There is plenty to splurge on in Philadelphia, from rooftop cocktails at the Hotel Monaco to High Tea at the Rittenhouse Hotel. However, hitting up a pricey art museum and then indulging in Vetri Cucina’s quattro piatti for dinner is a good time, but Philadelphia does not have to be expensive—especially if you’re a history buff.
Fortunately, most of Philadelphia’s top attractions are easily accessible via affordable public transportation. One-way subway rides are just $2.50. For just $13, you can get a one-day SEPTA Independence Pass, which allows you to switch between different modes of transportation. Additionally, there’s the tourist-friendly Philly PLASH bus that stops at the city’s main tourist attractions for only $2 per ride or $5 for a day pass.
Philly’s Top Historical Sites
Entrance to the Liberty Bell Center is free, and it’s open on a first-come, first-serve basis with capacity restrictions in place. While the bell is visible from outside the center, there are benefits to waiting in line to get inside. One side of the hallway is lined with exhibits, and there’s also a space for rotating temporary exhibitions. Inside, you can capture an unobstructed photo of this iconic American symbol.
Independence Hall tickets must be reserved online in advance. They carry a $1 reservation fee, which is less than the cost of a small “wooder” ice anywhere in the city. Guided tours last 30 minutes and run every 15 minutes, with the last one starting each day at 4:45 PM.
Between the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, you will find the President’s House, an outdoor exhibit that explores the contradiction of freedom and slavery during the founding of the United States. The open-air display is available 24 hours and sits on the former grounds of America’s first executive mansion, where George Washington and John Adams lived.
Philly’s Best History Museums Under $10
The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall attract much-deserved attention as historic sites; however, they are surrounded by affordable, family-friendly history museums. Just a couple of blocks east of the Independence Visitor Center, you can tour the Betsy Ross House with an audio guide for under $10. Each tour includes a Q & A session with a Betsy Ross reenactor dressed in period clothing.
Before you reach the Betsy Ross House, you will pass Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite, which you can visit from noon to 4, Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $5; however, many choose to experience Ben’s final resting place by throwing pennies onto his gravestone through cemetery gates rather than paying.
It may be more beneficial to save your $5 and use it to enter the Benjamin Franklin Museum, located just one block south. You will get much more value, including five rooms of exhibits, videos, touchscreen interactives, and hundreds of artifacts.
Explore America’s Oldest Residential Street
A couple of blocks east of the Betsy Ross house is Elfreth’s Alley. This well-preserved, car-free cobblestone street is recognized as the oldest continuously inhabited street in the United States. There is a small museum halfway down the alley, sandwiched between homes dating back to 1755. The museum is open from noon to 4, Friday through Sunday, with an admission fee of just $3 and an optional audio guide available for an additional $3. Even without stopping by during their operating hours, you cannot leave the City of Brotherly Love without visiting Elfreth’s Alley.
The Fireman’s Hall Museum is located one block north of Elfreth’s Alley. This restored 1902 firehouse displays various tools of the trade, some dating back to the earliest days of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Reservations are free but must be made in advance, and donations to the fire department are appreciated.
Live Out Your Rocky Fantasy for Less Than the Price of a Movie Ticket
Regardless of the time of day or year, the Rocky Statue is a major attraction. You may have to wait in line to snap a picture with the world’s most famous fictional sports hero, but it is an essential Philly experience!
Afterward, take the climb up the 72 steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Some visitors run like young Rocky did, while others ascend at a more leisurely pace reminiscent of an aging Rocky in the first Creed movie. At the top, you can enjoy the view of Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Logan Square, and the Philly skyline.
Get Lost in a Public Market
The Reading Terminal Market dates back to 1893. Before Philadelphia had the subway system we know today, the Reading Railroad Company operated the city’s main market, hosting 250 specialty vendors and up to 100 farmers on any given day.
Today, the National Historic Landmark market operates daily from 8 to 6 with more than 70 vendors. Inside, you’ll be greeted with the sights and smells of Philly cheesesteaks, alongside a mix of fresh fish, meat, and cheese. You can also purchase treats from Amish vendors from nearby Lancaster County.
If you’re driving in and plan to explore the area for a couple of hours, making a $10 purchase at the market will allow for two-hour validated $5 parking at two nearby garages. However, it is even more economical to take the SEPTA Regional Rail to Jefferson Station or the underground MFL to 11th Street.
Sponsored by GEICO
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