1 DAY IN PHILADELPHIA – 11 ATTRACTIONS NOT TO BE MISSED

1 DAY IN PHILADELPHIA – 11 ATTRACTIONS NOT TO BE MISSED – CIAO VALENTINA

One day to discover Philadelphia, to taste the popular Philly cheeseteak, climbing the famous Rocky steps. A responsible tour without missing anything out.

Philadelphia is the American city considered the Beating Heart of the New World and was the first American city to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Philadelphia is a city of contradictions: beautiful and well-kept on one side, poor and abandoned on the other. In this blog I want to list 11 attractions that you can’t miss if you only have one day to visit. Obviously, a choice must be made in such a short time, but what to leave out? Here you will find a tour that I made having 1 full day in Philadelphia (while trying to minimize my CO2 emissions). On this tour you will find some historic places that should be missed, a bit of modernity, a little suspense, one typical dish and even a beautiful sunset seen from above. Here are the 11 must-see attractions in Philadelphia.

Watch also the video on my YouTube channel

Penn’s Landing: located along the Delaware River in an area, thanks to the Great Plaza and the Festival Pier, used for summer concerts. If you are here for the 4th of July, it is one of the most popular places for locals to see the fireworks. Also stop here for a bite to eat while you lie quietly in a hammock right above the river, admiring the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from afar. You won’t find such a relaxed atmosphere anywhere else in Philadelphia.

Liberty Bell: the main attraction in Philadelphia and you certainly cannot miss it. This bell is the symbolic icon of American independence – created in 1751 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Entrance is free and no ticket is needed. I advise you to get here early in the morning to avoid the queue. Bags are checked.

Address: 526 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Price: free

Jeweler’s Row: between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street you will find the jeweller’s area, it is worth passing through here and having a look.

Chinese Friendship Gate: big and colourful you can’t miss it. You will be immersed in Philadelphia’s China Town with its colours and bustle. It is worth stopping for a colourful photo.

Address: Arch St &, N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

The Reading Terminal Market: this is one of the largest and oldest public markets in America since it was established in 1893. You can’t miss it. Make sure you arrive here at lunchtime to enjoy the famous cheeseteak! A must!! Open from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. On average the cheeseteak costs $10. Generally, the prices are good. Don’t hesitate if you see a very long queue. It is worth the wait and I can assure you!

Address: 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

City Hall: in this building, constructed between 1871 and 1901, today the city of Philadelphia’s leaders reside. The square, with fountains in front of the building is beautiful.

Address: 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Plaza JFK – Love Sign: The famous inscription I LOVE PHILLY and the inscription LOVE you will find them right in this square. Yes, the queue for a photo is long but is it really necessary to queue?? Watch my video and my “Italian queue jump !!” So embarrassing … but necessary! YouTube video

Rodin Museum: this museum was created not only to represent the Auguste Rodin collection but also to recall the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris – the elegant building and garden in the Beaux-Arts style offer a European experience in the heart of Philadelphia. A surprise and worth a stop.

Address: 2151 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Price: $ 12

Eastern State Penitentiary: This penitentiary is worth a visit even if you only have one day available. Don’t miss it. I visited it and highly recommend it. Read here for more information about this penitentiary. It is not necessary to book in advance. Allow 2 hours to visit here.

Read also Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

Address: 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Price: $ 14

Philadelphia museum of art and the Rocky steps: to reach the Museum of Art you have to climb the steps made by Sylvester Stallone in the 1976 Rocky film. Here you will see tourists compete for who comes first on top!

Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130

One Liberty Observation Deck: it is an observatory that you will hear nicknamed Philly from the Top. To go up to the 57th floor there is a cost of $15. I advise you to take a look online, sometimes they offer discounts on tickets purchased through their website. I came here to enjoy the sunset and it was worth it! https://phillyfromthetop.com/

Address: 1650 Market St # 5700, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Price: $15

Other useful tips:

• Most attractions are open from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening, but check online before planning a visit.

• Philadelphia is very easy to get around on foot. I don’t recommend buying public transport tickets.

• Have lunch at The Reading Terminal Market.

My favourite places:

• The Reading Terminal Market: to taste the famous cheesesteak, a must.

• Penn’s Landing: for a cocktail on the river relaxing in a hammock. Just like the locals.

• Eastern State Penitentiary: for the story behind such an old penitentiary. Highly recommended!

Responsible and sustainable Philadelphia:

• Walk! It’s very easy to get around Philadelphia. Save on public transport and reduce CO2 emissions.

• Bring in your backpack a reusable bottle for water, a lunch box and reusable cutlery. When you stop for street-food ask to put the food in your lunch-box and the drink in your reusable bottle, thus avoiding the consumption of plastic.

• Mix with the locals! If you decide to stay in Philadelphia for more than a day, which by the way is something I highly recommend, try to get out of the tourist areas. Eat where you see locals and avoid hotel chains. Not only will you have a unique experience but you will also help the local economy.

• In June 2019, Philadelphia created sustainable tours to offer tourists a unique experience and designed for the benefit of Philadelphia residents. Three tours are available to the public: Food Sustainability Tours, Conservation Tours and Re-imagined Spaces Tours.

10 percent of the proceeds from sustainable tours will go to the GREEN Program scholarship fund to help students access sustainability education opportunities.

Tours can be booked through this link:

https://www.philadelphiaurbanadventures.com/.

Watch also my video about Philadelphia, USA

Read also Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

You might also be interested in Boston Freedom Trail Tour

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And remember: Live, Travel, Laugh and Repeat

                                     in a responsible way