How To Spend 24 Hours In Philadelphia

If you only have 24 hours to spend in Philadelphia, you’ll have to make the most of your time, so here’s how to see the City of Brotherly Love’s historic sites, experience its cuisine, and enjoy as much as possible in just a day. Forget the touristy spots – this is the real Philly experience.

8 p.m. – eat at a classic Philadelphia restaurant

Friday Saturday Sunday is one of the city’s oldest restaurants, and after a facelift and rejuvenation in late 2016, it’s better than ever. Try its inventive cocktails and delicious dishes such as chicken liver mousse and sous vide carrots.

10 p.m. – grab some after-dinner drinks

Rittenhouse Square, just a few blocks from Friday Saturday Sunday, is home to a few speakeasy-style bars, so check out Ranstead Room or The Franklin for a secretive, exclusive space and incredible cocktails ranging from classic to modern.

10 a.m. – get a traditional Pennsylvania breakfast

The Reading Terminal Market has no shortage of breakfast options, but if you want the classic Philly experience, you’ll grab a traditional breakfast from the Dutch Eating Place, a coffee from Old City Coffee, and an apple fritter from Beiler’s to start your morning.

12 p.m. – see some street art

As you wander through the city, you’ll see plenty of street art, like one of many of Philadelphia’s famous murals, or the outside walls of the Magic Gardens, which can be toured for a small fee. Map your way through the murals all the way from Center City to the Schuylkill.

3 p.m. – walk along the river banks

The banks of the Schuylkill River weren’t always a desirable tourist destination, but thanks to the Schuylkill River Park and Boardwalk, tourists and locals alike flock to the river on nice days, where they can walk alongside this expansive river and take in the Philly skyline.

5 p.m. – eat your way through an entire neighborhood

Grab a cab to East Passyunk, nestled in the heart of South Philly, and snack your way through this bustling restaurant strip with some gelato at Capogiro, dumplings at Bing Bing Dim Sum, tacos at Cantina los Caballitos, a hand pie from Stargazy, or a coffee from Plenty Cafe.

8 p.m. – a farewell cocktail

Before you leave East Passyunk, stop in at Townsend for a perfectly crafted cocktail, and mingle with its friendly bar staff until it’s time to head home after a long, productive day in Philly.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.