Philadelphia has lots of history, amazing restaurants and frequent festivals and markets. The city really has so much to offer visitors! Philly is also close to the Jersey beaches and a quick day trip from New York City. No matter the reason behind your visit to Philadelphia it can be hard deciding what to do with just a few days so here is our guide to the perfect 48 hours in Philadelphia!
Where to Stay
Philadelphia is a big city so you won’t want to spend too much time traveling in and out of the city to get to your accommodations. We would recommend staying centrally and then walking to your destinations. We personally enjoy this because it also allows us to see more of the area than just one or two specific places. Parking is possible but could leave you sitting in traffic or circling for a parking spot for a while. Not to mention it certainly can cost you a lot parking overnight!
To be centrally located near Center City and many things that you will likely want to see and do we would recommend staying in either the Rittenhouse Square or Washington Square neighborhoods.
- They are both centrally located to the historical sights and main attractions as well as both feature beautiful parks.
- You will find countless amazing restaurants in both neighborhoods and it’s easy to walk from one area to the other if you’re looking for a specific restaurant.
- Other neighborhoods to consider would be Old City which has a more historical feel along the Delaware River or Fitler Square which is a bit quieter but has a really nice neighborhood feel on the other side towards the Schuylkill River.
Day 1:
Walk to Independence Mall
- The Independence Mall is the grassy area in front of Independence Hall.
- You can tour Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was drafted, and also see the Liberty Bell at the Liberty Bell Center across the street.
- If you are looking for a spot to hang out and relax we would recommend Independence Beer Garden which is right next door. It has tables, games and a ton of food and drinks.
Travel Truth: Although the Liberty Bell is free to view, if you don’t feel like waiting in line you can actually see it from two different spots outside. It can be seen from the back of the building facing Independence Hall as well as the side along the Independence Mall.
Eat Lunch at Reading Terminal Market
Reading Terminal Market is a public market located on 12th Street. Over 100 years old, it hosts over 75 merchants selling fresh produce as well as sandwiches, bakeries, and hot foods. You truly can find whatever you could possibly want at Reading Terminal Market!
- It is a bit of a maze to walk through and depending on what day of the week you visit it can get crowded. But it is an experience within itself and definitely an important landmark within the city of Philadelphia!
Make the Rounds at some of Philly’s Best Museums
Depending on your interests, you can choose to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the National Constitution Center or if you’re looking for a bit of a different visit head to the Eastern State Penitentiary.
- Make sure to look up your museum of choice before buying tickets. Some have special admission prices on specific days. For example, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is pay what you wish on certain days throughout the month.
Pick from Endless Possibilities for Dinner!
There are so many good restaurants in Philadelphia that we put together a whole post on Our Favorite Restaurants in Philadelphia including what we always order at each one!
- Rittenhouse Square restaurants: Bar Bombon, Oyster House, Parc
- Washington Square restaurants: Tredici Enoteca, El Vez, Lolita
- Old City/Society Hill restaurants: Buddakan, High Street on Market
Day 2:
Get Brunch to Start Your Day!
There are plenty of brunch options to chose from to start your day. Our favorites include Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat, Continental and Green Eggs Cafe.
- Or if you’re looking for something a little quicker there are plenty of coffee shops to grab a coffee. Elixr Coffee is close to everything. La Columbe Coffee, which was started in Philly, can be found at various locations around the city.
Explore the Outdoors
If you’re anything like us, you might be thinking some exercise after all that brunch would be good. There are plenty of options to get outside while exploring some of the best green spaces in the city. If you don’t feel like walking you can easily rent an Indigo Bike at one of their stands throughout the city. Simply pick a bike, swipe your credit card and then return when you’re done to any Indigo Bike stand!
Schuylkill River Trail near the South Street Bridge 
View from the Ben Franklin Bridge
- The Schuylkill River Trail is one of the best urban trails in the country going all the way up through Manayunk and on for miles. You can catch the trail on the South Street Bridge and walk up along the Schuylkill River all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Or just grab it close to wherever you’re staying and enjoy the views!
- If you’re looking for a bit quieter spot head up to Fairmount Park.
- Or closer to the city you will find Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square Park are both beautiful parks to sit and take advantage of being so close to everything!
- To get amazing views of the city skyline try walking the pedestrian walkway of the Ben Franklin Bridge! From the Philadelphia side you can get on at 5th and Race Street and walk towards New Jersey. Periodically turn around and you get unobstructed views!
Spend Some Time at one of Philly’s Beer Gardens
The city has done an amazing job in the last couple of years of hosting more and more beer gardens in all different neighborhoods. Some of them you will find open all the time while others open seasonly. Below are some of our favorites:
- The Oval is a green oasis in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Unfortunately it’s usually only open for about a month in the summer so if you’re lucky enough to be visiting when it’s open we would highly recommend it!
- Independence Beer Garden is a popular spot as it’s near the Independence Mall, Washington Square Park, Franklin Square and Reading Terminal Market.
- Bok Bar, located in South Philly, is on the roof of an old school building. Although a bit farther from center city the building makes for an interesting feel and on a clear night you can see the whole city!
- Spruce Street Harbor Park is probably the coolest park with all its different seating options, food and drink vendors and location along the Delaware River. It’s easy to spend a few hours there!
- The Blue Cross RiverRink hosts a Winterfest in the winter months featuring an ice skating rink and cozy lodge which then transforms to a Summerfest for the warmer months changing to a roller skating rink, mini golf course and summer themed open area!
Check out our Warm Weather Guide to Philadelphia for information on when things open up for the warm weather season!
Indulge in a Philly Cheesesteak
You can’t come to Philadelphia without trying a Philly cheesesteak! You can get one pretty much everywhere but there certainly are better ones than others. Down in South Philly you can visit the two most famous places, Pats King of Steaks or Genos Steaks which happen to be right by each other. Jim’s on South Street is another incredibly popular option and a little farther north in Manayunk is Dalessandro’s Steaks which is also amazing and our personal pick!
