While I only had a day to spend exploring Philadelphia, there’s a lot more to see if you’ve got more time to spend in town. If you’ve got more time on your hands, you might want to visit some of the following, just to name a few:

• Philadelphia Zoo: while it can be seen within a few hours, the nation’s oldest zoo features more than 1,300 species of animals, including lions, giraffes, hippos and much more.
• Eastern State Penitentiary: the world’s first penitentiary dates back to the 19th century and can be explored via guided tours or audio guide. This prison was once home to the likes of Al Capone and saw inmates locked up for 24 hours a day with only a Bible and a trade.
• City Hall and Tower: an architectural masterpiece constructed in 1901 housing the mayor’s office and other administrative offices of the city of Philadelphia. The observation deck contained in the tower is another spot where you can get great city views after taking a tour of the rest of the building.

As you can tell from this post, a day in Philadelphia will only scratch the surface of one of America’s most historic cities. Ideally, you’d want to spend at least 2 days. If you can only fit in a day like me though, you’ll still be able to see a lot and gain a sense of appreciation for the city where the United States began.

Have I missed any must-do’s in Philadelphia? How would you spend a day in the City of Brotherly Love? Let me know all about your favourite things to do in the city.