There are a lot of great things to do in Philadelphia with kids! Whether you want to check out incredible museums, learn some American history, or eat some delicious food, there is something for you and your family.
The only problem? Well, planning a trip to a big city like Philadelphia can be a bit overwhelming. Lucky for you though, we’ve visited the city and are here to help with our favorite tips.
We made a stop here on our East Coast road trip where we also visited New York City , Boston , Washington DC , Lincoln, NH and a few other places.
This post will share a list of the top things to do in Philadelphia. We’ve also included a condensed list of how to spend one day in Philadelphia in case you are just stopping in and want to hit the highlights.
Highlights of Top Things To Do In Philadelphia With Kids
Attraction Pass: Go City All Inclusive Pass Valid for up to 5 days this pass will provide admission for up to 30 different attractions. On this pass you will find some of the top things to do in Philadelphia with kids.
Top Tour: Flavors Of Philly Food Tour Experience some of Philly’s local favorite foods.
Where To Stay Hotel: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
Things to Do In Philadelphia with Kids
In this section, we will discuss the best things to do in Philadelphia when you have kids in tow. These museums, historical sites, and playgrounds are all perfect for kids, but fun for adults as well. As an added bonus, many of these spots are educational, making them ideal additions to any roadschooling adventure.
Below that we will share our 1 day Itinerary of exactly what we did when we visited Philly with our kids! I will say 1 day was not enough and there is so much more we want to go back to explore.
Here it is the top things to do in Philadelphia with kids:
Franklin Institute Science Museum
A favorite stop of many is the Franklin Institute Science Museum . This is a large museum with a wide variety of educational hands-on activities. There is something for all ages, making it an ideal attraction for families, even if there happens to be a large gap between kids.
One awesome part of this museum is the Franklin Air Show where kids can sit in a real plane, experiment with the force of lift, and even do some pilot training. The Giant Heart is also a fan favorite; this interactive exhibit allows kids to climb through a gigantic replica of a heart. Other areas of the museum include an electricity exhibit, a spot all about machines and how they work, and an area to learn about planet Earth.
Of course, you won’t want to miss the special exhibitions or the many docent talks that happen throughout the day!
This museum is included in the Go City All-Inclusive Pass . This pass is awesome because it includes 30 Philadelphia attractions and tours, all for one low price. You simply choose the number of days you want to visit and then bounce from one included attraction to the next for the duration of your stay.
Flavors of Philly Food Tour
Enjoying a pretzel while on the Food Tour
We have always found that a food tour is a great way to show kids the city while keeping them engaged since they get to eat throughout the Flavors of Philly Food Tour! Plus you learn a lot about the local history through your guide since they will share the backstory on all of the places that you go.
Plus the local guides are usually passionate about their city and it is fun to get wrapped up in their excitement and pride about their city. Taking this food tour was one of our favorite things to do in Philadelphia with kids.
Please Touch Museum
Have kids who like to touch everything? (Well…what kid doesn’t, right?) The Please Touch Museum is perfect for little ones because it actually encourages them to touch anything and everything as they explore and learn. It doesn’t get much more kid-friendly than that!
One of the best spots in the Please Touch Museum is the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace . Here, visitors get to become inventors as they create and build with a variety of materials and tools. We also really love the Creative Arts Studio for young creators. This area encourages little artists to let their creative juices flow, and offers the perfect space and supplies for creating art and making messes.
More hands-on fun can be found in the River Adventures water play area, as well as the Please Touch Garden. Young mechanics will appreciate the Roadside Attractions exhibit where they can work on toy cars, and the Imagination Playground allows kids to build their own play area. Of course, you won’t want to miss the tiny grocery store or the Fairytale Garden!
Spruce Street Harbor Park
If the weather is nice when you visit Philadelphia, you really must make time for Spruce Street Harbor Park located on Penn’s Landing. This family-friendly attraction is located on the Delaware River Waterfront and is the perfect place to make some memories.
First, we must mention the hammocks. That’s right, hammocks! You see, this waterfront park has some first-come, first-served hammocks available to the public, as well as some retail hammocks. Find one (or reserve one) and then kick back and relax in your private hammock as the world passes you by. There really isn’t a better way to relax while in the middle of the city, and we love that this is such a unique experience.
The other notable thing about Spruce Street Harbor Park? The dining. There are a number of outdoor dining locations set up in the park, making it easy to grab some food and enjoy a picnic. Some of the food options include PhillyTaco, French Toast Bites, Chickie’s & Pete’s, Frozen Delights, the Barge Bar Oasis, and the Beer Garden.
Independence Hall
Standing in front of Independence Hall
No visit to Philadelphia is complete without a stop at Independence Hall. This is where it all began—the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Tours of Independence Hall are free (besides a $1 service charge), but you must reserve a timed entry ticket in advance. The tour guides provide tons of awesome information, making it possible to imagine what it must’ve been like to be in the building as the document was being signed. After your tour, be sure to check out the small museum to see some amazing artifacts.
This “ Revolutionary Walk Through Historic Old City ” tour of Philadelphia is a great addition to your visit to Independence Hall. While visiting Independence Hall is free and you will need to reserve your tickets separately from the tour, the tour does take guests to Independence Hall as well as a number of other notable locations such as the Liberty Bell. It’s a comedic tour and makes learning about the history of the city both fascinating and fun.
City Hall
Did you know that Philadelphia’s City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States? The iconic building is topped with a statue of William Penn and is home to some of the most lavish public rooms in the city. It’s also chock-full of interesting history and incredible details.
Learn all about the building, its history, and its details by taking a guided tour of the place. Currently, tours of the interior of the building are on hold. However, tours of the exterior are being offered and are well worth taking to learn about this fascinating and beautiful building.
Mini Golf
Mini golf is a great addition to any family vacation, and a vacation to Philadelphia is no exception. Believe it or not, there are actually a few great places to play mini-golf in the city. Our favorite is Philly Mini Golf found in Franklin Square.
Franklin Square is a park located in historic Philly. It is one of the city’s original five squares and is surrounded by historical sites. The park itself is home to a gorgeous historic fountain, a carousel, playgrounds, the famous SquareBurger restaurant, and of course, mini golf.
Philly Mini Golf Course has a super fun, historic Philadelphia theme and features a number of miniature versions of the city’s historic buildings and sites. It’s an 18-hole course, meaning plenty of opportunity for fun and silliness, and even offers some little history lessons along the way!
Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse
If you need a place for the kids to run and play, the Mitch Memorial Playground & Playhouse is for you. Located in East Fairmount Park, this attraction has both an outdoor playground and an indoor play space, meaning you can have a great time as a family no matter the weather.
The Smith Memorial outdoor playground features all of the usual play equipment. Here, you’ll find swings, slides, ride-on rocking toys, and plenty of structures to climb. There is a nature play area and a super cool giant wooden slide that has been in use since 1905. Kids especially love the saucer swings and the spinning climbing cone. Of course, you won’t want to miss the nature trails as you explore the outdoor area!
When you head inside the enormous “playhouse” you’ll find art supplies, a super fun pretend train, ride-on toys with a “road” to ride them on, and various kinds of building blocks.
All of this play equipment is 100% free to access!
