So you only have one day to see Philly? Well strap on your walking shoes and lets go!! Whether you take the train in for the day, or leave the airport during a long layover, there is plenty to do and see within walking distance in the City of Brotherly Love!
The majority of items on this list are closer in location to the 30th St. Station. If you take the train into town you can easily walk to these locations, just skipping a couple culinary outliers. If you take the aiport, you will need to Uber there and back, but at the remaning locations are relatively close together so you'll have no need to rent a car for the day!
The two outliers on this list are both food related. Food is a big part of travel for me, so there was no way I could visit Philly and NOT have a cheesesteak! We stopped by Pat's and split an extra cheesy cheesesteak. I don't like green peppers, but my half is definitely the one covered in onions. I'm not here to fight about the best or most original cheesesteak place in Philly, my father-in-law told us it was the right choice so we went. However, I will say that Geno's, directly across the corner, looked far too commercialized for me.
Next, we walked two blocks up to the vibrant corner restaurant, South Philly Barbacoa. The barbacoa restaurant came across my radar watching Chef’s Table on Netflix. If you haven’t yet seen chef Cristina Martinez’s episode, it’s a great place to start. The corner restaurant is small and unassuming. The line is long, the crowds are cramped, and it is worth every minute of waiting. The barbacoa is incredible! I’m not sure how my post turned into a restaurant review, but go! I’d suggest ordering by weight vs. just grabbing a couple tacos. Thank me later!
The majority of items on this list are closer in location to the 30th St. Station. If you take the train into town you can easily walk to these locations, just skipping a couple culinary outliers. If you take the aiport, you will need to Uber there and back, but at the remaning locations are relatively close together so you'll have no need to rent a car for the day!
The two outliers on this list are both food related. Food is a big part of travel for me, so there was no way I could visit Philly and NOT have a cheesesteak! We stopped by Pat's and split an extra cheesy cheesesteak. I don't like green peppers, but my half is definitely the one covered in onions. I'm not here to fight about the best or most original cheesesteak place in Philly, my father-in-law told us it was the right choice so we went. However, I will say that Geno's, directly across the corner, looked far too commercialized for me.
Next, we walked two blocks up to the vibrant corner restaurant, South Philly Barbacoa. The barbacoa restaurant came across my radar watching Chef’s Table on Netflix. If you haven’t yet seen chef Cristina Martinez’s episode, it’s a great place to start. The corner restaurant is small and unassuming. The line is long, the crowds are cramped, and it is worth every minute of waiting. The barbacoa is incredible! I’m not sure how my post turned into a restaurant review, but go! I’d suggest ordering by weight vs. just grabbing a couple tacos. Thank me later!
From
there, continue north on S. 9th St., passing by amazing open air Italian food
market stalls. A 13 minute walk helps you arrive at the nearby Magic Garden on
South Street. It’s an amazing mosaic created by a Philly native inspired by
street art in his travels around the world, Gaudi is a clear inspiration. It
was so creative and joyful—poetry, playful additions (toilets!), people. The
Magic Garden extends beyond the area you pay to enter, taking over nearby houses,
staircases and driveways.
The longest walk of
the day trip will be from the Magic Garden towards Independence Hall. If you
don’t have your walking shoes ready for the 18 minute trek, you can hop a quick
Uber across town, but walking will give you a nice respite while you cross the
length of Washington Square Park! To tour Independence Hall you’ll need to get
tickets (free for day of pickup, though tickets are limited, or $1 for online
preorder). Tickets can be picked up at the Independence Visitors Center.
Congress Hall (next
door) offers tours without tickets and you can simply walk across the street to
wait in line for a chance to glimpse the Liberty Bell up close! Philly has so
much history from America’s colonial history within a short distance.
Just east of
Independence Hall is Philadelphia’s current City Hall, which you cannot miss
thanks to the gigantic statue of William Penn at the top! Stop for food along
the way at Reading Terminal Hall. Push through the crowds at the indoor farmer’s
market full of diverse food stalls. Everything from Amish basked goods and peking
duck to Caribbean fare and fresh handmade filled crepes.
Across the street from
City Hall is Love Park. Renovated in the past few years from concrete to grass,
the “Love” statue is a great place to take in the downtown sites in the City of
Brotherly Love. If you head to Philly during the holidays, there’s a lovely
Christmas market in Love Park and at the base of City Hall. With local business
stalls, ice skating, and even an indoor beer garden, it’s a lovely fun festive
stop on your whirlwind tour of town.
The striking architecture of the 30th
Street Station is a wonderful place to end the day and grab your train back out
of town. Whether you Uber to and from the airport, or hoof it across from form
the train station and back, Philadelphia has loads to offer historically, culturally,
even culinarily.
Have you visited Philadelphia
before? Whether it was a day or more, let me know in the comments below what
else would be on your list of essential Philly stops!
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