When we found $100 roundtrip tickets to Philly in early December, we jumped at the chance to visit a city we’d never been to before. There is so much rich history in Philly, and there are so many things to do in Philadelphia with kids that we are already thinking about planning our next trip back to this East Coast historical gem. If you’re planning a trip to Philadelphia with kids, we hope this travel guide will help you as you plan your vacation!
Where We Stayed
We wanted to stay in Center City Philadelphia. Since we’re Marriot rewards members and are traveling with five people, we stayed at the Residence Inn Philadelphia Center City. It was the best experience!
Our room was on a high floor and had an incredible view of Philadelphia City Hall! We were upgraded to an incredible suite that was huge, super clean, and luxurious. You would have never thought it was a Residence Inn! Downstairs each morning was a hot breakfast buffet. And our location was central to everything. We couldn’t have chosen a better hotel for visiting Philadelphia with kids.
Must-Visit Bar (even with kids!)
Sure we had our kids with us, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to visit McGillin’s Old Ale House, the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philly and one of the oldest in the country. It opened the year Lincoln was elected president. As a girl from the suburbs, the history here is so incredible to me and something my family doesn’t get to experience often at home.
This bar is super family-friendly in the early hours. We went for dinner around 6 pm. It was lively, welcoming, and totally decked out for the holidays.
While we were there, FYI Philly was there filming and my hubby and I made a little cameo under the mistletoe. My kids were thoroughly embarrassed, which made it even better!
Must-Visit Indoor Farmer’s Market
Make some time to visit the Reading Terminal Market. This was just a short walk from our hotel, and absolutely a must-visit spot in Philly. This indoor farmer’s market is the perfect spot for foodies and shoppers alike.
Make sure you bring your appetite! The market is full of vendors selling made-to-order food, fresh meats, seafood and produce for meals, Amish baked goods, deserts, candies, coffee, flowers, etc.
My oldest daughter was thrilled to find fresh candy apples on a stick. I was dying over the fresh cinnamon rolls from the Amish bakery. My youngest was HORRIFIED by the fish market, making our visit short-lived, unfortunately. Kids, sheesh. TH
Screaming kid or not, I made sure to get a fresh coffee and huge order of cinnamon rolls to take back to the hotel with me.
Things to do in Philadelphia in December
December is a magical time to visit Philadelphia. We arrived the first weekend of December, which was the perfect time. The weather was still fall-like and not too cold. The city was decorated for Christmas and the Christmas Tree near Philadelphia City Hall was being lit.
German Christmas Market
Each holiday season, you can visit Christmas Village, the German Christmas Market at Love Park, and Philadelphia City Hall. It’s filled with vendors at wooden booths selling international gifts, crafts, jewelry, etc. And you can definitely taste some European food and drink while you’re there.
Winter at Dilworth Park
Winter at Dilworth Park is full of attractions for everyone and is full of holiday magic. It’s a perfect holiday spot if you’re visiting Philadelphia with kids.
. You can shop at the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market at Dilworth Park. It begins mid-November and runs through January 1. Here you can find local crafters, artists, and designers selling handmade holiday goods.
Also located at Dilworth Park is the outdoor ice skating rink. You can pre-order timed tickets good for 90 minutes of skating. It’s located next to City Hall and is open from early November through the end of February.
Take a stroll through Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn and enjoy the topiaries and other holiday plants. There’s also a holiday light show projected on City Hall nightly in late February through December.
Dicken’s Village and Macy’s Light Show
We were wowed just by Macy’s itself. It is a historic landmark in the Wanamaker Building. It is gorgeous and rich in history.
One of our favorite things from our trip was our visit to Dicken’s Village at the Center City Macy’s. And it’s free to reserve tickets! You’ll walk through the animatronic story of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.
Macy’s also has a light show that runs daily at specific times. This has been a Philadelphia tradition for 50 years. We timed our trip to Dicken’s Village with the light show so we could see both. The light show is set in Macy’s Grand Court and features over 100,000 twinkling lights set to music and narrated by Julie Andrews and accompanied by the famous Wanamaker Organ.
Independence National Historical Park — Downtown
Visiting Independence Hall was at the top of our list. We decided to take a Lyft over to Old City, Philadelphia since we were on a time crunch and made it in about 5 minutes from our hotel by City Hall. Old City is a charming part of Philadelphia and full of 18th century cobblestone streets, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. I wish we’d had more time to explore it!
Reservations to Independence Hall must be made ahead of time from March- December and on holidays. When booking online, there’s a $1 handling fee, but the tickets are free. The tour itself is about 20 minutes long, but they ask that you arrive 30 minutes early to get through a security screening.
During the tour, you’ll see the room where both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed. It is pretty incredible! We love experiencing history together and had a great time on our tour, as well as walking around outside and taking in the colonial architecture.
Liberty Bell Center
Across the street from Independence Hallin Old City is the Liberty Bell Center. This did not require reservations and was free to enter, but it did require a security screening at the entrance.
It was pretty amazing to see the Liberty Bell in person with a picture-perfect view of Independence Hall in the background!
Rittenhouse Square Farmer’s Market
One of my favorite things to do when visiting a city is to check out their local farmer’s markets. It’s a great way to get introduced to local produce, food, and other goodies. On Saturday morning, we walked from our hotel over to Rittenhouse Square to their Farmer’s Market.
Rittenhouse Square is one of the five original squares that were founded by William Penn. The neighborhood surrounding Rittenhouse Square is filled with luxury stores and apartments and is an exclusive neighborhood in Philadelphia.
A square is a great place for a picnic after picking up goodies from the farmer’s market or for relaxing on a bench. It’s one of the most popular outdoor spots in Philly!
