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Things to do in South Philadelphia

Our most recommended things to do in South Philadelphia

Philadelphia: Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour

1. Philadelphia: Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour

Climb aboard the double-decker hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus and discover the sights of Philadelphia at your own pace. Benefit from the services on an onboard guide and avail of frequent departures every day of the week. Learn the history of the city and its cultural attractions, and hear where the best places to eat and shop are along the way. Follow in the footsteps of "Rocky" and climb the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Enjoy an authentic cheesesteak or retrace the steps of the founding fathers and see where they signed the Declaration of Independence. Sit back and enjoy the 90-minute ride around Philly seeing almost 30 points of interest along the way. Sights you will see: • Independence Visitor Center (northeast corner of 5th and Market Streets) • Betsy Ross House  • U.S. Mint and Ben Franklin’s Grave  • National Constitution Center  • Chinatown (northeast corner of Arch Street at 10th Street) • Reading Terminal Market/Convention Center  • City Hall and Love Park • Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul/Sister Cities  • Barnes Foundation (21st Street and Ben Franklin Parkway)  • Rodin Museum • Eastern State Penitentiary • Perelman Building of the Philadelphia Museum of Art • Philadelphia Zoo  • Please Touch Museum/Memorial Hall/Fairmount Park • Rocky Steps • Philadelphia Museum of Art • Franklin Institute/Logan Circle • The Bellevue/Rittenhouse Square • Academy of Music/Broad Street • Antiques Row (10th and Pine Street) • South Street/Headhouse Square • Vietnam Veterans Memorial • Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing/Columbus Boulevard • Penn's Landing/Waterfront • Old City/Christ Church • Museum of American Jewish History

Philadelphia Private Driving Tour - Half or Full-Day

2. Philadelphia Private Driving Tour - Half or Full-Day

Explore the city of Philadelphia on a private driving tour, customized to suit your preferences, and available as either a half-day or full-day option. The former capital of the Pennsylvania Colony, Philadelphia is intimately connected to the history of Amercia. You will see all the highlights, including Elfreth’s Alley and the Liberty Bell. Go to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was first debated. Pass Christ Church to see the birthplace of the American Episcopal Church, and Penn's Landing, where William Penn docked in 1682. Drive down the Avenue of the Arts and see Love Park (JFK Plaza), dominated by Robert Indiana's “Love” sculpture. Continue the arts theme at the Rodin Museum or Philadelphia Museum of Art, complete with Rocky’s statue and the steps used in the blockbuster movie. See where Al Capone was incarcerated at the Eastern State Penitentiary, admire the boat houses on the Schuylkill River, and visit Memorial Hall in Centennial Park. You’ll almost certainly get out to Belmont Plateau for a great view before coming back through Rittenhouse Square. There will be time to get out and take pictures or enjoy a short walk, perhaps down Elfreth’s Alley, or to the gazebo next to the boat houses on the Schuylkill. It’s your tour and your choice, but your guide will give some great suggestions. Take detours into Society Hill and out to the 9th Street Italian Market, home of the great Philly Cheese Steak. The full-day tour can be customized to include nearby neighborhoods or the beautifully situated Laurel Hill Cemetery and Historic Rittenhouse Town. Suggestions will also be given for lunch, whether you fancy a snack or full-blown meal.

Philadelphia: South Philly Art Walking Tour

3. Philadelphia: South Philly Art Walking Tour

Explore the incredible public art in South Philadelphia on this group walking tour. Head into the heart of the Queen Village and the Bella Vista neighborhood to uncover beautiful and surprising murals and mind-bending mosaics. Meet your guide and begin your art finding adventure. Listen as your guide explains the history of each piece and how it blends together into a magical tapestry that drapes across the entire city. Appreciate the relationship between the art, artists, and the neighborhoods that they call home. Enjoy how accessible art is throughout a major city like Philadelphia. After exploring the street art and a gallery or two, your tour will conclude at the incredible Magic Gardens. Take your time wandering through the indoor mosaic displays and the outdoor labyrinth at the Philadelphia Magic Gardens. Impact the community in the tour as part of your ticket price includes a donation to a local organization which supports artists in the city.

Philly Cheesesteak Tour and Tastings by Segway

4. Philly Cheesesteak Tour and Tastings by Segway

Enjoy tastes of 5 different Philly cheesesteaks as you tour South Philly by Segway, stopping at the best cheesesteak establishments on your route. Meet your entertaining guide and begin your tour with a 30-minute orientation session. Once you feel comfortable riding your self-balancing electric Segway, you’ll weave through the streets of South Philly on a 5-mile loop. Glide along the neighborhood’s streets, passing the Italian Market, South Street, and Society Hill – all without breaking a sweat. As you enjoy these scrumptious tastings of the sandwich that made the city famous, you’ll understand why there’s nothing quite like a crusty roll filled with thinly sliced sautéed beef and melted cheese. You’ll sample 5 different cheesesteaks and decide which is your favorite. Gobble up a quarter of a sandwich at each vendor, from your classic hole-in-the-wall restaurant to the take-out window. Enjoy the flavors and textures of ribeye beef and melted cheese, dripping with toppings such as sautéed mushrooms, ketchup, and hot or sweet peppers. Your guide will make sure you order the traditional Philly cheesesteak, known locally as a Whiz Wit, topped with processed cheese spread and fried onions! This small-group Segway tour is limited to 8 people, ensuring personalized attention from your guide.

