Philadelphia is one of the most important cities in American history and there is still plenty of evidence of that to see today. It also has a unique culture and some great bars and restaurants to enjoy, making it the perfect place for a short break.
- Philadelphia Big Bus ToursVincent J. Brown / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
There is no need to fly across the Atlantic just to visit Pennsylvania’s largest city, as its location means it can easily be included as part of a more extensive holiday to the eastern USA. Choose the right itinerary and you could also take in New York, Boston, Niagara Falls and Finger Lakes in the same getaway.
The Philadelphia leg of your tour will see you presented with a host of options for things to see and do. Read on to discover more about some of the best.
Big Bus Tour
Philadelphia has more historic landmarks than any American city other than Boston, but it can be tricky to find your way to all of them. Buy a ticket for a Big Bus Tour – $27 for adults and $10 for under-12s – and that won’t be a problem.
A complete circuit of the city’s landmarks takes around 90 minutes, but the great thing about this tour is that it is hop-on, hop-off. As such you can get off at any attractions you want to get a closer look at and then get on a later bus to resume your trip.
Tours call at the Liberty Bell, the stunning Philadelphia City Hall, Independence Hall, Betty Ross House, Carpenters’ Hall and Boathouse Row, so you will get a bumper American history lesson in a single day. The route also includes JFK Plaza, so you can see Robert Indiana’s distinctive Love sculpture.
Emulate Rocky
There are very few famous movie scenes you can easily recreate, but you can pretend to be Sylvester Stallone for a couple of minutes in Philadelphia. One of the iconic scenes from Rocky is the boxer running up the steps at the Museum of Art – bring your running shoes and you can do it as well. Just don’t forget to copy the triumphant salute at the top!
The ‘Rocky Steps’ have become something of a pilgrimage site for film fans and there is now a bronze statue of the character at the bottom, which provides a great photo opportunity. The culture inside the museum is rather more highbrow, but as its collection is one of the most extensive in the USA, it is well worth visiting.
Try a Philly Cheesesteak
Philadelphia has a superb selection of restaurants dishing up all sorts of food, but the highlight of its cuisine is a sandwich. The authentic Philly Cheesesteak is no ordinary sarnie though; the crusty Amoroso roll filled with thinly sliced ribeye steak, melted cheese and fried onions is a real treat for the tastebuds.
Locals spend hours arguing about where in the city to buy the best sandwich and there is no definitive answer, but head to Cheesesteak Corner on 9th Street and you can’t go wrong. On one side of the road is Pat’s King of Steaks, the diner which claims to have invented the recipe in 1930, and on the other is Geno’s Steaks, which many foodies believe is the place to try this local delicacy.
Drink beer
If having a few beers is one of your holiday staples, you will love Philadelphia. It has a great selection of small breweries that make distinctive lagers and ales for the city’s bars, together with a number of excellent brewpubs to try. Be careful with anything described as an IPA though, as in this part of the world it is likely to be upwards of 7 per cent ABV.
Keep an eye out for venues selling Philadelphia Brewery Company produce, as its Walt Wit and Rowhouse Red Belgian-style beers are superb. The Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant on Main Street is also well worth a visit, both because of the riverside setting and its famous Schuylkill Punch raspberry lager.
