Conveniently located just a 90-minute train ride from New York City or two hours from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia was the first capital city of the USA under George Washington. Both the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were written and signed in Philadelphia.

You can still see Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Liberty Bell today. Overall, there are 67 National Historical Landmarks and charming, colonial neighborhoods with cobblestone streets to discover in Philadelphia.

Easy to get to by plane, train, bus or automobile, so no matter where you are coming from, you won’t have a hard time getting to Philadelphia. Located between NYC and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia is ready to welcome you for your next great American adventure.

Top Activities

Independence National Historical Park: Explore the history of the places associated with the birth of the nation. Learn more about Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. There are more than a dozen other historic sites and museums in Independence National Historical Park.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Rocky Statue and The Rocky Steps: Founded in 1876, the Philadelphia Museum of Art showcases more than 2,000 years of human creativity, with special exhibitions and collections from Europe, Asia and the Americas. The monumental Rocky Statue is located at the base of the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Franklin Institute: Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a leading museum in science and innovation. Interactive exhibits include Space Command, Sir Isaac’s Loft: Where Art Physics Collide, The Franklin Air Show, and the famous Giant Heart.

The Barnes Foundation: Immerse yourself in the greatest private collection of post-impressionist and early-modern art. Explore more than 3,000 masterpieces, including 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 16 Modigli­anis, and 7 Van Goghs, plus textiles, metalwork, decorative objects, African sculpture, Native American ceramics and jewelry, and Pennsylvania German furniture.

Eastern State Penitentiary: America’s most historic prison, the Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world. No longer a home to prisoners such as bank robber Slick Willie Sutton and gangster Al Capone, today the Eastern State Penitentiary offers a comprehensive visitor experience.

Ideas for First Time Visitors:

• Independence National Historical Park, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Reading Terminal Market
• Hop-on Hop-off city tour
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• The Franklin Institute
• Rocky Statue and the Rocky Steps
• City Hall
• Philadelphia Tax-Free Shopping (on clothes and shoes)
• National Constitution Center
• Elfreth’s Alley
• Exciting and Diverse Restaurant Scene

Ideas for Repeat Visitors:

• Mural Arts Tour
• Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
• The Barnes Foundation
• One Liberty Observation Deck
• Eastern State Penitentiary
• The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
• Segway Tours
• Sports Stadium Tours
• Mütter Museum
• Italian Market
• Brewery Tours
• Penn Museum
• National Museum of American Jewish History

Special Events

Constituting Liberty: From the Declaration to the Bill of Rights

The National Constitution Center is proud to display one of the 12 surviving copies of the Bill of Rights. The Museum of We the People is the first institution in Pennsylvania to exhibit this historic document to the general public. It has been preserved as part of The New York Public Library’s renowned research collection for over 100 years.

Second Skin: The Science of Stretch

Stretch fabrics provide a second skin that can shift our perception of our bodies, enhance our athletic performance, even improve our health. Second Skin: The Science of Stretch is an exhibition featuring garments and textile-based medical devices created over the last century. From 1920s corsets and girdles to today’s lymphedema sleeves with a fashionable flair, these second skins changed how we move through the world.

American Watercolor in the Age of Homer and Sargent

This exhibition explores watercolor painting’s remarkable rise in the United States in the years between 1860 and 1925. From the passion of a small group of painters in the 1860s to the flowering of modernism in the early twentieth century, this survey charts the artistic revolution that occurred during the lifetimes of Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent, the two most influential American watercolorists.

Local Transportation

Carey Philadelphia: Carey provides premium, personalized chauffeured services meeting a wide variety of personal and business needs. Carey provides service, reliability, professionalism, fleet quality, safety and security. Carey features a world-class fleet of late-model executive and luxury vehicles including motorcoaches and mini-buses, best-in-class professional chauffeurs, and a full portfolio of specialized transportation logistics management services.

Delaware Express Shuttle & Tours offers convenient, Delaware transportation services to area business and leisure travelers, families and groups. Delaware Express is the largest and most trusted ground transportation provider including motorcoach, mini-buses, private car services, luxury limousines, and airport shuttle services in the State of Delaware and surrounding area. Offers wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Our goal at Global Limousine Network, is to provide you with the ultimate professional transportation experience. We specialize in corporate executive and group transfers with our fleet of sedans, mini-buses, limousines, vans and SUVs, we have a vehicle to suit your needs. One call to our local office gives you service in over 350 cities worldwide.

Flyte Tyme Worldwide: Global leader in passenger ground logistics and convention group transfers with our fleet of sedans, mini-buses, motorcoaches, limousines, vans and SUVs, we have a vehicle to suit your needs. Associations/Affiliations: ABA, NTA, IMG, SYTA.

King Limousine & Transportation Service, Inc.: King Limousine provides private chauffeured transportation for clients throughout the world. With our fleet of over 200 vehicles including sedans, mini-buses, limousines, vans and SUVs, and locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, our worldwide network of ground transportation providers can provide luxury ground transportation for any situation. Offers wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Distance from Major Airports

Local Tour Guides

A1 Specialty Tours: Full-service Receptive Tour Operator offering group & VIP accommodations, transportation, dining, attractions, custom tours, itinerary planning and guide service in multiple languages. English only. Contact: Mark Beyerle, [email protected]

Centipede Tours, LLC: From Independence Mall to Valley Forge, from the Brandywine Valley to Amish Country, our guides will detail the unique history of each area. English only. Contact: Virginia Roberts, [email protected]

Awfully Nice Tours / Philadelphia Urban Adventures / Philly Tour Hub: We provide walking and driving tours, Segway tours and scavenger hunts, private and group, scheduled and custom. Full service arrangements can include transportation, itinerary, restaurants, admissions. Experienced, certified, fun and enthusiastic guides. English only. Contact: Andy Maunder, [email protected]

Philadelphia Trolley Works and Big Bus Philadelphia: Allow us to show you the sights through one of our tour products including hop-on hop-off tours, horse carriage rides, walking tours and the Philly By Night! tour. English only. Contact: Terese Balzereit, [email protected]

The Constitutional Walking Tour offers a comprehensive guided walking city tour, group tours, audio tours or VIP tours that feature the historic area. English only. Contact: Leslie Bari, [email protected]