How to Spend a Fun 3-Day Weekend in Philly (Itinerary from a local!)

As someone who has both lived in Philadelphia (yup, I paid taxes!) and visited as a tourist, I have a pretty good grasp of the array of activities in Philadelphia. So much so that people always ask for my recommendations for a weekend in Philly when they come to visit.

Philadelphia is a great city to visit for a day or weekend, thanks to its proximity to big cities like DC and New York City, and its plethora of transportation options if you don’t want to drive there! Read on for a Philadelphia itinerary you can use.

Whether you are visiting Philly for the art, food, or history and architecture, planning a weekend visit to Philadelphia might feel overwhelming. There is always something new popping up, debates on which bites are the tastiest, and what seems like not enough hours in a day to try it all!

To get you started, here is a 3-day weekend Philadelphia itinerary that will give you a taste of some of Philly’s best without making you feel burned out by the end. If you are yearning for a break outdoors while there, pair it with a couple of these stunning hikes near Philadelphia. 

1:00pm: Check into An affordable luxury Philly hotel in center city

My favorite way to experience Philly is on foot. Traffic can get stressful (depending on the time of day) and public transit within the city is not my favorite.

But booking a hotel in the center of it all allows for freedom to experience whatever you want when you want it. For farther sites, a quick Uber/Lyft/Taxi ride will do just fine. 

My Philly hotel recommendations: 

• When I didn’t live in Philly, and just visiting for a weekend, I enjoyed staying at the renovated Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown overlooking City Hall. Get a corner king suite if you can stretch it. It is beautiful!
• I’ve also stayed at the beautiful Warwick Hotel at Rittenhouse Square. This affluent neighborhood has lush treelined streets, a beautiful park, and the hotel itself is definitely an elegant contemporary vibe.

These Philly hotels were both in optimal locations with gorgeous surroundings. Like other hotels, early check-in is hit or miss, but you can have the front desk hold your bag for free. 

1:30pm: Have a Quintessential Philly lunch at Reading Terminal Market

Open during daytime hours (now extended until 6 pm), Reading Terminal Market is the perfect lunch spot to refuel before a day of exploring. A national historic landmark building, the market has existed since the 1800s and offers delectable sweet, savory, and filling tastes for any palate. Be sure to bring cash as a backup; some merchants don’t accept credit cards. 

2:30pm: Find the best spot to take panoramic Photos of Philadelphia  

Head to One Liberty Observation Deck for a scenic overlook of the city and access resources for planning out your weekend. Between detailed facts about City Hall, art installations, and an interactive board that allows you to zoom in on landmarks, you’ll find time flies when you’re taking selfies with Philly from 57 stories high!

4:00pm: Join a Philly Mural-mile walking tour

Philadelphia is known for its energetic and inspiring murals, accessible to everyone. Take a self-led tour at your leisure or join a themed tour for a fee. I prefer guided if the murals go beyond the greater center city because some neighborhoods are a bit more desolate and you always want safety first.

Mural Arts Philadelphia’s mural-mile tour guides you through “the world’s largest outdoor art gallery”. Be sure to grab a must-have photo of Philly’s “LOVE” sculpture at Love Park.

7:00pm: Dine in old-world luxury at a glam Philadelphia restaurant

There are so many amazing spots to eat in Philadelphia. For dinner and drinks, dine under glam chandeliers towering from 24-foot ceilings at Harp & Crown.

Kick off the evening fused with cachaca, fig, lime, and thyme from their Elfreth’s Garden cocktail, and order an array of dishes served to share. My favorites include truffle pizza, Berkshire pork belly, and “Rooster’s Comb mac & cheese”. 

9:00am: Start the day with ease

If you wake up with your calves and feet aching, you’re feeling the effects of a day well toured. Start the day with ease by taking deep breaths, elongated stretches, and gentle yoga. Here’s a diverse list of free yoga videos you can try in the comfort of your hotel room before starting your day.

