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Major Landmarks of Philadelphia

Major Landmarks of Philadelphia

There is some good news and some bad news about your visit in Philadelphia. The good news is that Philadelphia is one of the most historical cities in the country, and there is so much to see and learn! The bad news is that your time here is very limited; so you’ll need to prioritize what you would like to see.

First off, check Uwishunu a couple weeks before your arrival for some highlighted events happening in Philly in late October. Most of my personal recommendations come from Visit Philadelphia’s “Top 10 Most Visited Attractions in Philadelphia,” as I feel it is right on point.

  1. Reading Terminal Market

    This is one we already covered in the first blog post!

Fortunately, these next attractions are all in Old City, within walking distance of the Convention Center!

  1. The Liberty Bell

    This is such an iconic symbol of our nation’s independence! The Liberty Bell Center takes you through the history of our Founding Fathers, and takes you to the room where the Liberty Bell rests, where you can visit it up close. Located at 6th and Market Street, this attraction is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m, and admission is free, on a first-come-first-serve basis. Expect a 30-40 minute wait to get in, and an additional 20-30 minutes to tour the whole center.

  2. Independence Hall

    This attraction will give you chills, as it is where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United Stated Constitution were adopted. National Park rangers will guide you into the courtroom where lawyers debated both documents, followed by a display of the original draft of the Constitution along with the original inkstand used to sign it. Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street, in between 5th and 6th Street, and is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free; HOWEVER, you must reserve your specific visiting time either online or by calling 877-444-6777.

  3. National Constitution Center

    Do you want a more elaborate learning experience about the United States Constitution? The National Constitution Center has interactive monitors to learn more, self-guided audio tours, and various daily museum programs. Located at 5th and Arch Street, the National Constitution Center is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m; but tickets are $14.50 for adults, and a reservation must be made for your visit.

  4. The Betsy Ross House

    Visit the place where our American Flag was created! Visit seamstress Betsy Ross’s former house to take a self-guided tour on the story behind her talents and upholstery shop. Admission is $5 and the house is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Now that you’ve enriched yourself in the historical culture of Philadelphia, venture out!

  1. Philadelphia Museum of Art

    Located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the best way for you to get here is either Cab/Uber or by taking the 32, 38, or 48 busses Upon arrival, take a selfie on the Rocky Steps! Be sure to check the museum website to see what specific exhibitions will be featured. “The Wrath of the Gods” and “Audubon to Warhol” appear on the website now, set to be featured during the time you’ll be visiting! The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  2. Love Park

    Open to the public and located near the hub of Center City, Love Park is just such a beautiful area. You can get an obligatory picture taken in front of the L.O.V.E. sign, and you’ll be in walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and so many great restaurants and bars.

  3. Italian Market

    There may not be a place in Philadelphia that has more raw culture and history than the Italian Market. Having originated in the 1880s by Italian immigrant Antonio Palumbo, the Italian Market runs across a seven-block span of 9th Street in South Philly. On the East side of 9th Street, venders supply fruit, vegetables, and fish fresh off the ships and are known for their bargain prices. Since the vendors collect their produce daily at the crack of dawn, they skip the preserving chemicals that most grocery stores use to make their produce last longer, thus raising the price. I do my regular shopping at the market since I live in South Philly, and I’ve gotten 1-2 weeks’ worth of fruit and vegetables for as low as $10. On the East side of 9th Street , there are shops filled with gourmet Italian staples- including Sarcone’s Bakery, Di Bruno Bros House of Cheese, Anthony’s Italian Coffee and Chocolate House, and Cardenas Oil & Vinegar Taproom. These delicious foods are great for your kitchen; but also make great gifts for friends and family! This area of the city is definitely worth checking out. They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  4. Pats & Genos

    While you are exploring the Italian Market, you’ll be right around the corner from the most famous cheese steak spots in the country. The set up of Pats and Genos is comical, as they’re right across the street from one another, sell the same food, and both manage to stay in business. I personally vote for Pats over Genos; because Pats tends to have bigger chunks of steak, whereas Genos’ steak is more choppy. But it’s all about your preference. (I also did a brief Facebook survey, and Pats won by a landslide.) I’ll also note that these are not the only cheese steak spots in Philly. I’ll have an entire blog post on that later on. However, this area of Philly is a great spot to experience at least once in your life! Plus, they’re open 24/7, so there’s no excuse for you to miss out on this!

    HOW TO ORDER: The key to your experience at whichever spot you choose is to know how to order like a South Philly native! This is how you order a Philly cheese steak: 1.) say that you want a cheese steak based on the quantity (1, 2, etc) 2.) say what type of cheese you want (American, Provolone, or Wiz) 3.) say whether or not you want fried onions on your cheese steak. So for example, If you want an American cheese steak with fried onions, all you say is “one American with.” Or say you’re ordering two wiz cheese steaks without fried onions, all you say is “Two Wiz without.” Trust me, you’ll be way cooler if you order this way.

These highlighted spots will keep you busy throughout your stay here! If you’re a Philly native or resident, feel free to comment below any of your favorite spots to visit! As we continue the blog, we’ll highlight some great spots to eat and drink!