Philadelphia
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city, and its compact historic center, with Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, can be seen on foot.
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Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River in the northeastern United States. Independence Hall stands in its center, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. The Liberty Bell is a short walk away. Most of the historic sites sit in one compact district, so you can see them without a car. The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Reading Terminal Market, a covered market with food stalls, are also worth your time.
Philadelphia suits a first visit focused on U.S. history, a food-focused weekend, or a stop on the Northeast Corridor rail line between New York and Washington. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for walking. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold. Plan two to three days for the historic core, a museum visit and a market meal. Independence Hall tours use timed tickets, so check the booking before you arrive.
Philadelphia in five
- Reserve Independence Hall tickets before you goTours run every 20 minutes from 10:40 am to 4 pm and need a ticket: free, plus a $1 fee per ticket on Recreation.gov, bookable up to 30 days ahead. The open house from 9 to 10:30 am needs no ticket.Independence Hall tickets
- Walk straight into the Liberty Bell CenterAdmission is free, no ticket is needed and it is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Everyone goes through security screening first, and the screening line closes at least 5 minutes before the building does.
- Plan the art museum around its closed daysThe Philadelphia Museum of Art lists Tuesday and Wednesday as closed and stays open to 8:45 pm on Fridays. Put the Parkway on a Thursday to Monday, and use the two closed days for the old city and the market.Philadelphia in 2 days
- Tap a card on SEPTA instead of paying cashBus and Metro rides cost $2.90, and a contactless card or SEPTA Key gets up to two free transfers within 2 hours. The Market-Frankford line serves the Historic District, so most visitors never need a car.Getting around the USA
- Choose your base by evening, not by sightsOld City is quiet after dark, Center City and Rittenhouse have the restaurants, the Parkway has the museums and University City is the lower-key option near 30th Street Station.Where to stay in Philadelphia
Things to do in Philadelphia
See all attractions in Philadelphia
Need to know
- Airport
- Philadelphia (PHL); SEPTA Airport Line runs to Center City
- Getting there
- Amtrak to William H. Gray III 30th Street Station; SEPTA Regional Rail from the suburbs
- Getting around
- Walk the grid; SEPTA Metro and bus; PHLASH bus in season
- Best base
- Old City for sights, Center City for restaurants
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with the art museum and Eastern State
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low0°Cold, museumsFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, museums
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low3°Cool, dampMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, damp
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Spring blossomAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring blossom
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, busyMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 135 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, busy
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, humidJuneRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, humid
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Hot, July 4thJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, July 4th
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, humidAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Warm, easySeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easy
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cool, quieterNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quieter
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Holiday lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Holiday lights
Average daily high and low in Philadelphia, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Philadelphia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 33%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Philadelphia
04:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°4°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue19°5°2%Tuesday: Fog. High 19°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed22°12°2%Wednesday: Fog. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu22°16°54%Thursday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Fri21°16°54%Friday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Sat16°8°41%Saturday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sun14°7°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 12:35 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
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Day trips by train
- Baltimorea short Amtrak ride southHarbor, museums and crab houses, a simple add-on if you continue to Washington.Read the guide
- New YorkAmtrak on the Northeast CorridorDoable as a long day, but a night there gives the city its due.Read the guide
- Pennsylvania countrysidea full day by carGettysburg and farm country need a car; the state guide sorts the options.Read the guide
Before you go to Philadelphia
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Philadelphia, checked
- Independence Hall tours need timed tickets: free, plus a $1 per ticket fee on Recreation.gov. The 9 to 10:30 am open house needs none.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Liberty Bell Center: free, no tickets, open daily 9 am to 5 pm, with security screening for all visitors.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Eastern State Penitentiary: online daytime admission $21 adults, $23 at the door; hours are subject to change.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Philadelphia
Beyond the city: Pittsburgh, Gettysburg and the countryside
Read the guideNew York travel guideThe other end of the Northeast Corridor by Amtrak
Read the guideESTA before you fly into PHLVisa waiver visitors apply before boarding
Read the guideAll of the USACities, parks and trip planning for visitors
Read the guidePhiladelphia FAQ
How many days do you need in Philadelphia?
Two days cover Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market and the art museum. Add a third for Eastern State Penitentiary, a neighborhood such as Fishtown or a day trip, and plan around the museum's Tuesday and Wednesday closures.
Do you need tickets for Independence Hall?
Yes for the guided tours from 10:40 am to 4 pm: they are free with a $1 per ticket fee, reserved on Recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead. The open house from 9 to 10:30 am needs no ticket, and unbooked tickets can still be available on the day.
Is the Liberty Bell free?
Yes. The Liberty Bell Center has free admission, no tickets and is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. There are no restrooms inside, and everyone passes through security screening on the way in.
Where should you stay in Philadelphia for a first visit?
Old City if history is the point, Center City or Rittenhouse if dinner is. Both are walkable to the main sights, and the choice matters more for evenings than for daytime sightseeing.
Is Philadelphia worth visiting for a weekend?
Yes, particularly by train. A compact center, free sights such as the Liberty Bell and a strong market and museum scene fit a two-night trip, and the Northeast Corridor makes it easy to pair with New York or Baltimore.