I may be biased, but I think Philadelphia is one American city that you should make it your business to visit at least once. It’s where the foundation of our country was established, where great men put pen to paper and came up with the basis for our way of life in this great nation! It’s the City of Brotherly Love, and it’s well worth any traveler’s time, whether it’s a few hours or a few days.
If you want to come to Philly but you’re on a budget, you’re in luck! There’s a lot that you can do while spending very little. So lace up your most comfortable walking shoes, and bring your appetite!
Here are my suggestions for what to see and do in Philadelphia, for free & cheap:
Explore Independence Mall (Free)
Part of Independence National Historical Park, Independence Mall is situated on 3 blocks downtown and includes museums, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall, among other things.
If you remember your history lessons from school, then you’ll recall that Independence Hall is where the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were written. This and many of the other surrounding sites are free for visitors. Some of the museums do charge admission, but there’s enough to enjoy free of charge, too.
Did you know that the Liberty Bell is completely free to visit? It is! This is one site that you simply can’t miss. Depending on how crowded it is, you may have to wait in a short line. Once you get inside, you can take a few minutes to admire the bell and get a selfie with the famous crack.
Get Your Picture Taken in Love Park (Free)
Home of the iconic LOVE sculpture. People watch while sitting by the water fountain and ask someone to take your picture while standing under the statue. Touristy, yes, but I still think it’s a must. Plus, free souvenir!
Walk Along the Ben Franklin Parkway (Free)
Now that you’ve got your souvenir-worthy photo from LOVE park, start heading towards the Ben Franklin Parkway for a stroll. It’s lined with flags from hundreds of nations, and it’s fun wandering along and checking out the views. Eventually, you’ll end up at the steps of the Art Museum. This brings me to our next activity…
Run the Rocky Steps (Free)
Unless you’ve been living in the woods for the past 30+ years, you will probably recognize the Art Museum steps as the scene of the iconic Rocky run. Do your best Balboa impression and jog triumphantly up the steps. If you don’t do it, I can guarantee you that there will be someone else who is! Once you’ve completed your triumphant run, be sure to take a picture next to the Rocky statue.
Eat a Cheesesteak ($10)
No trip to this fine city would be complete without eating a cheesesteak. Most tourists tend to go to Pat’s and/or Geno’s, but there are lots of far better places to try. I’m personally not a fan of either one and prefer small local pizza joints. Skip the tourist traps, and step into a pizza shop that looks appealing. Order yourself a “wiz wit” (cheese whiz with fried onions).
I think it’s safe to say that you should bring your appetite and your walking shoes when coming to Philly. It’s an easy place to explore on foot, and there’s a lot to see!
I do recommend budgeting for a museum or two since there are several excellent ones to choose from. Consider the Franklin Institute, the art museum, Â The Barnes Foundation, etc. Look for discounts and deals online.
As someone who grew up in the ‘burbs of Philadelphia, I’ve done all of these things, and they never get old. If you’ve never visited Philadelphia, definitely do put it on your travel bucket list!
Want more Philly? Check out my post, 5 Must-See Sights in Philadelphia on Travel Blue Book!
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Sounds like a lot of good options. I’m always looking for quick trip ideas that are close to Ohio. Thanks for the idea!
One of these days I’ll make it over to Ohio! I’m not sure that I’ve ever been…
Well, I’ve never been to Philadelphia but now I know what I’ll do if I ever make my way there!
Hopefully I’ve inspired you to visit someday 🙂
I lived right outside of Philly for a little bit (moving back next summer), and still didn’t ever scratch the surface on all there is to do. Like DC, there is a ton of free entertainment and educational information around. Plus, I love me a good cheesesteak!
Oh, if you’re moving back, you’ll have plenty of time to explore! I grew up just outside of the city and I never get bored when I go downtown. Plenty to see and do.
I love Philadelphia! Not gonna lie, I definitely got a bit weepy when I saw the Liberty Bell for the first time. Haha. I would also add that wandering around the city to see all the amazing murals is a fantastic and frugal way to spend some time.
Good ideas…we were thinking about making a trip to Philly…it’s relatively close to NYC and we have some friends there. Not too many places we can go with a baby who doesn’t want to be strapped to a car seat for long periods.
I feel ashamed that I haven’t been to Philly yet. I live only about an hour and a half away, which is nothing really. Maybe I’ll do a weekend trip there this summer. I’ll add it to my summer bucket list.
Ahh! You definitely need to make a trip 🙂
Rootofgood.com just went to Philly! He had pics of cheesecakes that looked so tasty! Now I want to try to wiz wit. Is it really just canned cheese with fried onions? Are the onions breaded?
Wiz wit is a way to order your cheesesteak- it means cheese wiz (from a jar, lol) and fried onions. The onions aren’t breaded. I would never eat cheese wiz under other circumstances, but in a steak, it’s delish. haha
I love walking along the Ben Franklin parkway, especially because you can end your walk with a picture in front of the Art Museum like Rocky. 🙂 I wish I could remember the name of the cheesesteak place, but a friend of mine in Philly said there was one better than Pat’s or Geno’s and we went there. We had been drinking, though, so of course I can’t remember the name now, but I remember that the cheesesteak was phenomenal. 🙂
I did not know that that’s where that LOVE sculpture is from. What a great list of free ideas and to top it off with a Philly cheesesteak for $10 is a good deal! Love me some cheesesteak!!
I’ve done a few of these things in Philly myself! I grew up in Richmond, VA and went to Philadelphia a good number of times and always loved it. There’s just so much to see and do, especially if you’re a history nut like me. 🙂
Yep, if you love history, you have to come at least once.