Philadelphia: Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour

5. Philadelphia: Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour

Explore the mouth-watering area of East Passyunk, Philadelphia, on this food-filled walking tour. Try local foods and drinks in one of Philly's most dynamic and talked about foodie neighborhoods. Discover some of the best places around to eat. Start at one end of East Passyunk Avenue and make your way past many of the local highlights. Hear stories of the restaurateurs and their restaurants and bars. Along the way, check out iconic landmarks and murals. Taste Philly's most prized dumplings, empanadas, patatas bravas, gourmet pizza, locally brewed beer, and a sweet dessert. This tour includes enough food to make up a light meal. After the tour, choose to stick around and sample other restaurants that open right when the tour concludes. You’ll learn about all the best restaurants in town so you know of the best spots to eat during the rest of your trip. Food and Wine Magazine named East Passyunk one of the 10 best foodie streets in America. Plus, 12 out of the top 50 restaurants in Philadelphia Magazine and Foobooz's latest edition of "The 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia" are on East Passyunk Ave. East Passyunk is booming with cutting-edge shops and ambitious restaurants that would rather set trends than follow them. Discover for yourself what makes this neighborhood such a popular foodie destination and learn how it became the epicenter of the city's culinary scene.

Philadelphia: Evening Guided Sightseeing Tour

6. Philadelphia: Evening Guided Sightseeing Tour

Discover Philadelphia at night on this scenic guided driving tour! Your tour will begin with your friendly local guide picking you up directly from your hotel. You will enjoy passing by key historical points of interest such as the Betsy Ross House, the Ben Franklin Burial, the First Bank, and the Ben Franklin House on your way to Independence Hall. Step back in time while at Independence Hall, which is known as the birthplace of America, and is most famous for its role in American independence. While there, you will be able to view the historic Liberty Bell. Easily recognizable because of its crack, the Liberty Bell remains significant today for its message of liberty. Abolitionists, women's suffrage activists, civil rights leaders and others have all used this bell as their symbol in the fight for equality. At Independence Hall you will also see the Second Bank, which houses a collection of over 100 portraits, many of them by 18th Century artist Charles Willson Peale. Marvel at the Greek Revival architecture and the faces of the leaders of the Revolutionary Era. You can’t go to Philadelphia without making a stop at the Rocky Steps. A near-constant flow of people arrive daily at the bottom of the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to snap a picture with the Rocky statue, originally created for a scene in Rocky III and now a real-life monument for the beloved fictional hero. Running up the grand stairway, mimicking the famous two-arms-raised salute, and soaking up the view of the city is a must while in Philadelphia. You’ll also get a chance to see the Washington Monument Fountain and The Oval while you’re there. Don’t forget to take photos! Your guide will take you on a scenic city drive, passing by such points of interest as Love Park, Rodin Museum, Barnes Foundation, Franklin Institute, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul, City Hall, Reading Terminal Market, and Eastern State Penitentiary. What’s a trip to Philadelphia without trying a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich? You will head to South Philly to Check out Philly’s Sports hub before stopping to grab this tasty snack. After a full day of adventure, your guide will return you to your downtown Philadelphia hotel where you can unwind and reflect on your memories from the day.

Other Sightseeing Options in South Philadelphia

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What people are saying about South Philadelphia

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 300 reviews

Chuck was great. He really was engaging and knowledgable, not only about the tour, but Philly in general, it's his home city! We went over the allotted time, but he didn't push to leave until he was happy with what we doing next, giving us a sheet with 'things to see and do'. Wish we had taken his tour at the start of our stay.... Well worth it, we saw a lot that we wouldn't have seen by wandering around by ourselves.

We really loved this tour--we are Philly natives but our guide presented so much art and historical sociological info that we felt like we were seeing this part of the city first time. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in this city's cultural history.

Owen was very knowledgeable. He also was courteous with ensuring we were safe on entering and exiting the vehicle each time. He was open to accommodating our interests. Finally, he was patient with our young learners. Thank you!

Did this for one of my sister's Bachelorette activities and if was so much fun! Cloudy cool day but learned alot about the city and the art. Would highly recommend

Chuck did a great job leading us around the south side art scene with some extra history along the way. Unique tour worth taking to really get to know Philly.