Recently, I spent a weekend in Philadelphia visiting some good friends. Kevin is one of my Belmont University BFF’s; and I was excited to spend the weekend with him and his partner Nicholas! They had a full itinerary planned and I’m sharing with you all we did during the weekend!
What to do During a Weekend in Philadelphia
STAY
I stayed with Kevin and Nicholas, but I know several great hotels in Philly!
Stay Alfred – One of my favorite hotels is Stay Alfred. They always have the coolest rooms inconvenient places in the city. They have four locations in Philly in Rittenhouse Square, Old City, Logan Square, and Midtown Village.
Kimpton – I’ve stayed at a few Kimpton hotels and Philly has two. One is the Monaco Philadelphia (Center City) and the other is the Palomar Philadelphia (Rittenhouse Square).
EAT
Kettle Black – On Friday, I had the day to myself to explore so I stopped in at Kettle Black for a croissant and coffee. It was such a charming little place and their baked goods.
La Colombe – A great coffee shop chain in Philly, you can bring your laptop and work or drink coffee and catch up with friends. They also had the best breakfasts!
Parc – A romantic French restaurant known for their Steak Frites. You’ll love the cozy vibes and yummy food.
Porta – If you love Italian, go and enjoy their Meatball Pizza and Summer Betty Pizza. Located in Center City, they’re known for their pizza’s and fun, colorful vibe.
Sonny’s Famous – You can’t go to Philly without a cheesesteak! Everyone I talked to had a different place for cheesesteaks. We went with Sonny’s and it was absolutely amazing! I had it with provolone cheese with no onions and it was phenomenal.
The Franklin Fountain – Every hot day in Philly needs ice cream at some point. The Franklin Fountain has unique flavors like the famous Teaberry Gum, Hydrox Cookie, Maple Walnut, and the list goes on and on! They also have milkshakes, floats, all the yummy sweet treats.
SEE/DO
The Liberty Bell – Get some history in! Luckily, the line to see the Liberty Bell wasn’t bad at 11 a.m. on a Friday. It’s free to get in and you can tour an exhibit before seeing the Liberty Bell towards the back. It’s a pretty powerful feeling seeing this historical landmark!
Independence Hall – Right outside the Liberty Bell is Independence Hall. You can purchase tickets to go inside and tour or just enjoy the view from outside. If you have time go inside to see where the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted.
Old City – America’s most historic square mile! Take some time to walk around and explore.
Magic Gardens – A lot of you suggested I stop my Magic Gardens for a stroll! You have to pay for a ticket but it’s definitely worth it. The gardens are an immersive mixed media art environment that is completely covered with mosaics. Space has two indoor galleries and a bi-level outdoor garden. It’s definitely Insta-worthy! There’s also a bunch of murals on the street leading up to it. Enjoy all the art!
Museum of the American Revolution – Kevin used to work at the Museum of the American Revolution and took me to all his favorite spots in the exhibit. They have an exhibit with the tent that George Washington slept in during the Revolutionary War and it was so well done. I was so impressed!
Washington Square – One of the prettiest squares in Philly, I grabbed lunch an enjoyed the square. There are beautiful trees, a fountain, a great place to rest.
Philadelphia Museum of Art (The Rocky Steps) – I like visiting museums in any city I visit. You can see so much local culture and experience new pieces. I saw the famous Sun Flower painting from Van Gogh and lots of Monets. They also had a great contemporary art exhibit!
How to Get Around
Subway AKA SEPTA – Take advantage of Philly’s SEPTA system, it’s cheaper than a Lyft/Uber!
Bus – If you’re downtown, take the Philly Phlash! The Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop is the quick, easy and inexpensive connection to key Philadelphia historic attractions and cultural institutions. It’s $2 per ride or $5 for an all-day pass. If you have a SEPTA pass you ride for free!
On Foot – I walked 10 miles a day every day I was in Philly! Walking is the best way to see the city.
This trip was so much fun! I just love seeing all the amazing cities in our country; and can’t wait to visit another one soon!
Have you been to Philly? What’s your favorite thing? Share with me in a comment below!
Philly is so fun – it sounds like you had a great time!
xx Mollie