America’s birthplace trades heavily on revolutionary history yet offers considerably more substance than the tourist-board narrative suggests. Philadelphia concentrates an extraordinary density of significant sites — from the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall to the grim magnificence of the Eastern State Penitentiary and the peculiar medical curiosities of the Mütter Museum — yet the city’s appeal extends beyond historical tourism into world-class art collections, innovative food culture, and neighbourhoods that reveal contemporary vitality alongside colonial cobblestones. The Barnes Foundation houses one of the world’s most impressive Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, whilst lesser-known sites like the Benjamin Franklin Museum and the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial provide depth beyond the obvious Revolutionary highlights.
These Philadelphia travel articles combine practical visitor information with honest assessments that help you prioritise in a city where competing attractions vastly exceed any reasonable itinerary. You’ll find detailed reviews of major museums and historic sites that acknowledge both strengths and shortcomings, discover how Philadelphia’s Revolutionary heritage provides genuine insight into America’s founding, and access essential details about opening hours, ticket prices and visiting logistics. Whether you’re planning a concentrated historical pilgrimage, a broader exploration that encompasses art and contemporary culture, or simply passing through on a northeastern US journey, these guides help you extract maximum value from a city that deserves more thoughtful attention than most visitors allocate.
- Review of the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia.
- Review of the very weird Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.
- Review of the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
- How Philadelphia’s historic attractions provide an introduction to America’s past.
- Learning how Australia’s highest mountain got its name at the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial.
- Tips and practical information for visiting the Liberty Bell Center.
- Guides to Philadelphia’s Parkway attractions – the Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute and the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- What to expect inside the Museum of the American Revolution.
- 6 great reasons to visit Philadelphia.
5 great things to do in Philadelphia
- 🥖 Taste the best of Philly on a food tour – including historic Reading Market.
- 🏛️ Get to know Philadelphia’s heritage sites – on a guided walking tour.
- 🍻 Go on a pub crawl – but learn the history between beers.
- 🎨 Let a guide show you Philadelphia’s best murals and street art – including Magic Gardens.
- 🌙 Discover Philly’s dark side – on an adults-only night tour.
