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9 best philadelphia tours: liberty bell, cheesesteaks & more.
Bus tours, walking tours and even "Rocky"-themed excursions are among the offerings.
The Best Philadelphia Tours
J. Smith | Courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
The "Rocky" statue is one of the sights you'll see along the Yo, Philly! Rocky Film Tour.
There are so many things to do in Philadelphia that the historic landmarks alone – Independence Hall , the Liberty Bell , the National Constitution Center , the Betsy Ross House – could fill an entire trip. To make the most of your time, consider a guided Philadelphia tour that covers a variety of attractions and experiences, from visiting lesser-known "Rocky" filming locations with a Sylvester Stallone look-alike to tasting your way through the city's best food markets with an expert.
Based on travel expert opinions and recent views from sites like Tripadvisor and Google, these are the best tours in Philadelphia.
The Yo, Philly! Rocky Film Tour
Price: From $350 Duration: 3 hours
Mike Kunda, a lifelong fan of "Rocky" and the winner of a national "Rocky" look-alike contest, leads private tours to "Rocky" filming locations throughout Philadelphia. You'll visit Rocky's apartment from the first movie, the Front Street Gym featured in "Creed," the infamous site of the Tommy Gunn fight in "Rocky V," the Rocky Steps and Statue and more. Kunda will share stories told to him by actor Sylvester Stallone from his time on set during the filming of "Rocky Balboa," "Creed" and "Creed II," and there will be plenty of "Rocky" trivia along the way. Participants praise Kunda's depth and breadth of knowledge and love his enthusiasm.
The tour is limited to private groups of up to seven people for a flat rate of $350. Tours must be booked in advance on the official website.
View & Book Tickets: The Yo, Philly! Rocky Film Tour
Philly by Segway – 1 Hour Segway Adventure of Philadelphia
Price: From $65 Duration: 1 hour
This short Philadelphia tour allows up to eight participants to see several of the city's top sights without exhausting themselves. Tour-takers will hop on Segways to glide through sections like Queen Village, Old City and Society Hill. Along the way, guides share information about Philadelphia's history and attractions, and even take photos, which are emailed to riders for free within two days after the tour. Tourgoers say the guides, who make everyone feel safe, are excellent.
Tours run daily at 10 a.m. and 12:30 and 3 p.m. There is also a seasonal 5:30 p.m. outing. Tickets start at $65 per person. Riders must be at least 12 years old, weigh between 100 and 300 pounds and wear a helmet. Philly by Segway also offers a cheesesteak tour .
View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide
B. Krist | Courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Big Bus Philadelphia – 1-Day Tour
Price: Adults from $36; kids from $17 Duration: 90 minutes or more
If you're looking for a traditional hop-on, hop-off bus tour in Philly, climb aboard the Big Bus Philadelphia for an overview of the city. If any one of the landmarks along the route pique your interest, hop off to explore and hop back on when you're ready; buses frequent stops every 25 to 45 minutes and there's no limit to how many times you can board the bus over the course of a day. If you decide to stay on the bus, the tour lasts about 90 minutes. Stops along the blue route – Big Bus' only line – include the Betsy Ross House, LOVE Park and the Barnes Foundation . Experienced English-speaking guides offer a comprehensive commentary along the route. While this is the highest-rated Philadelphia bus tour, reviews are mixed. Some travelers note the bus is best for transportation only and not for learning about the history of the city, while others say they were pleased with their guide and the overall experience.
Buses run daily from approximately 9:30 a.m. to around 5 or 6 p.m.; hours may vary in the winter months. Tickets start at $36 for adults and $17 for kids ages 4 to 12. Two- and three-day bus tour tickets are also available.
View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide
The Constitutional Walking Tour
Price: Adults from $23; kids from $17 Duration: 75 minutes
The Constitutional Walking Tour provides an overview of the Independence National Historical Park area, stopping by more than 20 of the city's historic locations on a 1.25-mile journey. Visitors will see and learn about important sights, including Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and Old City Hall, among other landmarks. Participants rave about the knowledgeable guides, who they say are excellent historians.
Tours are offered three times every day from April to November; exact times vary by day. Tickets start at $23 for adults and $17 for children ages 3 to 12. The company also offers a combination package, which includes the Spirits of '76 Ghost Tour.
