Philadelphia

Tours

Learn about American history on a tour of Washington DC and Philadelphia, both of which played important roles in the development of democracy in the USA. Visit the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, Independence Hall, and more on a guided day trip with roundtrip transfers from NYC. Your day will begin with an early morning departure from Times Square in Manhattan, where you’ll be greeted by your bilingual tour guide for the day. After 4-5 hours, your first destination will be the nation's current capital, Washington, DC. Once there, visit the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. During the tour, stop for a classic outside view of the White House, home and office of the U.S. President, and the Capitol Building, home of the U.S. Congress.  Next, head back north to Philadelphia, PA, the first-ever U.S. capitol. During the 3-hour journey, stop for a quick bite to eat. After arriving in the city, visit the historic Old City neighborhood and discover Independence National Historical Park on a brief walking tour. Then, ascend to the top of the Rocky Steps before returning to Times Square in Manhattan.

Explore the origins of America on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Philadelphia. Discover the city where America’s Founding Fathers first declared independence, and ratified the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of historic landmarks including the Christ Church Burial Grounds, Elfreth’s Alley, the Betsy Ross House, and Independence Hall.   Begin your tour at the Bourse Building, across from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Listen to the multilingual audio commentary as you enjoy the views from the open-top deck. See the Friendship Gate in Chinatown and be amazed by the architecture of Philadelphia’s City Hall.   Hop off to explore the various museums along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, including the world's largest collection of post-impressionist art at the Barnes Foundation. Marvel at Philadelphia’s skyline and stop to enjoy a bird’s-eye view from the One Liberty Observation Deck. Pass through the charming neighborhood of Society Hill and end your tour with a drive along the banks of the Delaware River. Stops:  • The Bourse Building  • Betsy Ross House  • National Constitution Center  • Chinatown  • Reading Terminal Market  • Love Park  • Cathedral Basilica  • Logan Circle  • Rodin Museum  • Eastern State Penitentiary  • Special Events - The Perelman Building  • The Rocky Steps and Statue  • West Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boat House Row  • Civil War Memorial  • Please Touch Museum  • Philadelphia Zoo  • Franklin Institute  • Mutter Museum  • One Liberty Observation Deck  • Avenue of the Arts  • Society Hill, Antique Row  • Mother Bethel A.M.E Church  • Headhouse Square  • Vietnam & Korean War Memorials  • Penns Landing  • Museum of the American Revolution  • Christ Church  • The Liberty Bell

Experience the impossible with an entry ticket to the Museum of Illusions Philadelphia. Immerse yourself in a world where your eyes will be in a constant battle with your brain. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, this brain-boggling museum is a one-of-a-kind destination for optical illusions.  Challenge yourself in more than 60 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms designed to tease the senses and trick the mind. Defy gravity, grow and shrink, walk on the ceiling, experience infinite space, and much more. Spend some time in the Smart Playroom with games that will stimulate and challenge your mind. Enjoy some friendly competition with friends and family while simultaneously improving your cognition, problem-solving skills, and memory.  Have fun while learning the mechanics behind each and every illusion you experience. And don't forget your camera or smartphone when you visit as there are eye-fooling photo-ops around every corner.

Discover the historic building of the Eastern State Penitentiary which stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Learn about how when Eastern State opened more than 180 years ago, it changed the world of prisons and was copied throughout the world. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of prisoners. Discover how the building itself was an architectural wonder; it had running water and central heat before the White House. Marvel at the vaulted, sky-lit cells which once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and Al Capone. As you explore the building, listen to 'The Voices of Eastern State' audio tour which is included in your admission price. Narrated by actor Steve Buscemi (known for Boardwalk Empire, Fargo, Armageddon, and Ghost World), this rich, stereo soundscape mixes dozens of voices. Hear the stories of 3 former wardens and 25 guards and inmates which create an atmospheric tour as you stroll through Eastern State's cellblocks and yards. When you arrive, receive an MP3 player and headset that will guide you through the penitentiary complex and explain the prison's history. This audio guide contains a main audio route, plus additional stops for subjects like escapes, riots, sports, sexuality, and more. You are free to tour at your own pace and to listen to (or skip) stops based on your interests. Also discover interactive experiences, history exhibits, and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations.