Franklin Square
Franklin Square is one of the best spots for family activities in Philadelphia with kids. It is also one of the original five squares and was originally known as “North East Publick Square.” It’s since been renamed (in 1825) in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin Square’s 8 acres provide fun outdoor activities for families, including a carousel reminiscent of European parks. It also included mini golf and a storytelling bench. The park’s centerpiece is the gorgeous, marble Franklin Square Fountain, which was built in 1838. Since its recent renovation, the fountain now provides an amazing light show.
Chinatown Philly
Philadelphia’s Chinatown is a vibrant part of the downtown area. It was settled by Cantonese immigrants in the 19th century and now represents an abundance of Asian cultures. It’s within walking distance from Center City and should definitely be part of your trip.
We entered at the Chinatown Friendship Gate and walked up and down the streets taking in the incredible smells. It’s truly an immersive experience.
My daughters are obsessed with boba tea and were thrilled to find a Tiger Sugar since we don’t have one near us. It was the best part of their day!
Philadelphia CityPASS®
If you’ll be in Philadelphia for a few days and plan to hit several attractions, you might consider purchasing the Philadelphia CityPASS®. You’ll save a lot of money this way and have the option to choose 3-5 attractions. Options include:
- Adventure Aquarium
- The Franklin Institute
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Big Bus Company and Philadelphia Trolley Works
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- National Constitution Center
- Barnes Foundation
The CityPASS® is good for 9 days (consecutively) and you don’t have to choose your attractions until after your purchase the pass. And members of your group don’t even have to go to the same attraction. So if my husband and I wanted to split up the kids and see different things, we can totally do that!
While we didn’t purchase the CityPASS® on our visit, I’ll definitely consider it for next time!
On the Itinerary Next Visit
Since we were only in Philly for a couple of days, there were many things we weren’t able to do. Here’s what will be on the agenda for next time:
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
These aren’t your typical gardens. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens are mixed-media mosaic masterpieces. It was created by Isaiah Zagarand and is a nonprofit museum.
In the 1960s, Zagar decided to spruce up the streets around the current gardens with his wife Julia, which in turn helped to revitalize the South Street neighborhood with colorful mosaics and murals for the next few decades. It’s the epitome of self-expression and is at the top of my list as a must-visit in Philly.
Longwood Gardens (about 35 miles from Center City Philadelphia)
While this site is about an hour of drive-time from the city center of Philadelphia, I absolutely want to spend a day here. The Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square look incredible!
The land was originally home to the Lenni Lenape tribe and Quaker farmers before becoming gardens open to the public. The Longwood Gardens were founded in 1907 by Pierre S. du Pont and have gone from a single country garden to the marvelous garden that it is today.
Museum of the American Revolution
History buffs will love this museum! It brings details of the revolution alive and allows visitors to explore how the revolution affected various people groups in the country. Visitors claim that it’s one of the best museums in the country.
I love that they offer a discounted family 4-pack of tickets. Seeing the sights definitely gets pricey with a large family, so any discount really helps if you’re visiting Philadelphia with kids. The Museum of the American Revolution is definitely on my must-do list for the next time I’m in Philly.
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is an incredible science museum, and looks like something our whole family would love! It is filled with three floors of interactive, hands-on exhibits. While the tickets aren’t cheap, it seems that you’d get your money’s worth at the Franklin Institute! Definitely add it to your list of things to do in Philadelphia with kids.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
This was on my list for our previous trip, but we, unfortunately, ran out of time. The Philadelphia Museum of Art has 200 galleries that are housed in an incredible building. The iconic steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art are featured in the famous Rocky scene. Entry is pricey for adults at $25 each. Kids under 18 are free, though, and there are student discounts, as well.
National Constitution Center
Interactive exhibits and programs bring the constitution to life for guests. It’s filled with life-sized statues of the founding fathers and many educational exhibits that allow you to explore the United States Constitution.
The National Constitution Museum would be interesting for older kids and adults, but little kids may be a bit bored.m
Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo is America’s first zoo! It has been open for over 160 years, which is pretty amazing. It’s home to over 1,900 animals and some incredible exhibits that everyone will love and should be on your list if you’ll be visiting Philadelphia with kids.
If you’re purchasing a Philadelphia City Pass, you can choose the zoo as one of your choices. Otherwise, prepare to spend $25 on adult tickets, $20 for kids 2-11, and $17 on parking. It’s not cheap, so plan to stay the whole day. It’s open daily 9:30 am- 5:00 pm and requires reserved tickets in advance.
Is it safe to visit Philadelphia?
This is a question that’s often asked. Philadelphia oftentimes gets a bad rap due to reports of violent crime. But it is absolutely a city worth visiting. As with any big city in the US, crime rates will be higher, but as long as you educate yourself about the area and take precautions, you should be fine.
If you’ll be taking SEPTA, Philadelphia’s public transportation system, travel during the day or early evening and keep to popular tourist areas to minimize risks. Like any subway or bus system, traveling late at night or solo is more of a risk. Hide your valuables and don’t stare down at your phone. Be aware when riding the subway or bus and know your route.
We didn’t run into any issues when we visited Philly. We stayed around the walkable tourist areas around Downtown Philly, didn’t venture to unknown streets after dark, and made sure to stay together and aware. I don’t like to live in fear, but I also know that awareness is a necessity. We never felt unsafe during our time in Philadelphia and had a wonderful experience!
Wrapping Up
Philadelphia really is an incredible, historic city full of rich history and amazing attractions. You’ll find plenty of things to do in Philadelphia with kids. While it often gets a bad rap, I think everyone should take advantage of any opportunity to visit Philly. I think you’ll love it as much as we did!
