2 perfect days in Philly

For a weekend getaway, it’s hard to beat Philadelphia. This extremely walkable city is a magnet for arts lovers, whether they want to see masterpieces from hundreds of years ago or works by today's hip young artists. The many history museums have kept up with the times, offering interactive exhibits that bring the past to life. And these days it is a dining destination in its own right where the ever-present cheesesteaks and hoagies have given way to award-winning restaurants that people travel across the country to visit.

To see everything in just two days is a challenge, but the itinerary below covers just about everything in and around City Center. Use it as a starting point to plan your own trip. We've listened to our Tripadvisor readers and included many of their favorites on this tour of the City of Brotherly Love.

A word of advice when visiting Philadelphia's historical sites: Don't try to do it all. There are more than five dozen National Historic Landmarks within its borders. You couldn't visit all of them if you tried. Most locals have only seen a fraction of them. Decide what you're most interested in learning about and create your own customized itinerary, using ours as a starting point.

That said, it's a good idea to begin the day at Independence Hall. First of all, it's centrally located, with more than a dozen other equally historic locations within a couple of blocks. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both debated and adopted in this rather modest Georgian-style building. Reserve your timed tickets well in advance, as same-day tickets can be hard to come by. It's well worth the $1 fee for booking online.

Next door is Congress Hall, where legislators met before the government packed up and moved to Washington D.C.. The free ranger-led tours depart every 20 minutes and include hilarious anecdotes, such as the time newly sworn in President John Adams had to politely ask George Washington to leave the building so that he could start on his own presidential duties. Across the street is the Liberty Bell, an Instagram-worthy spot with Independence Hall in the background. That building’s bell tower is where the bell was hung in 1776, when legend says it rang to proclaim a new nation. It more likely was rung on July 8, when the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time.

At the other end of the park is the massive National Constitution Center. The exhibit on how the Constitution was written is fascinating, but the best reason to visit just might be the sweeping views of Independence Hall.

Also facing Independence National Historical Park is the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, filling four floors with exhibits that touch on what life was like for Jews in Colonial America. It's a short stroll from two other historic sites that focus on religious life in the early years of the country, the Arch Street Meeting House, a Quaker house of worship built in 1804, and the even older Christ Church, constructed in 1744 and attended by George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

At some point you're going to want to stop for lunch, and with a little luck you'll be in front of Sonny's Famous Steaks. The name refers to cheesesteaks, the sandwiches that are almost synonymous with Philly. Topped with your choice of cheese— provolone, bleu, American, or Cheez Whiz — Sonny’s are the best of the best, according to Tripadvisor readers. One said that for the city's finest cheesesteaks, "it's always Sonny's in Philadelphia."

A good way to wrap up a day of sightseeing is a visit to the Museum of the American Revolution, which Tripadvisor readers describe as a “small museum with a huge impact.” It does an incredible job of relating the events leading up to the country’s independence, using interactive exhibits, video presentations, and even some actors dressed as George Washington and other historical figures.

Not far from Independence Hall, Talula's Garden sits across from the historic Washington Square. Their focus is on locally-sourced ingredients, so almost everything in the dishes like duck cassoulet or salmon rillettes comes from somewhere in the region. The organic wines seem to pair well with everything. Top off the evening with a stroll along the walkways of Independence National Historical Park.

Head to Reading Terminal Market, one of the city's favorite ways to start the day. (It's also great for lunch, if you happen to be back in the neighborhood.) Whatever sounds like breakfast to you — bagels, apple fritters, or homemade pop-tarts — you'll find it here. Down Home Diner's "scram bowl," a mix of sausage, peppers, onions, cheese, and home fries, will fill you up until dinner.

Head a few blocks west to Philadelphia City Hall, one of the city's most interesting buildings. Constructed in the waning years of the 19th century, it's topped by a 37-foot-tall statue of Pennsylvania founder William Penn. For a time no structure in the city was taller than his hat. That went out the window in 1986, when the skyscrapers of Liberty Place were erected. Take a ride up the clock tower for a wraparound view of downtown. A block away is John F. Kennedy Plaza, better known as Love Park because it's home to Robert Indiana's famous 1970 sculpture.

Up Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a string of the city's monumental museums. First up is the Barnes Foundation, with one of the most extensive collections of 19th- and 20th-century French paintings in the world. The exhibit of masterworks by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse can't be beat.

The Barnes has its own on-site eatery, called The Garden Restaurant at the Barnes Museum. It looks out onto the museum’s lush grounds through wall-to-wall windows. In warm weather there are a few umbrella-shaded tables on the patio. This is the kind of place for a simple salad and a glass of wine. When we asked the staff at the Barnes for a recommendation of someplace nearby, they steered us to a pub called the Kite and Key. Order a burger and a beer, like all the locals at the adjoining tables.

If you were wondering what French sculptors were working on a little over a century ago, head to the nearby Rodin Museum to take in a cast of his monumental work The Thinker. The statue is impressive, but you'll also want to leave some time to visit the gardens, modeled on those from the Musée Rodin in Paris.

From here, you've got some difficult choices to make. If you have kids in tow, consider heading south to the Franklin Institute, an interactive science museum that will keep them occupied for hours. If you're a history buff, due north is the fortress-like Eastern State Penitentiary. This crumbling ruin, once one of the world's most famous prisons, is an eye-opening look at the early years of our country's criminal justice system.

But our favorite option is heading a little further up Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. You might know it from the movie Rocky, during which the boxer trains by running up the steps. (The nearby statue of the fictional Rocky Balboa, forever in his victory pose, is perfect for selfies, but there is always a line.) The museum is a massive place, with more than 200 galleries holding more than a quarter of a million works of art from all over the world so give yourself the better part of an afternoon.

Just off Benjamin Franklin Parkway is Victory Brewing Company of Philadelphia, one of the city's craft breweries. After an afternoon of museum-hopping, a flight of locally brewed beers is a great way to relax before you head out in search of a memorable meal.

If you want to be wowed by the Philly food scene without making a reservation, head to the bar at Friday, Saturday, Sunday (the 2023 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant winner) right when they open at 5 p.m. There are limited seats for the bar menu which gives you a taste of their award-winning cuisine.

Further into Center City is the award-winning Fork, a farm-to-table favorite. It's run by Ellen Yin, one of the women who has transformed the dining scene in Philly. Order the striped bass with kale pistou or the trout with dates and preserved oranges and you won't be disappointed. Another great choice is Vedge, a favorite with Tripadvisor readers. You might have guessed from the name that this cozy spot focuses on vegetables, but what James Beard-nominated chefs Kate Jacoby and Rich Landau do with them is something magical. Sharing is the way to go here, as you'll definitely want to sample what everyone else at your table is having.