For breakfast, buy a breakfast sandwich at Wawa (you can spot one by way of drooling Philadelphians — they’re obsessed), have brunch at one of these Latin-owned Philly restaurants, or head to Rittenhouse Square Farmer’s Market on Saturdays (say hello to my friends Teddy and Faith at Plowshare Farms)!

10:30am: Celebrate Philly history at Independence National Historic Park

If you can’t visit Philadelphia without a visit to some of the USA’s first government landmarks, walk to Old City and explore Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Surrounding are the Philadelphia History Museum, Independence Visitor Center, National Constitution Center, and the First Bank of the United States (to name a few).

For lunch: head directly across from the Liberty Bell to drink, dine, and play at the Independence Beer Garden (only open during the summer). You’ll love the open-air space, oversized games, and Adirondack chairs. 

4:00pm: BYOB & take a hilarious history tour via trolley

There are more iconic Philly sites to see, but you’ll need to hitch a ride for this one. This is where booking a tour would best fit the itinerary.

When I booked the 2-hour Historically Hilarious tour with Founding Footsteps for my bestie’s bachelorette party last summer, I added it to my list of recommended activities to suggest for first-time visitors.

This BYOB tour is comically brimming with historical dad jokes by way of old-fashioned trolley, but actually quite informative and a great way to sightsee ’round Philadelphia while resting your feet. This tour will also take you to the famous Rocky Steps along Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

After your tour is done, walk off the laughter for a few blocks to visit Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in the country (and a super cute photo opportunity).

7:00pm: Dine in Philly with delicious Peruvian Flair 

If you end up loving Old City as much as everyone else does, stick around for dinner and eat at Peruvian-owned Vista Peru: an authentic Peruvian restaurant and Pisco Bar. Close your eyes while enjoying the ceviche, lomo saltado, and Pisco, and you’ll be transported to Lima in bliss — trust me, I’ve tried it firsthand (in both Lima and Philly).

9:00am: Line up for Morning Glory or get funky with green eggs

For your Yelp fix, queue up for Philadelphia’s popular Morning Glory Diner for breakfast (but emotionally prepare for a possible long wait) and order morning potatoes and frittatas.

Alternatively, Green Eggs Cafe is but a stone’s throw from your Center City hotel and often a top local recommendation (there’s now one in my Brewerytown neighborhood with a similarly long line – woohoo!)

If you’re more of a coffee shop person, head over to Good Karma Cafe in center city. There are four locations to choose from and it is a top Black-owned restaurant in Philadelphia.

11:00am: Transport to a magical place

Near Sam’s Morning Glory Diner is the famous Philadelphia Magical Gardens: an extensive art gallery adorned with mosaic art made from recycled materials. From the fantastical lower level to an outdoor “backyard” with twisting paths, you’ll use up your camera’s storage space taking photos galore.

Note: the basement is for guided tours only, and the outdoor sculpture garden is not entirely wheelchair accessible. There are also narrow stairs to watch out for. 

1:00pm: Know where to find your favorite Philly cheesesteak

Meat eaters can’t leave Philadelphia without trying a famous cheesesteak, so head to Passyunk Square to decide once and for all whether Pat’s or Geno’s is the best. (I prefer Pat’s between the two, but they’re both just good.)

Or… you can listen to Philly locals and avoid both. Instead, head to Jim’s (South Street), Tony Luke’s (South Philly), or farther out to Delassandro’s or Max’s (definitely take an Uber).

How to get to Philadelphia without a car

You can get to Philadelphia by air, train, bus, or car. If you don’t have a car, no worries! It is still an easy trip. I usually visit Philadelphia from NYC via car, Amtrak, NJ Transit and Septa, or Mega/Bolt Bus (these days, Amtrak is my favorite but more expensive if you don’t book at least two weeks in advance — this 5’9″ girl loves the leg room). 

Prices and experiences vary but if you buy your ticket more than two weeks in advance you’ll get some great deals.

Enjoy!

xx O.

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