View & Book Tickets: Viator
Grim Philly Twilight Tours – Dark Philly Adult Tour
Price: From $30 Duration: 2 hours
Enjoy nearly two tours of haunting history on the Dark Philly Adult Tour from Grim Philly Twilight Tours. Your expert guide – who is either a college professor or a history degree-holder – will take you on a historic sightseeing walk. You'll see the city's top sights – including the site of the first White House and homes of several Founding Fathers – illuminated as guides share stories of ghosts, executions and vampires, among other dark tales. Despite the spooky content, travelers say the guides are great storytellers and make plenty of jokes. The tour is not appropriate for young children, however.
Tickets start at $30 and tours run nightly at 8 p.m., with the exception of Tuesdays in the winter months. Grim Philly offers a variety of other tours, including haunted pub crawls and daytime history walks suitable for all ages.
View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide
City Food Tours Philadelphia – Flavors of Philly
Price: Adults from $49; kids from $44 Duration: 2.5 hours
Arrive with an empty stomach for the Flavors of Philly tour, which makes stops at five local eateries (including Reading Terminal Market ) over the course of about 2 1/2 hours. Guides will discuss Philly's food history and the origin of the city's iconic foods, all while participants nosh on local favorites like cheesesteaks, Cheez Whiz fries, tomato pie, soft pretzels and more. No one walks away hungry, according to reviewers. They also say the food is delicious.
The company advises that this tour is not designed for children younger than 5. Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays around noon. Other tours offered include Historic Old City and East Passyunk.
Founding Footsteps – BYOB Tours of Philadelphia
Price: Adults from $48.50; kids from $25 Duration: 2 hours
Bring your own beer or wine and hop aboard a trolley for a different kind of Philadelphia tour. You'll not only see the city's major attractions and learn insider knowledge of lesser-known sites, you'll get to sip your beverage of choice and listen to corny jokes. Travelers say the tour is a hilarious and fun way to see and learn about Philly; even locals say they enjoy the trip.
Tours last around two hours, but the length of the tour can depend on timing and how many stops the group decides to make. The tour is offered on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1, 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets start at $48.50 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children. Keep in mind that though children are welcome on the tour, imbibers must be 21 or older. Founding Footsteps is also known for its Bad Things Happen in Philly tour.
View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide
K. Kelly | Courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
Mural Arts Philadelphia Tours
Price: Adults from $25; kids from $18 Duration: 1.5 hours
Aside from historic landmarks and good food, Philadelphia has myriad murals; in fact, it's known as the "Mural Capital of the World." You’re bound to see some of the city's more than 4,000 murals no matter where you go, but for a unique perspective, take one of the tours hosted by Mural Arts Philadelphia (the largest public art program in the U.S.). Typically available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the tours provide an in-depth look at some of the city's most iconic murals, including the inspiration and artists behind them. Recent travelers say they enjoyed the experience and only wish they could have seen more murals on the tour.
Tour routes vary from week to week, and are either on foot or by trolley. Tickets for walking tours start at $25 for adults and $18 for kids 12 and younger; tickets for trolley tours cost more. Check the schedule ahead of your trip and note that tickets must be purchased in advance.
View & Book Tickets: Mural Arts Philadelphia
Free Tours by Foot – Independence Mall Tour
Price: $3 reservation fee; tips are encouraged Duration: 2 hours
This Philadelphia tour technically isn't free as advance reservations are required and include a $3-per-person booking fee – but it's still cheap and fun, according to reviewers. On the roughly two-hour jaunt, guides will walk you through historic Philadelphia and discuss the early history of the city with lighthearted humor and trivia. Some of the sights covered include Carpenters' Hall, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Christ Church, Ben Franklin's burial site and City Tavern. The guides earn high marks from visitors, who applaud their vast historical knowledge and entertaining delivery.
Tours are offered at 10:30 a.m. daily as well as 2 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; winter hours may vary. Italian Market and Chinatown tours are also available, among other options.
View & Book Tickets: Free Tours by Foot
Why Trust U.S. News Travel
A former resident of Philly, Amanda Norcross now lives in the city's suburbs. She used her personal experiences and recommendations from other locals as well as reviews on Google and Tripadvisor to determine the best tours in Philadelphia.
You may also be interested in:
- The Best Hotels in Philadelphia
- The Best Places to Visit in Pe nnsylvania
- The Top Romantic Getaways in Pennsylvania
Tags: Philadelphia , Tours , Vacations , Travel , Pennsylvania Vacations , US Vacations , Mid-Atlantic Vacations
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City Food Tours Philadelphia – Flavors of Philly. Price: Adults from $49; kids from $44. Duration: 2.5 hours. Arrive with an empty stomach for the Flavors of Philly tour, which makes stops at ...