Walk around Philadelphia with a historian and learn about the American Revolution. Visit important sites like the home of George Washington, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall. Meet your guide at 6th and Market Street visitor center to begin the tour. Stroll the historic streets of Philadelphia and learn about the events of the American Revolution. Continue on to other sites connected revolutionary figures like George Washington, Paul Revere, and James Madison. Learn about America's founders from your guide. See the Liberty Bell and the homes of Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. Feel free to ask your guide any questions you have about this fascinating historical period. Visit the site of the Continental Congress and learn about other major figures such as Thomas Paine, James Madison, and Patrick Henry.

Step into Otherworld Philadelphia and discover a realm where imagination knows no bounds. Enjoy an interactive exhibit with a mesmerizing fusion of science fiction and fantasy. Explore at your own pace and be transported into an enchanting cinematic experience. Witness the work of over 100 talented artists, modelers, animators, and creative technologists who have come together to create an unparalleled wonderland. Roam and interact at your own pace, without any rules. Discover the rooms within this surreal landscape, each providing a unique masterpiece featuring iridescent creatures, primordial monsters, crawlable tubes, infinite expanses of light, and captivating narrative art. Spend as much time as you like savoring every moment. Marvel at the art's depth and explore secret passageways, mixed reality playgrounds, and mesmerizing exhibits that draw you into the heart of the narrative. Become the protagonist of your own story, shape your adventure, and revel in the joy of exploration.

Enjoy a unique day in historic Philadelphia and Lancaster County, home to Pennsylvania’s Amish community. You’ll travel from New York through New Jersey on your way to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. On your guided tour of Philadelphia you’ll see Elfert Alley, which is the oldest inhabited street in America. You’ll visit the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall, and have the opportunity to run up the famous Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Following your sightseeing in Philadelphia, the tour heads to Lancaster County, home to Pennsylvania’s Amish community. Explore the Amish market and enjoy some country cooking at lunch. After lunch at the Amish market you’ll go on an authentic Amish buggy ride through farm country and learn how the Amish live without the benefit of modern technology. Imagine no electricity, no running water, no telephones, and no appliances!

The 1.5-hour Philly By Night Double-Decker Bus Tour provides you with a different perspective of Philadelphia, with all the city’s attractions illuminated under a starry night sky. This is not a hop-on hop-off bus tour but does stop so you have the opportunity to climb the Rocky Steps at the Art Museum and take a photo of Philadelphia's sparkling skyline. Enjoy tour narration by a friendly and knowledgeable Philadelphia tour guide. Once you board the bus you’ll take in top sights including South Street, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Chinatown, the Avenue of the Arts, the Ben Franklin Parkway and the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens is your gateway to a botanical wonderland. From the moment you step inside, you'll be immersed in a vibrant tapestry of horticultural artistry. Explore hundreds of acres of meticulously designed gardens, each a unique ecosystem of color, scent, and texture. Witness the enchanting beauty of seasonal displays, with ever-changing themes that keep each visit fresh. Be sure to check for any captivating temporary exhibitions, which might reveal a new dimension of nature's beauty during your visit. Longwood Gardens isn't just about admiring nature's beauty; it's an opportunity to dive deeper into the world of plants. With experts on hand, you can join informative tours or engage with friendly docents who share fascinating insights. Feel free to meander at your own pace and immerse yourself in this living, breathing masterpiece. When your day at Longwood Gardens comes to a close, you'll find yourself in a central location, perfectly poised to explore more of the Pennsylvania countryside.

Discover Philadelphia history beyond what the guidebooks tell you! View the most iconic historical sites of Independence National Historical Park, admire beautiful architecture, and absorb the rich historical significance of American Revolutionary War landmarks. During our historic Philadelphia walking tour, we’ll pass by Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were born. We’ll also get a chance to see one of the most iconic artifacts from the American War of Independence, the Liberty Bell, from outside its home inside Liberty Bell Center. Other historic buildings in Old City, Philadelphia, we’ll pass on our tour include the very place where the American flag was created, the Betsy Ross House, and the site where inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin lived and operated his post office. Your local tour guide will take you down cobblestone streets and past row houses dating back to the city’s Revolutionary War period. You’ll feel transported back in time as you stroll down Elfreth’s Alley, the nation's oldest continuously inhabited residential street. We’ll make our way up the steps and into the recreated site of the President’s House, where you’ll learn not only about the lives of the two leaders who lived here, but the often untold stories of individuals who had their own key roles to play in the founding of our nation. This Philly history tour is for everyone, whether you’re an American history novice or a true history buff! Come join a local tour guide to hear the fascinating story of a fledgling United States, get to know our historic and modern-day city, and enjoy the top historical things to see in Philadelphia!