7 Tours in Philadelphia to Build a Day Around

1.Dark Philly Adult Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,241 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $38Our pick

Walk Philadelphia’s Old City after dark with a history or folklore professor such as Brittany, Brianna, Heather, Christa, or Ted. In about two hours, you’ll hear adult stories of brothels, executions, pirate ghosts, grave robbing, yellow fever, and Alexander Hamilton’s affairs while seeing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall at night.

“Brittany was great! Big group (20 or so), so we were worried it’d be tough to hear the stories - but she’s a pro! Not only was she informative and knowledgeable, but also incredibly engaging and entertaining! The size of the group ended up being no issue at all, and even though it was an incredibly cold and icy night – everyone in the group seemed to have a great time. We learned a lot, and will definitely recommend this to friends!”

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2.Revolution and the Founders: History Tour of Philadelphia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,944 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $29

Walk Old City Philadelphia with guides such as Josh, Kyle, Ted, Joseph, and Vince, all trained in history. In two hours, you’ll see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Franklin Court, Carpenters’ Hall, Congress Hall, and more. The tour stays outdoors, with morning and afternoon departures and time left for museums afterward.

“An essential Philadelphia experience! The tour guides all have a history background. I highly recommend taking this tour.”

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3.Philadelphia Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,347 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Ride Philadelphia’s open-top double-decker bus with live English commentary, then hop off near Independence Hall, Reading Terminal Market, the Rocky Steps, South Street, and Penn’s Landing. Guides such as Harris, Keith, Nick, Naomi, John, and Sebastian have earned praise for lively storytelling. Plan on a full 90-minute loop before choosing your stops.

“Good value and informative. Get on and off as much as you’d like. Goes by all the major city sites. It’s great”

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4.Philadelphia Old City Historic Walking Tour with 10+ Top Sites

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,020 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $43

Spend 90 minutes walking Philadelphia’s Old City with a local guide, often Seamus, Joseph, Amanda, or Ty. Expect stories, humor, and photo stops at Betsy Ross House, Elfreth’s Alley, Christ Church, the Liberty Bell, Carpenters’ Hall, and Independence Hall. The group is capped at 20, and several departure times make planning easy.

“Joseph was very informative, friendly and funny…the walking tour was just the right amount of time..”

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5.Eastern State Penitentiary Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 894 reviews · 365 days · from $21Best value

Walk through Eastern State Penitentiary at your own pace with an audio guide narrated by Steve Buscemi. See Al Capone’s cell, crumbling cellblocks, prison yards, exhibits, art installations, and the long-abandoned Hospital Block. English and Spanish audio are available, with occasional guide-led tours included when offered.

“It was a very nice experience visiting the penitentiary. Must visit while here in Philly.”

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6.Double-Decker Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 868 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $39

Take a 90-minute open-top bus loop through Philadelphia with live English narration and audio guides in eight other languages. Ride past Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Rocky Steps, and Penn’s Landing. A 1, 2, or 3-day pass lets you hop off for museums, markets, and historic streets.

“All the tour guides on the buses were really informative and knowledgable. A great way to visit Philly and learn about the city.”

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7.Revolution and The Founders History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 450 reviews · 2 hours · from $29

Meet outside the Independence Visitor Center and spend two hours walking through Revolutionary Philadelphia with an English-speaking historian. See the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Carpenters Hall, Betsy Ross House, Franklin-related sites, and locations tied to Washington, Hamilton, Madison, and Paine. Guides such as Wendy, Joseph, Vince, Josh, and Bill bring the period to life with stories and questions.

“Alex was very passionate about the material and came prepared with additional materials. She was wonderful.”

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